Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-29
An Administration Diuunlonl.t.


An Administration Disuni0nist.
The New York Times Of the 27th states
that the Hon. Howell Cobb, Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States, is in that City,
aud is out-doing the most violent Of the Fire
Eaters in his threats of Southern secession,
civil war and general ruin, in the case Of
Lincoln's election. The Times says;
awe have it on good authority, that Mr..
Cobb makes it point to indulge in the most
extrayagant language on this subject in every
circle, business and political, which he enters.
He avows his sympathy with the Disunion
movement and aims TO create the impression
that il will have the sympathy and silent
assent OF the Administration at Washing
ton.
alt is quite likely that in all this, Mr.. Cobb
is doing what he oonceives to be his duty 10
his party and his section. He possibly feels
in honor bound to do anything which may
promise to prevent the election OF Republi-
can President There are men who consider
it a matter of conscience to leave nothing un-
done, however outrageous in ethics and in
morals, which promises success to their po-
litical purposes. We should be little sorry
to include Mr. Cobb in the category,-though
we should still more regret to find him one OF
that gang Of traitorous conspirators who are
willing 10 plunge the whole country into
anarchy in revenge for a partisan and sec
tional defeat Mr. Cobb may have left his
dutier at the seat of the Federal Government
under the impression that the case was des-
perate and required desperate remedies,-that
New-York could only be prevented from Civ
ing the Presidency 10 Republican by threats
OF commercial and financial ruin,-and that
he as the head Of the Finance Department OF
the Government, could make these threats
with far greater chances of giving them effect
tban any other man. But even this explana-
ton, comparatively charitable as it is, places
him on level with the lowest and least hon
orable of the demagogues who infest our pol
itieal gambling halls. It presents him as
capable of seekingtO accomplish by menaces
what fair appeals to reason and judgment will
not effect-and Ofplunging the substantial in
terests OF a great community into confusion
and ruiz, for the sake of carrying a political
point.
But if Mr. Cobb is sincere in his menaces,
what business has he at Washington If
/ sympathizes with those who mediate Disun-
/ ion, how dare Mr.. Buchanan retain him in his
/ Cabinet2 Is our venerable President about
/ to signalize his Administration by tuning
Disuniouist, or the accomplice of Disunionists,
himself2 Is be ambitious of eclipsing the re-
nown of Aaron Burr on the page Of history
| Have the trophies of the traitor Arnold dis
| turbed his sleep and made him emulOus Of hi,
place on the records of his country?
1.-THE letter which we published yesterday
morning from our Washington correspond
ent, prepared US somewhat for this intelli-
gence of the movements Of Mr.. Cobb. The
plot Of secession, it seems, has been conceived
within the councils of the Federal Govern
ment, and is under the active guidance Of
the Secretary of tue Federal Treasury. Per,
haps Mr.. Buchanan intends that Mr.. Floyd
shall order the Federal Army to aid the Dis
unionists, and that the Navy of the Union
! shall be turned over to the traitors who pro
pose to subvert it. Mr.. Buchanan will moi
leave a very brilliant record at the best
! but if he has entered upon this broad path
of dishonor, he will find that there is, in the
public execration and contempt, still lower
! deep than his Administration has sounded
hitherto.
"As for the effect of these menaces upon
the election, we have not the least misgiv-
ing. In certain circles of New York busines;
| they will create some alarm and lead men tc
| plunge headlong into the real perils of an
election by Congress, to escape the apparent
dangers Of electing President by the people
| But with the mass OF the voters in the State
at large, exactly the opposite result will be
4 produced TFey VIII regard and treat these
| fragrant attempts TO coerce them by threats
| into a course which their judgments do moi
| approve, as insults to them and Outrages upon
| the Constitution. The menaces of Disunion
/ have already very largely increased the Re
| publican vote in all the Northern States
Considerate men of all parties are beginning
to say that it is time this thing were tested
that it is well enough to know whether the
4 Constitution, or Slavery, is the supreme law
of the land-and that the right of suffrage i
a solemn farce if it can only be exercised a
| the dictation ofany interest or section. If the
Federal Administration joins the outcry, anC
adds the weight of its unpOpularity to the
intrinsic odium of the Disunion policy, the
election will be very likely to prove Repub'
licah deluge which will sweep the State from
! one end to the other.