Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-10
Joseph Holt of Kentucky.

HOhorabIy connected with the crisis now up
on the country than Mr. Holt. He was ap-
pointed Commissioner Of Patents by Mr.. Blu
chanan on the atters accession to the Presi-
dency Previously, Mr. Holt was little known
in National politics We are not aware that
he ever filed any political office before
even so humble as that of IA State legislator
His habits and his impulses alike withheld
him from the passionate struggle for Office
that in latter years, has brought so much
discredlt upon our republican institutions
The appointment rendered him by Mr Bu
chanan was not such us Mr.. Hot's previous
occupations had best fitted him to fill; but
it was one thet ia high degree demanded
perfect integrity of character added to prac-
tical sense and good knowledge of law. In
these qualities Mr. Holt stood preeminent
Whatever may be the future developments
of the administration of the Patent Office, it
may he set down as fixed truth that no
4 public or private wrong was ever perpetra-
ted with the knowledge ofthe Commissioner,
while Mr.. Hot was at the head Of its manage.
ment
During Mr. Buchanau's Administration
his Postmnster-G General, Hon. Aaron v
Blown, died and Joseph Holt was promoted
and made Postmaster G enera in his place
He was as unlike his predecessor in his poll
cr MIR. Holt was single-minded, unseldsh,
unhackneyed in the arts and articles of po
| liiical intriguants. lie only filled an office
! to discharge IFS dUties-not TO use it as a
stepping stone 70 reach higher place. The
/ daily exhibition of these traits, 50 uncommon
among office holders, and particularly among
Cabinet Ministers at Washington, did not
| fill to win the confidence and regard of Mr.
| Buchanan; for he, not less than younger
and more hopeful President, could easily be
offended ty the indicate ambition of his
| subatrrns to become his successor. 1t is
/ probably owing to this personal favor with
! MIR. Buchanan, so singularly won, not less
than to his personal courage, intellectual en-
ergy and patriotism, that Mr.. Holt got his
| final promotion from being Postnaster-G Cen
cral to being Secretary of War When the
miserable traitor, John B. Floyd in "A fit of
pretended otfense, and for dramatic effect,
rendered his resignation as Secretary of War,
because Mr.. Buchanan had resolved to sus-
| tain Major Anderson in Fort Sumter, the
hyPocrite was amazed to find it promptly ac-
cei'ted, and Joseph Holt designated as the
one to take his place.
From that day the advancing waves of
| Secession, that had been threatening to sub
merge the Government before Mr. Buchanan
left it, began to beat against rock The
rebels saw that their game was lost and Ja-
cob Thompson of Mississippi, who, with
/ Floyd, had governed the Presidents policy in
behalf Of Secession, followed his contederate's
example and retired from the Cabinet Mr.
Holt became now the animating spirit of the
Administration. Mr.. Buchanan sank feehlv
back in a political and moral paralysis, and
yielded up the Government to Holt, Black
and Stanton men equal to the crisis, and un-
der whose guidance the people of the nation
began to rally and recover from the amaze
ment, the uudchned dred, and almost stupor
with which they had witnessed the audacty
of the rebels, and The rabid di,utegration of
+ their Government under the treacherous ad-
rninisration Of Floyd, Thompson d Co.
Mr. Holt promptly put himself in commu
ncation with the iilustliuus chief of the army
Lieut.. General Scott, and inirusted to the
latter the organization of military protec-
tion for the inauguration OF the constitution |
ally elected President of the United States. |
Mr.. Holt knew enough Of rebel infamy and
rebel schemes to he assured that no effort |
however desperate, would be spared by the
5oocs5ouisi- to defeat Mr. Liucoln's inaugu- |
guraliOu; and he was statesman enough to |
comprehend the fuil calamity of any irregu-
4 larily in the organization of the Administra-
| tiun, and, most OF ALL of AN armed seizure of
! Washington, and the installation Of a revolu-
/ tiOnHry Government in place of the cOuslltu-
/ tionHl Executive. To the bold patriotism of
/ Mr. Holt, in lending all the powers Of the
| War Depart meHt to the support Of the wise
measures of Lieut. Gen. Scott is the country
indebted for the avoidance of the first bloody
scene in the drama of the Secession rebellion
the assassination, or expulsion of President
Liuc"lU from Washington. and the naugura-
tion Of a southern military dictator in his |
,,1, i, 4,
that the leaders in the conspiracy had so
thoroughly maturcd their purposes, as to he
ready even for that fierce opening of their
! rebellion. But the scheme wasrendered i'm |
practicable. The resolutions of inquiry, |
passed by a traitorous majority i'll the United
states Senate, demanding the reason why |
United States soldiers were quartered in the
vicinity of the Capitol, in these eventfnl days |
just preceding the 18th of March, were referred
10y Mr. buchanan to Secretary Holt for re-
ply. lie did reply, in such damning expo.
sure Of the hitherto masked treason hy which |
, the Government was menaced, that the Sen |
ate never permitted it to see the light until
some months after it was received
But we need not dwell on the merits of
Joseph Holt as q sagacious statesman and as
patriot. lis retired from the War Depart
! menL when Mr. Lincoln came into office, and,
}
! And that regret has not grown less, but
greater from that day to the present. To
/ Joseph Kolt's fidelity, in the midst of FloSds
/ and rhompsons dsgraceful intrigues to de-
/ stroy the Government, and to his sagacity
and courage when clothed with the powers
of the War Department, the present Admins
tration owes the fact that it was peacefully
inaugurated or perhaps, inaugurated at all.
The country does not forget this, if those in
office de.
But Mr.. Holt has, least of all the country,
/ felt the loss of office. To him, Office has no
| aluremenls whatever The Union, how
ever, claims his hearty homage and steady
support. In his retirement he has addressed
| himself to the effort of arouSing his native
| State, Kentucky, in the duties of patriotism,
and with success that challenges admira
tion. Under his leadership, the most tusled
of all others since the days of Henry Clay,
/ Kentucky could be called into the field al
most a unit for the Union.
But we have said enough. Mr. Holt needs
no praise We give him simple justice. We
will only add as many know full well, that
he is a Griliant orator, as well as a pure
statesman and brave mau.-N Y. Times.
THE Folly OF CANrING ABOUT COMPROMISE
Concerning that portion of Illinois called
Egypt, the ST. Louis Republican says: