The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-01
GEN. WOOL AND HIS HEADQUARTERS-PRoT
rION OF THE FRONTIER


TION OF THE FRONTIER
In the remarks which we have heretofore made in viud
cation of the conduct of the head of The War Department
in respect to the removal of Gen Woods headquarters from
San Francisco, have been careful to abstain from in
duigng in anything like towards that veteran Off
GER It seems however that our orbearance has had no
other effect than to provoke renewed attacks upon the
Secretary of War and the Union from the San Francisco
Herald which seems to Gen Wools organ In that
Journal of the 10Th and Both of September are articles
sailing the Secretary of War and the Washington Union
jointly and seyerally because General Wools head
quarters have been removed from the field original
ly fixed 10 Benicia. These articles contain internal
evidence of two things; first that free access must
have been had to the Generals official correspondence
and to those who preserve his private history inelu
ding his conversations at Washington and his equestrian
ests the sthmus of Panama. secondly that the writer
must place much higher estimate his political pros
poets than any with whom have met since his de-
parture Whilst We have always taken pleasure in award
ing to General Wool his full share of commentator for
his military services have supposed that his POI
tcaf prospects of character either excite the
jealousy alarm the fears Of any rival spran either
side of the Rocky mountains. Whatever these prospects
may be- we feel very sure that they will not be made
brighter either by the puis or the accusations of his
organ.
To mind no superstition could be more ridiculous
than that brgadergeneral had been California
and assigned to duty by his brevet of maorgeneral in
order that be might discover persons who endeavo
ing in San Francisco to commit a msdemeanor by viola
ting the neutrality laws The Secretary of State would
certainly have found in the great city of New York many
VIII IN busue
hending criminals would have qualified them better for
such task than would expect to be whose life had
been spent in the noble profession arms For the honor
of the army and for the honor of Gen. Wool whose fame
is identified with that of gallant army, we protest
against the attempt of his Herald to brigadier
general into consabe and especially do protest
against the idea that the Secretary of War should thus be
falsely accused ofdegadng distinguished officer and his
beproession The military purpose for which the ofcerwas
sent to the Pacific coast is especially marked by his assign
ment to brevet rank The last mails bring sad intelligence
of Indian both the northern southern ex-
tremities in the military department of the Pacific If the
commander of that department is to be given up local
and civil duties at the harbor of San Francisco the
country, which feels deep interest in the protection
of its citizens against such savage outrages has right
require of the Secretary of War that time be lost
in turning over the military command of the depart
ment an officer who is neither embarrassed in the
discharge of his duties by his civil empoyments nor by
ovezealous attention his political prospects 1t was
supposed that General Wool in addition to his military
duties could render valuable aid in the preservation of
neutrality laws but there is gross unrness in the attempt
of his Herald TO make it appear that instructions to give
such aid rendered this the main object and required the
officer, whose headquarters had not been fixed any
point to remain constantly in the commercial emporium
of his department Besides, it is worthy of remark that
the only instance in which troops acted in the of the
fibusters at place remote from San Francisco and
place doubt less agreeable a residence than that
city.
After all the light shed upon the SUBJECT Ny Herald,
still ncreduous to the danger Of foreign assault
upon San Francisco which renders it necessary for Gen
Wools little garrison to remain there for the protection
Of the city If that journal has beea experimenting
visit from the fleet of the Allies, and has been looking
Gen. Wool and his brave little command to repe the in
vaders trust it will breathe freely when it learns
that the allied forces still detained in executing their
undertaking in the East The only real fear stated
understand the matter in respect the loss of the pub
lie property the Preside This implies reflection upon
the people and municipal authorities of San Francisco
which it would be Notifying American to enter
tain Where the government emanates from the people
and all public property ia theirs they constitute its guard
Our little army occupied in the defence of the frontier
leaves forts without garrison from Maine to Mexico
Should they need protection who doubts that the patr
otto people in their neghborhoods would promptly give
it? The Notifications the harbo of San Francisco
been. and whilst under construction continue in
charge of tie engineers The rapidly with which they
will be completed IaiGy depend upon the appropri-
atons made by Congress The possible contingency of
attack before they could be completed long since pro-
vided for by ordering armament be prepared and
sent forward. In the Tine the paths of emigration
from the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific require
protection The Indian relations of Oregon, California
and Utah are unsettled and notwithstanding the by-au-
thorty air Of the erads article these unsettled Indian
laons indicate DATES appropriate to
the veteran soldier than the detection and prosecution
hunting up evidence for those whose province II Is to pros
ecue violations of neutrality laws cannot believe
that such soldier will lightly away from the groan
Of the dying father the wall Of the captive widow and
phan yctns the uncontrolled terocy of the sayagcs
of our frontier 10 speagte upon the possibility of for
eign INVASION now threatened, TO find employ
men in bringing to punishment few lawess adventurers
or to stand guard for the protection OF public works which
are in no danger aggression The report of the Secretary
of War to the late session of Congress shows clearly the
high estimate placed by him upon the command assigned
to General Wool The necessity of giving ample protec
op to our long line of frontier and of rendering the hardy
immigrants aud pioneers safe from brutal outrages by