The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-03-14

The New Cabinet.
We take from the New York Xcrad
, Sketches Of the history Of several members
I of the new Cabinet. We have selected
those gentlemen, whose past history IS pos
+ sibly less known in the northwest than Of
/ their associates.
SECRETARY o. TIE TREAsyRY-HoN. HOW'LL
COBB, or GEORGIA.
The Secretary Of the Treasury was born
al Cherry Hill. Jefferson County, Georgia,
on the 18th Of September, 1915. He is the
son of Col. John y. Cobb, who when o.
boy; removed from Greenvilie,
Carolina, with his father. His molhef
rah r. Cobb, was the daughter Of the u
Thomas Roots, Of fredericksburg, va. IN
the year 1884. when only nineteen. Mr..
Cobb graduated at Frandn College, Ga,
and on the following year, be married Mary
Ann, daughter cf ths late Col. Zacbariah
Lamar, Of Miilrdgcylc, George, by whom
he had SIX sons, three Of them since dead,
the two yOuuEas. dying :. Washington city
during the first session Of the tAirilgtG Con
grcss. 1t may not be uninter,stIgg to men
ton that his uncle, Howell Cobb. after
whom he was named, I, presented a district
of Georgia IN the Congress of the United
States during the last war With Great Biz
ain, and his cOgn,ia, Thomas CoLhi was not
many years since the I. :. Senator from the
same state. IL 1896, Nr. Cobb was admit
I'd TO the bar, and 1T once gave such cv;-
dence Of talents, character and att=iuments
rarely possessed BY one Of ! is aSe-tliat
IN the cn>liGg year lac vas elected 10 the
Legislature 81 c.tyr General oF the " NcstcrIi
Circuit OF IA. State, the region in which he
resided Notwi hstaniing his youth and 10
experience, il Was generally conced.d that
the eiiire was never better filled IN The CIR
cult with more skin, vigor and unvaryinE
success than during the three years ,hat ho
held it,
Having carly in lie ob'aiucd political fame
IS Jackson or Union d,mocrat in 1912,
Mr. Cobb was elected Oh a genera. ticket 10
the Congress Of the United States, i, being
his first service in any legislative boiv.
Since that time he has been successfully ro-
elected in i-ii-ii-iS. As the late Ia
mentcd Gen. Dromgoo,c, failed in health, il
became necessary that some ore should sup
ply his place as parliamentary leader of the
Democracy in the House, and Nh Cobb,
without long experience in that body, and
without any previous sCryicc n = State
Legislature, suddenly found himself eiCva.
ted 70 this arduous and responsible pas ton.
No man could be better qualified lor ii 10y
his residence as a debater. his strong good
sense, his never falling temper, his personal
integrity, and his thorough acquaintance
with parliamentary rroccdcuts, which were
derived, of course, chiefly from books. His
peculiar province, of c0Uductng the most
important assaults and dcfcnces of his party
almost prccluied Mr.. Cobb from making set
speeches. His duty was to open the way
for the play Of the democratic batteries and
to cover their retreat when necessary. lie
made all the party motions. though called
early in his Congressional career TO this alb
sorhing duty, Mr. Cobb has occasionally
found time to deliver carefully prepared and
and powerful speeches upon leading ques-
tons. Amongst the happicst OF these el-
forts we may cite his speeches in January,
1911, in yindcation Of the constitutionality
of the celebrated 2lst RUE; on the Sd oi
Nav; in the same year, on the tarlii question
enforcing the doctrine oi free trade; on the
22I January, 1915, on tie annexation OF
Texas question; the Sth OF January,
1916, on the Oregon question; on the 2d OF
February, lStS; on the causes and conduct
of the war with Mexico and OF the st o!
July OF the same year, on the Civil and d.
piomatic Appropriation bill. From his en-
trance into Congress, Mr.. Cobb has been
the ialtnlll anu clICltDl auNOCdte anu ut-
fender of the rights and interests OF his own
section of the confedcracy, as invo.fed in
the strict maintenance of both the letter
and spirit of the slavery compromises of the
constitution.
SECRETARY OF wAR-JoHN BUCHANAN FLOYD,
OF VIRGINIA.
The Secretary OF War has long been 4
prominent politician in the western par: o.
Virginia, and is States Rights Damocrat OF
the school of strict construction. lie has
filled the office of Governor OF the State,
and during the last election was Demo-
cratic Presidential E!cctor and was recon-
mended by the Electoral College OF which
he was member, to Mr.. Buchanan, for
place in the Cabinet. Mr.. Buchanan him
self, was in 1914, recommended in aimilar
way bv the Electoral College of Pennsylva-
MIA. for TIE office OF Secretary of State, I'M
der President Polk; and Governor Floyd
probably owes his appointment in some de-
gree to this precedent. His family relations
extend over large surface Of the country,
and a great catalogue of distinguished names,
including Col Benton and John c. Fremont.
Gov. Floyd's public service has been exclu-
sively confined to the State, and his appoint
mept TO the Cabinet is his first introduction
to the Cabinet Councils Although owing
to the fact of his being Governor OF Virginia,
Mr.. Floyd could take no part IN the discus
sion on the compromise measures o' iSoo,
vet he was known to be an ardent opponent
of them, whilst he not concur IN the views
of the politicians in South Carolina VINO
advocated secession as necessary coi;se-
ouepce of them. During every campaign
since 1886, Mr.. Floyd has been an active
supporter of the Democratic candidates, and
in the district known in Virginia paflance
as Little Tenncss," be succeeded, with the
aid Of able colleagues, in running up the
Personally, Gov. Floyd is exceedingly pop
u!ar in his State, and is known as what, in
the best American sense, termed clever
man. lie is fluent speaker on the stump,
possesses considerable talent and versatiIitY,
and from his experience ID
offices will no doubt be W0HS