New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-25
SEWARD TO HICKS.

We printed in our last Gov. Stewards official
response, as Federal Secretary OF State, to Gov.
Hicks's letter to the President Of the United
States, adrising him to send no more troops
through Maryland and to order of those already
arrived at Annapolis. That response demands a
very plain comment.
Gov. Hicks, after all his professions of Union
ism, and his indirect if not direct importantly
that his especial friends should be given several
of the best and most responsible Offices in the
Presidents gift La. turned traitor. This is no
time for mincing words. His breaking down OF
the bridges on the only direct line OF communi-
cation between our belesguered and endangered
Capital and the sources from which II must look
for relief, was an act for which, under any
other government than ours, be must have
stretched hemp. Weak aud cowardly he doubt
less is; but in bis position pus1anlmty cannot
| excuse treason. He ID to-day not only baser
| aud more ungrateful but more mA.ch'evous and
dangerous enemy OF the Union AID its Govern
ment than JEFF. Davis himself and should be
| dealt with accordingly.
That this sDi,elDg whiting traitor should
| dare TO address the President a; all, unless to
| ask pardon for his crimes, is auhcious; that be
should venture even TO suggest tie turning back
of the forces now rushing from he loyal States
to the defense of the imp.riled Capital and Gov
eminent OF the Nation, is suttimity OF impu'
dence to which there could he no adequate
answer but cobtemptuous silence Gov. Seward
degraded his high office and the President he
serves by responding at all, save through the
guns Of Fort Mclieury.
But when the Secretary of State assures this
base recreant that " the force nov sought to be-
[" Gent through Maryland ia intenled for nothing
" but hc defense Of this CapitGF-he makes a
virtual pledge to an exposed traitO: which moth
ing can extenuate. What right Lac the Secre-
tary to give assurances that this force will not
be employed to put down treason on the right
bank OF the Potomac as well a. on the lett
How can he foresee what may be the eEgeDces
of the Government when the attack on Wnsh-
ingtOn shall have been repulsed And were not
the results Of the President, previous comphca-
ton with Mayor Brown concerning the Pennsyl
vania troops at Cocheysville dePofable enough
to have warned him against any further entan.
clements with traitors
The tone of the Secretary's letter ia depre-
catory--almost apologize. He seems to fancy
that Treason may be diverted from its fell pur-
pose by Rhetoric, and base intent vanquished
by pathetic appeal or striking historic par
allel But it not by such positions or such tone
that the heroic spirit which has been evoked to save
the Nation can be satisfied. If Gov. Hicks's let
ter were answered at ALL its amazing impudencc
should have been met by simple statement OF
his duty to the Federal Government as Execu-
tive of one Of the States, and a demand that no
should state categoricaliy whether be would do
it or take the consequences of q reiu'al. There
should have been no word of assurance, nor state
meDt, nor suggestion even, as 10 the use of tho
troops now rushing to the Federal Metropolis,
beyond bare reference to the Presidents Procla.
nation by which they were called out, aud
which Gov. Hicks has as yet done nothing to-
ward Obeying.
Men in power at Washington the loyal States
look TO you for words Of cbeer--words repete
with the dignity of conscious justice and strength
in this our Country's hour of deadly peril. Bet
ter had you never been born than that they
should thus look in vain