Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-01-04
ruE NEW YEAR.

T.
This Earth Of OUTS has trs'e'ea
hundred ,,;lIo,s, OF miles since the ''u Sea'
-, The globe is now back at the
a..-,;nr hut the world has made
progress during the year. The wonderful
vents in Itsiy, and China /; the election OF a
Psnubl;oan President, and the elimination
~ southern treason and secession, will make
tha 7ear memorable on the page Of History
And now new year begins-whas it has
in store for us, who can tell ? we oniy
know that it will 90 like Sixty and the
vesrs before. That it viii be year OF Dote'
seems certain-that it viii be s happy year
70 all our readers we earnestly nope anu
nra7-and may its close find US all better
wiser and happier than now
We are indebted to the pen ola legal friend
fo,tbe able and timely article on our first page
on the character 9th L S. Government.Mos
,erspaper discussions of the subject, 90 no
farther back than the celebrated Speech of
WEBSTER in reply to Hayne, June 26, 1880.
Powerful as was the argument of Webster,
It cannot carry 50 much weight az the argu-
uent and decision OF the Z. S. Supreme
Court, when composed Of such jurisconsults
az Marshall, Livingston, Story, and others
Judges, whose reputation for ability, learning
and official integrity is unsurpassed by that
ofanv Judges of modern time, in Christen-
dom.
The article will command attention from
its ability, and will well repay the careful
rsrlsal which We trust it will receive.
Tho Charleston news by telegraph is of
stirring sort /; bat as the rebels there exercise
censorship over the Telegraph limos, al
lowing nothing to be sent over the wires
which they do not ike, some allowances
must be made Cut the statement down
one-half, and there is enough left to show
that the Federal Government has serious
lob of work on its hands 10 recover the au-
thoIity which it has, through the inbecility
or treachery of its chief officers, lost for tie
present. We should not wonder if scriou:
los. Of life were 10 result, before order is re-
stored. As to the treason ordinance enacted
by the South Carolina Convention, we think
some Of its members may chance TO learn,
before they are through with it, that theiT
own necks are in danger Of a halter.
THE SECRETARY or WAR.
Secretary Floyd resigned on the 29th, and
the President accepted his resi gnation on the
3lss nit. The country has felt both indIg-
nant and gratifed-indignant that an officer
whose name is stained with Numerous impu.
tstions Of gross dishcnostys in the financial
management Of the Var Department, and
who has used his official power to aid and
abet treason, should be allowed 20 resign,
instead Of being expelled from his offce and
put under arrest as traitor, Grati6ed that
his power over army contracts, over the
Forts, troops, and munitions Of war Of
the United States Government is az an end.
There can be 10 question that he has been
relied upon by tie South C2roliniansIto help
them IL their rcbellious plaus TO dismember
the Union. Tie very ground on which he
put his resignation shows this. He says,
boldly, that the honor OF the Administration
had been pledged to maintain the troops in
the position they ocoupied-that is, pledges
were given 70 men engaged in open rebellion,
that all the forts about Charleston should be
lett IN a condition helpless Tor all Efficient
resistance TO any considerable force which
might be brought; against them on the as
gurance OF certain individuals, speaking for
South Carolina, that the Forts should not
be meddled with. And inasmuch as Maj.
Anderson had, without express authority,
placed bis little force Of 65 men where they
could protect their own lives, and the honor
Of their country, he (Floyd) had insisted
that Anderson should be ordered back to
Fort Moultrie. Since this was not done, his
convictions OF honor and patriotism would
not allow him any longer TO hold lis Office.
Really, this reminds one of the ground taken
by Benedict Arnold, that it was an outrage
CT military honor that his pass to Andre, who
had been arranging with him for the treaeh-
erous surrend OF West Point TO the British
vas not respected, and Andre allowed TO 20
free
Is seems that Buchanan began 10 realize
that many Of has OWN party in Congress
would 10 longer back him in tho business Of
yielding to the Seoessionists, ANA he accepted
fioyd's resignation. The report Is, also,
that ne proposed 10 Gen. Scott 10 be Secreta-
ry of War; but he,declIned-,oise'y, if the
offer was really asde-which we doubt
because, if he accepted the ofice Of Secretary
Of War, he would, of course, have to resign
iis place in the Army, ard then he might,
on any freak Of the President, be reduced at
any moment to the position Of private man
Postmaster General Holt was made Temporal
rily to supply the place left vacant by Floyd.
Mr. Holt has rhs credit of being man firm for
maintaining Tie authority Of the Government
We hor7 hs vii change the asp ct Of
affairs for the hotter. At any rate, the De
partment of Var cannot be in woIse hands
than those Of Floyd.
THE n. Y. TREASURY HARD TIP.
The late bids for the proposed issue Of five
millions Of Treasury notes, show to what
disgraceful condition the management OF
Mr. Buchanan's Administration has brought
the credit Of the Government. The bids were
opened at the Treasury department on tie
18th. Only $500. 0OO were bid for, and at
en- average of II per cent. Only small
amount was offered at rates Of ten per cent
and below. Most Of the bids were at Il per
cent, and some ranged as high as Is, 80 snd
even Sc per cent.
HORSE THIEF person anxious for