New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-08
TWO CONNECTICUT SECRETARIES

Two CONNECTICUT SECRETARIES.
| Satisfactory Us the organization of the Cabinet
is on general grounds, there is peculiar fitness
in ole of the appointments, an administI alton
thereby of practical justice, which must be espe-
cally grateful to all who, either from residence
or birthright, have the honor Of the State of
Connecticut Of heart. That excellent little com.
munity, ono OF the thrftiest, wealthiest, and
most intelligent Of lie sizc in the world, has suf-
fered in past times from reputation arising
rather from a opportunity Of the inventive faculty
and a wandering disposition than from any real
proclivity to wickednsss among its people. But
| 1t sent out, when Mr. Buchanan came into Office,
q far more objectionable cheat than any wooden
knavey it ever INDUCED ina far more mis-.
i chiesous impOstor than any lying peddler that
| ever made his thieyish way from State TO State
10 cOzcn aud cejole honest citizens with fair
seeming shsms-a Disgrace which, if it be not
atoned for, mast BIS q lasting stigma upon her
people. OF course We mean Toucey--Touccy,
Mr.. Buchanan's Connecticut Secretary Of the
| Nayy-whose scDsc Of honor is az wooden
pumpkin seed. whose sense Of patriotism is Of
| the quality Of q wooden nutmeg. IL was sim
| pie act Of Justice 30 take Cabinet officer from
| Connecticut, and that he should be Que whose
| official duty il mlst be to undo the work OF his
predecessor. 1t was due the State that the
world should sec how futile it is to attempt TO
palm off this bogus article of the Connecticut
Democracy for real man. who bore that name
| when it was not the synonym for traitor and
| cheat.
We wish we had accustomed ourselves to the
use Of strong terms-for such things go much by
habit--thst We might portray in fitting colOrs the
cordnct of the mau who has lately retired from
the head of the Navy Department. The bare
facts, however, arc o terable condemnation Of
his conduct, without any dcnuncintory language.
Let us recapitula'e them briefly. The naval
force Of the United States is about seventy-fye
vessels Of various classes. OF thee, fortnight
since, there were lying in port, dismantled, unfit
for service, incapable Of being made ready for
sea for weeks, and some for months, twenty
eight ships, mounting altogether o74 guns. For
three months an armed rebellion had been in
activity; fort after fort, arsenal after arsenal,
navy yard after maynard, had been taken
possession Of by tho insurgents along o
coast of hundreds of miles, and along the
coast for hundreds Of miles more it was threat
ebed-a threat since carried out-that still other
nayy-yards, arsenals, and forts would be
surrendered by traitors to the rebels.
Aud what protection had this sworn
officer Of the law, this Northern man, in whom
the mere pride Of birthplace should have found
some reluctance to zee his own region become a
conquered province-what protection had be pro-
vided for the property of the Federal Govern
ment all along this COAT Precisely ono steamer
of % guDs of too much draft to be of much essen.
tial seryice, and stOre-ship of . guns, aud even
this last under orders for the coast Of Africa,
that sbo might be out of tho way NOtwth-
standing the fact of actual rebellion of three
months standing, not a marlng.spike had been
rsised to add to this force Of defense; and not
withstaading the preparations for rebellion made,
as nobody better knew than this roucey, for
many months before the forty and odd vessels
cruising or stationed in al known seas, both
near and remote, not single cbeerily no had
been sounded as the topsails were Sbeeted home
defense OF the country Can any dcnunciation
be too severe for such appalling treaelery as
this Or can there be question that the name
of Touccy will STAND in history with those of
Benedict Arnold, John d. Floyd, Jacob Thomp-
son, and David +. Twggsl .
1t was generous act>of the President to give
to Connecticut the opportunity of clearing her
fair fame Us We know che will do by the con-
duct of the new Secretary of the Navy Gid.
con wees. Like his predecessor, originally u
jackson Democrat, Mr.. Welles abandoned that
party when il renowned the principles OF
Democracy TO become the propaganda Of slav-
cry aud OF Disunion. In every other respect We
may be sure that his public career vii present
an equal contrast 10 that Of tho late Secretary.
Instead Of Treason, We shall now have Patriot
ism in the administration OF the Navy; instead
Of covering timidity, determination and firm
ness; instead Of iInbecility, energy and intelli.
aence; instead of lasting Infamy, Honor to the
name Of Connecticut. rffIT