The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-11-14
GENERAL. FREMONT.

General remont has been removed
from the command Of the Western De.
rartnei,;, and is for the time being sue
cccded by Gcueral Hunter.
The published result Of the investiga-
tious Of the investigating Committee,
clearly proves to our mind that there
was ample cause existing for his re-
Inoya. lie had endcarcd himself to
tho western people by beng as was
generally considered one Of them; BY
his bold and su, cessflll explorations Of
our great nrexplorcd western territories:
by his once being a candidate tur the
Presidency, and for whose election
many, very arduou>iy labored, and for
his bold proclamation. The name Of
Fremont has been one Of the loved
names ofoar American people. lie has
been The pride ana idol Of thousands;
and being thus highly cherished, it was
supposed ana III confidence believed,
that the command ofthe western depart
ment OF the army could not have been
bestowed more fifty upon any living
person. So thought We, and So thought
thousands, ana we do not know but we
may safely add millions. But how have
the mighty tallen:. fallen at least in
the estimation Of people, if they have
not from their own standard otrecti:ilde
John C. Fremont, stands charged
with negligence, indifference, prodi-
gal:ty if not completely ii dishonest
government contracts, which would
dalken the brightest page Of any mans
history, and if 50, it certainly must blot
his record, rs matter how spotless it
may have been heretofore.
The Investigating committee spent
two weeks in St Louis, eNaminin. go
vernment contracts made there, and
chiefly under him, and examined during
tie time over two hundred witnesses.
The result Of their lahors show that he
has allowed a speculation carried on BY
his California friends that is perfectly
appalling ii the magnitude Of is dis
honesty: Here are some OF them.
OF the ten forts he had built around
St. Louis considerable excavation was
necessary. For this he allowed the
contractor, (tha ground was yellow
loam) 10 cents pps cubic yard-worth !
to ~ cents. For making entertainments
$500 per vard-wor.h Is to 90 cents.
Tor al lisia!ra earth, 90 cents per
yard; the work was done for a fraction
over 9 cents per yard. For sodsl.n4
the slopes s. ,50per square yard-worth
20 cents. For facineS - bundles Of
t"lss bound up like sheaf OF wheat
81 Oh per cubic foot-worth 10 cents.
For lumber 500 per 1000 fect-sol.! il.
the market there for ST., and sl4 per
1000 feet Large cisterns, which should
have cost less than two cents gallon
Were oalls at 25 cents gallon
Shoes We're offered the government,
n 81, per dozen, bat were rejected.
The sana shoes were aiterwari pn.-
chased by sene Of his f:.yolites and sold
u tile government FIR ST per dozen.
Old and rejected Austrian mnskets,
thirty thousand, were imported at
cost q ..22,25. or s2,75, ana fell mister
ion>!y into lie hands ofone of his gang.
an! were sold 70 the government at
500 il piece. The same were after
N:'r.l rii,cd al a cost Of Si,G5 each, and
are new. il is said worth only what so
much old iron viii bring. a lot ofre
jectcd HaMs caibincs, sold once by the |
governments III 1t foruse, were bought
bv Fremont Of one IF his boys, ut 81.
c3eh-npon which transaction profit
Ct $4,000 was made. At tho same
time and for two months, an agen: was
there from house IN New York en,lea
voring to sell IN improved style Of arms
hut could rot effect the sale Of single
one, because he would rot first sell to
the gang At figures that they could
double o. iarcbla Oh.
OrteGs wol.l'l be issued fer the pur-
chase Of one, two o. FIVE thousand lor-
ses or mules, 1T from sll9l to sl50
each according to quality, and always
first tall into the hands Of some Of his
gang, who would sell them at an ad-
vance Of SD On q horse; that is, they
would sell the, 1000 horse order for
$4,000 and The others at the same rate
and then the purchaser. could go and
buy his horses at the best figures he
could and sell them TO the government
III. from Sll9, 50, to $50 each
In other instances horses would be
n.lxcriisal fnr sary1 uuH,i.ars Won}I