Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-21
RucHANAN AND HIS CABINET.

Nh. Buchanan Cabinet crumbles to pieces
day by day AT the present r.seofdisintegFahon
there will be little or potbing left Of its origin
al clements bv the 4th of March. Inc
dropping of of cobb, after he had besgarea
n. fr.nces of the government. and brought
tn. treasury to the verge of protest. was
natural enough. He had been intimate with
the secessionists AN upholder Of their treason
able schemes, and the time had come when
he must join them openly; 80 he left, with,
as the letter writer's tell us q mutual exchange
of expressions of respect and good will be-
tween him and bis chief, whose administra-
ton he has 50 harassed and disgraced. 1t
is well understood that one or two others
might we'll drop out Of the Cabinet on pretty
much the same grounds. The Secretary OF
State Gen. Cass, has also surrendered his
portfolio, and for reason alike honorable
to himself and disgracetul to the President.
He leaves disguised with the cowardice or
treachery of his superior. james. Buchanan
does not pretend to doubt that the South
Carolinians intend to rebel-to tread under
foot the authority Of the U. S. Government
which by all that is honorable Or sacred
among men he is bound to preserve; he knows
that threats ore open and incessant that they
will declare themselves independent within
few days ,seiza the U. S. forts and arsenals
in that state and defy the national authority
He knows that the din of military prepare
ton for these purposes fills the air OF 5
Carolina every day. He knows too, that the
Fortresses which command Charleston
Harbor, are scantily manned-that For
Moultrie, requiring for its full complement
about thousand men, has but from sixty Il
seventy men in it. He knows toe, that ever,
sound principle of government.c civil and mill
tary, requires that in such perilous stat
Of affairs, it should be put in as complete
state of defense as possible and with tn
greatest despatch. The officer in com
| mard there asks for additional mean
to defend bis post. Members of tn
Presidents Cabinet, whoee experience
should add weight to their judgment, urg
| it; but no , the President is AFRAID it sc'N adj
TO the eruteraent, if he does SO, and he refuses
to give any order He has no difficulty
when a cowardly drunken judge in Kansas
send, lying story of an interruption of hi
| Court-a twelve 10 en- -buckram" tale Of 8
projected foray over the border into Missouri
to despatch troops in hot haste to the re-
| ported theatre Of disturbances but in the
imminent prospect OF an attack On one Oh
the most important military posts of thu
Government, by insurgents. he cannot SEE
bis way clear to DO any thing! Whether
such conduct is caused by mere imbecility-
| a constitutional lack of all manly frmness
whenever there is danger-or from traitor
Gus completely with those who are trying t.
tear up the foundations Of our free institu
tions. that they may build Up d thorough
despot;sm in their stead, we leave Others t.
Judge. In either case he will find i. hard t,
escape the infamy which honorable an
patriotic men of all countries will attach +
Lis nam. for his delinquency.
u