The national Republican., 1861-02-16
TREASON IN CONGRESS.

TREASON IN CONGRESS.
One Of the most extraordinary features of the
present revolutionary movement, has been the
unblushing persistency with which men, whose
completely with the revolutionists has not been
concealed, have held on to positions of execu.
tive and Legislative power, in the Government
intended to be overthrown.
The late Secretary of the Interior, Mr.
Thompson, remained in the Cabinet, even
while exercising, under appointment from the
Governor of Mississsippi, the functions of
commissioner to persuade North Carolina into
secession. The Secretary Of War, Mr.. Floyd,
remained in Office, transferring munitions of
war to the South and resisting all measures
looking to the reinforcement of the military
positions Of the United States, until he had
done all the mischief he could possibly effect
A sscessionist, Mr. Thomas, remained at the
head of the Treasury, until he was driven out
by the fiat declaration of the New York bank.
ers, that they would furnish no money on Treas.
ury notes, until he retired. Indeed, the only
secenionist in the Cabinet who has seemed to
feel the impropriety of remaining in Govern.
ment which he was seeking to overthrow, was
Ar. Cobb. And badly ss he has behaved in
other respects, his early resignation should be
passed to his credit
Of oil the gentlemen lately representing the
seeding States in Congress, and sympa.hizing
and cooperating in the work of secession, only
the two Senators from South Caroline, Messrs.
Hannoad and Chestnut, had the manliness to
resign at the outset. All the rest came to
wsshington, pocketed their pay and mileage,
and remained to the last possible moment, on
the one hand, thwarting, 80 far as they could,
all defensive measures on the part of the Uni
ted States, and on the other, doing their utmost
to stimulate revolutionary passions among their
constituents.
An equally bad exhibition is made by many
persons, still members of Congress from other
States, who do not disguise their sympathy with
the revolution SO far as it has gone, or their ef
forts TO give it wider and more destructive
range. If men choose to be revolutionsts, that
il bad enough, without adding to it the ine1-
Prsssible meanness Of eating the bread of the
Government they seek to destroy. No man, Of
proper selfrespect, and taking a correct view
Of the 6tness of things, would sit for q day in
the Senate, or in the House, with the stars and
stripes floating over him, and speak and vote
and oct in the interest of what is claimed To be
another nation, and which, if net that, is trea.
son and rebellion.
Mr.. Fsssenden, the other day, in the Senate,
inquired, with great significance, whether Ger.
tain gentlemen regarded themselves as acting
- Senators of the United States, and in the
interest of the United States, or a. acting in
the interest Of the seeded States. The Sena.
tors who quailed under this inquiry, and the au
diencs who heard it, will not be likely soon to
forget either the matter or the manner of it.
In the House, we see men taking advantage
ofths peculiar rules ofthat body, which require
unanimous assent on five days in the week to
take up anything out Of its regular order, to
prevent the introduction of measures essential
TO the credit Of the country, and for the want
Of which the country must suffer large pecu.
mary losses. No sense OF shame restrsins
these men. 80 80 So 4...
nAr. Sherman, Chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, has, during this week, ap.
psalsd to the House for leave to bring in two
bills, considered Of pressing Importance at the
Treasury Department
First To authorize the acceptance of the
guaranty of the United States loans which has
lsen offered by some of the States.
la&seond. To reduce the minimum size of loan
certificates, 30 as to enable the Government to
reach the means Of those who are only able to
loan small sums. .,as'
But neither ofthese bills could be introduced
on account of the objections of that venemous
secessionist, Mr.. Gsrnett, Of Virginia.
If Mr.. Garnet would 60 down to South Car.
oIna, musket or sword in hand, and join the
rsvOlutionists, he would at least show cour,
sgs. a, ., stys7ia dEHsrae Ern
But he only shows meanness, in holding
on to his seat in the House of Representatives
q the United States, pocketing his pay from
the Treasury Of the United States, and avail.
ing himself Of an extreme parliamentary priv.
ilege, to defeat the will of the House. and be-.
t.sy the interests of a country Of which he is
In hssrt) no longer a citizen. - : :
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