Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-11-21
General Tomas Report.


we all are az to the manner in which these
serious charges against Gen. Fremont will
be met 1t is several weeks now since inca
pacity and neglect of duty were declared to
characterize his command in Missouri, and
public clamor raised against him, which
held him alone responsible for the accumu-
lated disasters which had overwhelmed the
State, and which demanded that he should
atone for it by some brilliant action that
should restore that region to the Union aud
to peace. All this, moreover, had come
upon us like thunderstorm in Summer
sky. The latter part of July, the whole of
August, and a portion Of September, had
passed away; Lyon had been dead for
weeks; Price with his reinforcements had
traversed "a considerable portion of the
State on his march Northward: the rebels
everywhere had grown bolder and bolder
with the advances of the insurgent forces
from Tennessee and Arkansas, and Fre-
mont might still have been pointed out as
the most popular General in the country,
and one in whose diligence, skill and integ-
rity there was the most uubounded conf
dence, Notwithstanding the difficulties by
which he was surrounded. But there came
remarkable change-a change which,
whether there belongs to it the relation of
cause and effect, or only that of a noticeable
coincidence, was Immediately preceded by
the Presidents modification of Fremont's
proclamation. But to all the charges and
all the clamor; to Col Blair's letter, which
was the indictment, and Col Blair's specif-
cations, relying for their strength, in some
measure, upon acts committed subsequent
to the date of his original charges to the
mighty enginery photographic dispatches,
to the artillery of special correspondents, to
the fresh hostility of all the old enemies of
the Republican candidate in 1856, Gen.
Fremont under every provocation and with
six weeks for reflection has answered-noth-
| ing. The fact should tell something in his
favor, that, as to the answer that may be
made to these charges in Gen. Thomas's re-
port, many of which have been so long be-
fore the public, the public has received not
the slightest ray of light from Fremont, or
| heard from Linn the first murmur of COM
plaint, except in single private letter,
written, we suppose, by secretary, and
published by some injudicious friend For
dignifed rstieence and manly disregard
of his own reputation while he has work be-
fore him for his scountry-of which, at least,
he thinks he is cape ble-iet US give him
due credit, even though we applaud next
week the sentence of Court Martial that
shall lead him out to be shot by tap Of
drum.
In saying thus much, we think we do
Gen. Fremont no more than the simplest and
barest justice, and in SO doing we do not i'm
pugn the entire fairness of tho Secretary OF
War, the Adjutan s-General, or any other of
the distinguished gentlemen who are firmly
persuaded Of his incompetency, and perhaps
Of want Of integrity. For they doubtless
know whereof they affirm, have the most
minute evidence of the truth Of all their al
legations, know how futile any defense
must be that can be offered, and are quite
sure that when all the facts shall be made
public the verdict of the people will sustain
and justify them. But we are in different
position. We have heard the indictment,
! and something of the argument of the coun-
sci for the prosecution but as an impartial
public we may hold our opinion in allegiance
till we know whether the accused has moth
ing to urge in his own behalf.
And unquestionably there are points in
this report of Gen. Thomas to which Gen.
Fremont will have some reply to make, and
on which the public will ask for light
The visit Of the Adjutant General and the
Secretary of War to the West was necessa-
rily hurried one, and for want of time
some mistakes may have been unavoidably
committed. Thus, in Gen. Thomas's letter
to Gen. Fremont of Oct IA, the discontinue
of feId-works around the City of st. Louis
is ordered. Now, it SO happens that those
feld-works were finished some time ago, and
the order was therefore altogether SUPERB
rogatory. The mistake, of course, is of no
consequence, but while it may provoke a
good-natured smile, it may suggest the pos
sibility of other errors. 1t is evident, more
nvar that mueh had Tn he taken unon hear
say-a species of evidence not admissible
in the most trivial cause before country
justice Of the peace, but which it might be
quite proper to lay before the Cabinet at
Washington, whose clear insight would ena-
Bile them at once to discern the difference
between truth and error. One of the most
serious charges, for instance, and which has
had much influence upon the public mind, is
| that Fremont has surrounded himself with
dishonest men. Had Gen. Thomas devoted
himself to substantiating the truth of this
accusation, it would have gone far toward
settling public opinion on that point. But
he says sit is the expressed belief of many
''intelligent gentlemen of St. Louis" that
such is the fact. Is it not we'll that even
here We should suspend our judgment
We have been assured on most respectable
authority, "that it is the expressed belief of
''many intelligent gentlemen in St. Louis y
that the charge in question is altogether un-
founded. 1t is, therefore, to be regretted