The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-10

people uko tn0 rTenO0 CauuOS long NC Ioii0o
upon to submit patiently to grinding military
despotism under which the soldier is everything,
the citizen nothing.
CURIOUS OFFICIAL RBvBLArIoNs-THs KEY
TO A MYsrERY-The origin of the Fort Smelling
and Willett's Point investigations has excited
good deal of speculation amongst political
quidnuDca There was . malice apparent in
these inquiries which could not be reconoiled
with their Importance. It was evident that
they were entered upon ON slight grounds, and
without any very strong conviction Of the
truth of the charges preferred With what
purpose or from what mysterious promptings,
then, did they take their risee
The first attempt to throw light on these
questions has been made through the medium
of letter addressed, in pamphlet form, to the
Hon Howell Cobb, the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, by Mr.. Stephen D. Dillaye, late General
Appraiser at New York. Mr.. Dillaye has Ger
tain personal grievances TO vindicate In oonnec-
ton with his removal from Office by Mr.. Cobb,
and be expresses himself in terms by no means
fattering to the official impartiality and in
tegrity of the Secretary. He accuses him of
setting spies upon bs actions, of trump
ing up false chasgss against him, and
| of signing the order for his removal
without giving him an opportunity of being
heard in cell. defence. He assigns motives for
these proceedings on the part of Mr.. Cobb, in
the efforts which he (Dillaye) made to har
monize the Wilson Small and Cooper commit.
tees previous to the meeting of the State Con.
vention in September, and which had given
mortal offence to certain partisans of the Score
tary, who we're aiding him, as he fguratively
expresses it, in exploring the Northern chan
mel to the Presidency"
| With these personal accusations and recrimi
nations it is not our purpose to deal. Mr.. Cobt
may or may not have had just grounds for re-
moving Mr.. Dillaye from ofice-the certificate
of the democratic delegation in Congress to the
contrary notwithstanding. Until the evidence
on which the Secretary's decision was founded
is placed before Us, it would neither be just nor
usual to offer an opinion ON its merits
| But there are other charges preferred In this
pamphlet, concerning which it is impossible
that we should remain silent. 1t is asserted by
Mr.. Dillaye, that in order to remove some OF
| the obstacles to his chances of the Pre-
sidency in 1860, Mr.. Cobb has entered
into conspiracy with Messra Haskin, Sickles
and Butterworth superintendent of the Mint
and candidate for the collectorship of the port),
to destroy the political regulations of Secretary
| Floyd and Collector Schell. He asserts that il
was through the secret instigatien of Mr.. Cobb
<ho< a. Eort ccoll;c c "A Will ~ ,,s ID al ;c,,o,t;
| cations were set on foot, in the hope of driving
both these gentlemen from office and Of damag
ing forever their names az honest men.
These statements are bold ones, and should bt
susceptible Of proof Whether Mr.. Dillaye b.
in condition to supply the evidence or not
the President is, we think, bound to call upon
the parties implicated for explanations II false
these charges should not be allowed To remain
uncontradicted; II true, they demand immediate
action. An intrigue of 80 abominable q nature
in the very bosom of the Cabinet; conspiracy
as IL were, in the Presidents own family, is moi
to be treated like mere outburst of political
jealousy, or an effort of one Office holder to sup
| plant another. II is q treason which should
have meted out to 1t the severest punishment
which it is in the power of the executive to In
flict. II II can be established that the facts art
as this pamphlet represents them, every mar
concerned In this intrigue should at once be dis
missed from Office, or held up to public exposure
II the authority of the President cannot reacf
him. K remains, however, to be seen whether
Mr.. Dillaye's statements wiz bear investigation
Should they turn out to be unfounded, theil
Il A. n T. 4
has taken, only reflect tenfold disgrace upor
their author.
Il Wvup nyvxuroo Tha Lob