The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-10-22

that the business OF the concern there
tofore known as the United States was
being wound up, insolvent, and with
out assets. On the 10th of December,
1860, he resigned the charge of his
Treasury, assigning as reason that its
bankrupt condition no longer required
his services. His statement was too
true. On the 14th, Congress passed,
and on the 18th the President approv-
ed, an act authorizing a loan of the
paltry sum of $40, 100000 OF this
the acting Secretary offered only five
millions, payable in year, When the
time for bids expired, only $500 900
had been offered, and that at l9 per ct.
There were some offers to lend at Fl,
and some had even the apdacity to offer
to loan the Federal Treasury small
sums at 36 per cent interest per an
mum. At last, some banks holding
government stocks on which the inter-
est fell due in January, offered to loan
ST 500, 900, on condition that it should
be applied to pay thesiHterest on their
stocks. The arrangement was virtually
not loan, but simply an extension of
the time to pay the accruing interest,
with charge of l2 per cent. for the
extension At the same time the State
Of New York negotiated a loan of
Sl,200,000 at 7 per cent, for three and
half years, at from to 2 II per cent.
premium. So far had the credit of the
nation been sunk below that of one of
its component States - mainly by Mr.
Cobb's reasonable management of the
treasury.
He doubtless expected high rank in
the Contederaoy He was one of the
delegates from Georgia to the Congress
Of the seeded States which organized
the Confederacy, and presided over it
as chairman. He was fond Of declaring
that the dissolution Of the Union was
'"irrevocable, complete and perpetual"
In the provisional Congress he propos-
ed an export tax on cotton as a means
of compelling foreign powers to recog-
nize the Confederacy, and Of enforcing
his favorite doctrine that "Cotton was
King" AS President of the Provis-
ional Congress, he presided at the or
ganizatiou of the first Confederate Con-
gress. Here his official relation to the
civil affairs Of the Confederacy inglo-
riously ended, Having resigned the
highest Cabinet position in the United
States to organize the rebellion, he was
not honored even with a seat in the
lower house of the new government.
He retired for time to private life !;
was afterward, in compliance with The
political demand from Georgia, ap-
pointed Brigadier- General in the Com
federacy, and subsequently Major Gen
eral, and took some part in organizing
the militia of Georgia. He was not in
favor, however, with the powers at
Richmond, and, thougha man ofriPe
abilities, his services were not sought.
Having begun his career as a cham
pion of Unionism, and ended it as the
most conspicuous of its betrayers, even
his fellow rebels were little disposed to
trust him. .
Since the collapse Of the Rebellion,
Howell Cobb, like most of those who
failed to distinguish themselves in the
first crusade against the Union, was
among the unreconstructed, cred hot" 4"
advocates of another war. Addressing
an audience in Georgia, he thus poured
out his wrath upon the Union men and
reconstructed rebels, like ex-Gov
Jos. Brown, of that States
ooh, Heaven for some blistering
words that may write infamy upon the
foreheads Of these men; that they may
travel through earth despised OF all men,
; and rejected Of Heaven, scOrned by the
devil himself They may seek their f.
nal congenial resting place under the
mudsils of the ancient institution. y
Upon them there shouH be no mercy
They have dishonored themselves and
sought to dishonor you Anathematize
them Drive them from the pale ofsocial
and political society. Lepve them to wal
low in their own mire an filth. No
body will ever envy them and if they
are never taken out.ot tho gully until |
reach forth my hand to take them up,
they will die in their natural element
Let no man leave the State. Let us lay
our bones in Georgia, and, If these seal
awags and carpet-baggers remain, let
us hunt them from me country"
The above extract is a favorable spe-
cimen Of the oratorical style Of one of
the haughtiest, boldest, and most arro-
CANT aud passionate members of the
slave oligarchy. When audacity and
impudence in sustaining human bond
age as something entirely superior to
human liberty passed among the ruling
party of the American people for states
manship, Howell Cobb was promi-
nent statesman, When these became
a crime he was the foremost criminal
He saw no manhood except in owning
men, and no possibility of union except
on the basis Of Slavery. lie died the
bitter and relentless foe of Govern
ment which had given equal rights to
all, and whose severest punishment for
his treason was to leave him to the
just judgement of an enlightened pub