New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-21
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
FROm MISSOURI.

OF she RortiGCStions-EIan OF the S@S"''
The Gun-Rcrss - COngressforni En-
vesiigating Com niistee- Progress OF Fre-
ns@nt's Array.
ITO" Oui SIee'si So LoSis Thursday, Oct H. la6l
There ie no intelligence here il regard to the letter
said 10 have been written by Secretary cameron 10
Gen. Fremont, before leaving 1t. Ions, on Mon
aav morning beyond the alleged abstract OF II which
comes by telegraph from Washington. That version,
however assures us that he ordered work upon the
field works here Discontinued as unnecessary
and informed Gen. Fremont that the debts he has
incurred for the Government are not TO be discharged
at present the contracts not to be respected and the
officers he has appointed not 10 be recognized OF
paid. Al the time when this letter was written Gen.
Fremont was in the field, west Of Jefferson City,
where he could not receive it under two days. Yet,
before the ink upon it dry its contents were per-
mitled to be sent abroad, and ere it reached Gen.
Fremont, the sll-paryadng telegraph had given il
the utmost publicity throughtho loyal States. Even
upon the hypOtheo is thas Gen. Cameron action was
just and necessary, why could he not inform Gen.
Fremont Of it verbally before he left him at O'Clock
on the previous afternoon and at least communicate
these instructions to him privatelyl
The effect of the course adopted has been all that
The worst enemy of the cause could desire. 1t
has brought the already chaotic aGars Of this depart
ment into confusion worse COMPOUNDED. 1t has added
most effective stroke TO the paralyzation Of the
public credit already greatly impaired by the contin-
nal reports Of Gen. Fremonts impending removal.
1t has alarmed men who are filing the orders of the
Government; and they are giving notice that they
can furnish no more supplies until they learn whether
the responsibilities they have incurred in good faith
are, or not, TO be recognized at Washington. II
has inspired the Secessonists of st. Louis with
satisfaction and gee which have not seen them eX-
hibit before, since the capture OF Camp Jackson IL
has disheartened officers appointed by Gen. FIRE.
mont who hold responsible positions in the depart
ment and strengthened his friends in the conviction
that instead Of the straightforward and manly course
of removing him at once, if the Government lacks
confidence in him, attempt is being made to force
him into a resignation by harTassing him at every
point, and intimatng, rather than making, charges
against him. TO destroy the faith Of the people in his
integrity and good judgment.
General Cameron may have satisfied himself,
dnring the few hours he spent here, that the FORTH
cation Of st. Louis was "u unnecessary" but the
loyal men, who have the best facilities for Judging
believe that, without being thoroughly fortified, 81
LOsiS as today in imminent peril 1t s the darling
object Of the Rebels TO capture St. Louie, which is
the Washington Of the West, and TO winter The
army here, and to avail themselves Of the rich sup
plies which the city afords There is strong reason
TO believe that this is not only their wish but that
they have long-chershed and well-matured plan
for it; that whenever General Fremont's army is
far enough away, the 10000 Rebels now concen-
-trated at Columbus, Kentucky, design to come
around Cairo overland, through Eastern Missouri,
and that the burning of the long bridge on the
Iron Mountain Railroad, sixty miles sOuth !
of st. Louis, by JEFF. Thompson and his
troops, on Monday night, was in pursuance of
this programme, to cut off communication and pre-
vent us from throwing out a large force 10 meet
them. Crippled as he was for want of men, it was
Gen. Fremonls desire to place 81. Louis in situa-
tOn in which 1900 men could defend it as well as /
~ 900 could have done without Notifications What
encouragement the announcement that all the work .
is to be stopped will give the rebels You can Judge
The yfeld-rOrks Seere all completed last SUNDAY; 80
that there was clearly no necessity for giving the
order 30 far as they concerned. The earth-works
OF the Notifications proper. which Gen. Fremont Or
dered, will all be finished tonight; but the guns are
not yet mounted, and they probably will not be
at present Of the eleven forts six only were Or !
dered by Gen. Fremont and they have been built in
thirty days. OF the other five, ordered and com
meneed four weeks before he came here, two only
are finished, and the remaining three are Ear from
completion.
II there have been any extortons or corluptions
an any department of the public service, II is. of
course, right that they should be ferreted out and
Punishedi but the investigation should be early and
prompt, for any long delay in disehargng the legt
mate indebtedness Of the Government here will be
most injurious. The banks, which have loaned large
sums Of money upon Government vouchers are
already greatly embarrassed by the delay, and as t
currency Is in one OF its periodic convulsious v,b
Sew-York exchange and gold worth 10 q ann, 49,
mum, and the paper Of half the banks of the eity
Already dlscredited, it not favorable time to add
their difficulties. Scores of business men vii, bo
anec the waiting, to which they have already been
objected, is protracted much longer, and there win
Q great suffering among the poorer classes who are
spending upon them for payment. L
Inc second gunbost Of the eight being constructed
Capt James Il. Eads was launched Last niob, ~ n
ayS nom the time Of laying her keel All the boat N
I" DC completed within the next three weeks u
Housh the Government, which agreed to nav for ."
Of the work as fast as completed has Ii
)" 'niS ume paid for less than one-fourtb Cant U
aos mas carried forward his heavy contract with tn
omptneAs ana energy worthy of the highest praise ~
Inc Congressional Committee, appointed will 81
wer TO investigate contracts, Of whatever nature to
ide With Government in connection with The ,wor pr
the purpose Of erretng out any ATTEMPTED fysuds ,n'
IN session at Barnums Hotel. Messrs. Dawes ~ d
'ssaehnsetts, Holman of Indiana, Washburne If
"'A'i sod Steele Of Esg;Jersey, are present but