Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14
ResignntiOn of Army and Navy Ohlcers-
The Duty of Congress.

ResignntiOn of Army and Navy Ohlcers-
The Duty of CONGRESS.
Since Secession began, two lieutenant
colonies, two majors, eight captains, ten
lientenants and four cadets, belonging to
the army, from the South, have resigned;
also, in the Navy, three captains, three COM
manders, three purs.rs, two surgeons, and
two assistants, sixteen lieutenants, three
masters, and four midshipmen, from the
South, have resigned. There are others who
are ready to resign in case of aetuoI service
in defending the Government in the South
being required of them.
These resigned officers have sacrificed
their prospects for life, for it is not probable
that any will propose to restore officers to
their rank in the army and navy, who, when
the Government required their support, took
up arms with its enemies. An army and
navy SO demoralized as that, would be so
monstrous perversion of what is supposed
to be defense of the Government that the
whole nation would demand the abolition of
both, and that the Government shall depend
entirely on loyal volunteers from the people.
These officers have sacrificed their profess
sion and livelihood to Secession, and have
made a record, which in time will be re-
garded as very dubious spot on the honor
of soldier. The men who led them into
this movement still retain their hold upon
their Offices in Congress, as security against
the failure of Secession; in which case they
will return and assume their seats, and col
lect arrears of pay, leaving the army and
navy officers helpless dupes Of their calcu-
latiDg treachery. .e
So closely was this calculated by the lead
ing Secessionists that the movement was ar
ranged so as not to take place till Congress
had assembled and they drawn the $4,000,
which was paid to each member at the be-
ginning of the session and with the con.
nivance of Seeessionist in the Treasury,
the Southern members drew their pay at
once, while, on account of the want of funds
in the Treasury, many of the Northern MEM
bers were put off for weeks.
South Carolina had at that time, declared
herself out of the Union, and could not en-
dure the sight of the Government flag on
her soil or in her harbOr; but her members
returned TO Congress, drew their $4,000
with the utmost loyalty, gathered up their
stationery, not emitting a single steel pen
or box of waters, and then left the Union.
1t is the duty of Congress to put all these
public officers on an equality before their
constituents. Let the members of Congress
be expelled and made TO take the same risk
that they have drawn the officers into. There
is said to be honor among thieves. Let
Congress enforce it on the seeded members
of Congress, and make them deal fairly
with their fellows of the army and navy.
Besides, the spirit of our institutions"
requires this action. Secession has raised
new issue, which The constituents Of these
seeded members have right to pass upon.
They did not elect them to secede; and they
have a right to elect members who will
serve. It is the duty of Congress to refer
this question to the constituents of the Sc
Ceded members.
What their views viii be, when fairly ex-
pressed according to constitutional forms,
may be judged by the fate of Cobb Floyd
and Yancey who we're candidates for the
Secession Conventions in their respective
States and were defeated. Ii is extremely
doubtful if a Secession Congressman could
be, ls sIscted in any Southern State, except,
perhaps, Soutn o--@lina. By referring this
question to the popular II;bunals in the
South, Secession would be tried =, IL own
Insrltsi and It is probable that the ,sbole
question Of Secession, coercion and enforce
msnt o. ths laws. would be thus disposed Of.
II the doYenons or the seeded States re-
fuseto eall elections, whsA che Congressional
vacancies are created, the peOplssin the ais
tricts win order them, and then it wiIIs.. -,
the House 70 decide whether il win waive
the infOEmaiity in consideration of the cir
cumstanees. And the vacancies in the SEN