New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-27
TREASON.

TREASON.
No man is indictable at law for treason until he
commits some overt act against the government.
Freedom of speech is unlimited by tho theory of
our institutions, notwithstanding the practice In
one half of the Union is TO tar and feather, to
bani,h and occasionally to hang any man who pre-
sumes 10 exercise il en- behalf of freedom of any
SORT The theory is sound and the further we
keep from the practice of that bad example the
better. The more liberty the individual citizen, or
any body of citizens have to tell us precisely what
they believe, what they hope for, and what they
mean to do the greater the possibility, if they be
in error that they may be overcome by wiser
thoughts and more intelligent action. We would
deny therefore, to no man the right TO talk treason,
and we know, at this moment, OF no right that is
used with less reserve. There is great talk Of it,
uDquestionably, but talk of that sort which is
"mere sound and fury, signifying nothing"
But, while no mans liberty of speech should be
abridged, it is the part Of common prudence TO
abridge any mans power, which he holds as
mere agent, and which he may use for mlschieVous
purposes, where the mischievous intention Is
openly ayowed. Mr.. Howell Cobb, Secretary of
the United States Treasury, is such an agent
He has under his control millions of money belong
ing to the people, which are intrusted to him on
the supposition that he will be true to his trust
and his oath. Mr.. Cobb, who is now in this city,
openly ayows his disoyalty to the Union, and his
intention. in common with other Southern citizens,
N CONTINGENCY N fraitnr
within the meaning of the law, to the Federal
Government Now, if Mr.. Cobb is in earnest in
this announcement, made openly since his visit
here, it is clear, isasmuch as he does not resign
his Office, that he intends to use the power that
Office puts in his hands to further his reasonable
designs. If he is not in earnest-and we do not
believe he is-tben he is using the influence
belonging to him as Secretary of the Treasury
either to affect the stock market for the benefit OF
his friends, or to affect the election for the benefit
of his party-peIhaps bOth-by exciting apprehen-
sion in the public mind In either case whether
he is using his official position for private or parti-
san ends or whether he means to take advantage
of it to subveIt the Government, he is unfit for his
place. If he chooses to evow reasonable lnten-
tions, he should be permitted to do so as private
citizen and not as a sworn officer of the Federal
Administration. Not that we expect Mr.. Buchanan
to remove him, for he would have done that al
ready, were he not in sympathy with the purpose
which moves his Secretary, or had he any compre-
hension of the proper dignity which belongs to
his position But We believe he is the first incum-
bent of his high station-unless we except his i'm.
mediate predecessor-who would have permitted
member of bis Cabinet to 80 compromise, for one
single moment, the character of his administration.
But If Mr.. Buchanan cannot, the people can apPre-
ciate sucb ayowals Of the intention to use the
powers of the Government for the purpose
of subverting it, or else that by the help
of such an influence the coercion of fear may
determine an election. There is a point where
forbearance not only ceases to be virtue, but
where the most careful calculations, based upon
previous subseryiency, are sure to be disappointed
The feeling is growing one, even among the better
sort of Democrats, that Democratic domination,
purchased at the expense of Northern manlness
and diverted into mere slayehodng tyranny, is not
only not worth having, but is worth getting rid
of The change from spirit of submission, or of
indifference to one of impotence and defiance, is
going forward with rapdty, and already is the
determination, avowed in quarters where it was
hardly to be looked for, that Mr.. Cobb and his
friends shall have the opportunity for once of
making good their threats, aud then have dealt out
to them the punishment they would merit, if they
dared TO raise bowie knife or a revolver to CON-
pass such reasonable purposes.