The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-09-21
Arrest Of Col. +. p. blair, Jr.

The arrest of Col. 4. P. Blair, Jr., by order
of Major General Fremont, on Sunday evening,
has given rise to great deal OF excited COM
ment in our city, and will be received with pro.
found establishment throughout the country
The particulars Of the case, az We learn them,
are to the following effect: a
Col. Blairs chief offenc, is the writing of Ger.
tain letters to the President, members
of the Cabinet and other leading parties in
Washington City, complaining, among other
things, Of the inefaciehcy and incompetcncy of
Gen. Fremont, speaking disrespectfully of him,
and asking for his removal from the Department
of the West. This, as subordinate officer, &C.
cordng to military regulations, be had no right
to do, and consequently became am nable TO the
military law providing for the discipline and
good order Of the army. 1t was doubtless at
the urgent demand OF Col Blair that James o.
Broadhead, Esq of this city, made visit to
Washington few days ago to lay before the
Cabinet the case Of Gen. Fremont and to urge
his removal; and it is probable, upon these re.
presentations of Col. Blair, through Mr.. Broad.
head. that Judge Montgomery Blair of the Cab.
met and Gen. heigs, Of the Quarterma ster's
Department., were appointed q commission 70
proceed to the Department Of the West and to
make inquiries into the nature of the charges
against the Commander in Chief. Ofthe results
Of this commission We know nothing. General
Aeigs, il il stated 10 the friend Of Gen. Fremont
in this matter, and such Investigations as may
have been made were undoubtedly conducted
with rigid impartiality. This commission, how.
ever, as far as We understand it, does not effect
in the least, the question Of the arrest Of COL
Blair. He was at liberty, as an officer of the
army, to prefer charges against his superior in
command, but there is a manner of doing this,
specially prescribed by military Law, which Col
Qlsie oh To-
this INSTRUMENTATION, ~ expressed in letters and
communications, We understand, 10 Of the stron.
gest character. It Is rum0red that some of Gen.
Fremonts staff, aud large number of subordi.
nate officers who owe their commissions to the
influence Of Col Blair, are implicated in this
effort to remove Gen. Fremont, and have been
imprudent in their daily speech and action The
evidence against them is also in the proper
hands.
The case, which is 90 seriously regretted in
this city and State, where Col. BLAIR is 30 well
known, and where he has spent the better part
OF his life in honorable public effort and service
is not without i:s peculisrtics and embarras.
ments The question ARISES whether the ARE at
is proper, since COL Blair has no MILITARY com.
mission. 1t will be remembered he denied his
Colonelcy during the session of the last Con.
gress, and since that time we Understand. bas
not accepted an army commission, vet be has
been the acting Colonel of the First Regiment
OF Missouri volunteers, has signed himself as
snch. has been industriously engaged in CONVEX.
ting that regiment into an artillery corps. has
worn the uniform Of Colonel, and in all re.
speeds assumed the full responsibility of that
of8ce. Still, he Is . Colonel without q comma
sion, and is he properly subject to a military
arrests Tho case may not present these diili.
culties to any one better acquainted with militia.
~ law than ourselves
In reference to the course to be pursued BY
Col. Blair, We know nothing It would be in
consonance with the pluck and manliness Of bis
character, should he meet the charges against
him with fair stand up aght as an army Oh
Ger. Many Of bis friends. however, clsim for
him an entire exemption from military arrest, on
the ground that in this matter he has acted sim.
ply as civilian, or 1t most, as the Congression.
81 Representative Of this District The exami.
nation, which will be of private character.
will not take place, We understand, for some
days.-tSt Louis Democrat