Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-15
FremOnt,s RemOvaI.

FremOnt's Removal.
HOW 1T TAKEs.-wHAT THE PAPERs SAY.
Of all the blunders which has been alleged
against the present Administration, none COM
pares in enormity with the superceeding of Fre-
mont in the Southwestern Department Blum
ders as great as any Fremont had committed
had been passed unnOticed; the disastrous affairs
of Big Bethel, of Vienna, of Bull Run, Of Ed
wards Ferry had scarcely been inquired into; yet
the leaders responsible for them retained their
places in the line, without even court-martial.
Why should he be singled out for punishment
when others were allowed to escape? Why
should his errors and mistakes be trumpeted
abroad, while other errors and mistakes
were overlooked By his removal the
country has received shock which it viii pro-
badly require months to recover from. We
know of no event that could have taken place
this would have been more disastrous.
To show how the supercedure of Gen. FIRE.
mont is received by the Republican press, we
copy the following from our exchanges:
The Ohio State Journal says;
As will be seen by our telegraphic dispatches,
Gen. Fremont has received the order renewing
the west, while in the very face of the enemy,
and in the midst of preparations for a battle
Intense excitement was manifested by the troops
when the intelligence was received, whole
companies throwing down their arms and de-
claring they would fight under no other general,
and many officers announced their intention to
resign. There can be no doubt of the truth Of
this report; and a sorry day will it be for those
whose malignity and misrepresentation have
succeeded in displacing one in whom the peo-
pie have the most unlimited confidence in the
hour of the country's peril. The matter mus
and tciH be sifted to the bottom, and the people
in their sovereign power, will mete out Just
retributiOn to any who may have offended il
this matter.
| The Cleveland Herald says
The deed is sdone-consummatedb by the Gov
ernment in full face of the enemy, and in mo
mentary expectation of his attack The world
history affords no parallel.
| But we have no heart to comment. With th
whole west-the whole country-we bow to tn,
Executive blow, which, though long threatened
shocks like the dread thunderbolt. The wal
must go On-the Government must be sustain
ed-the rebellion be crushed out--the Union be
restored-though true Patriots and Heroes be
sacrificed on the right hand and the left, by
| friends and by foes
| The brave the patriotic, the noble FremoA'
sets the true example. Read his farewell Order
| to his companions in arms-mark his appeal tC
their patriotism and their personal regard fol
him not to abandon their posts-and emulate
his example in this crisis of the Union. Goo
save the Republic
The Cincinnati Commercial says:
The Administration could not have taken
course better calculated to ALLEVIATE from it tn
respect and good will of the people, than tina
which it has persued-with that peculiar OBJ
stinacy in ill-doing which persons of indecis
ion of character are sometimes distinguished
until this climax of laundering has been reach
ed. We cannot point--we believe history viii
not record-a single instance of common sens
or fair dealing in the proceedings of the Presi
dent, Secretary of War, Postmaster General, ant
the rest, in the case of Gen. Fremont, since tn
outcry against him commenced.
The Cincinnati Gazette says:
The unfortunate course of the Administrator
toward Gen. Fremont eliminated in his reno
, val from the command of his army at the mos
importune moment. The success of the onl
great movement of the war is periled by th
removal. The army was in the presence of th
enemy, after a march which of itself demonstr;
ted the genius and abilities of General
was enthusiastic for its General, and confidel
of victory if the rebel army dared to offer
battle. The spirit was just that which gives 9
army irresistible prestige. NOtwithstandin
the public confidence in the material resourc,
of the North for carrying on the war, the NOR
effect of such a victory on the hearts of the SUI
porters of the Government is not at this time
be lightly thrown away.
The removal has demoralized Con. Fremont
army, periled its success, and probably lost tn
only opportunity for closing the campaign
e the first year of the war without disgrace to OF
arms; and it is useless to attempt to conceal thi
. in it's depressing effect on the supporters of I'll
Government the course of the Administratio
in this matter is heavy misfortune to the couI
try. Not the least lamentable feature in th
course of the Administration is its appareI
disregard for public opinion. We do not hol
that the Government should be ruled by eros
: road conventions or newspapers; but even
France the Emperor says the bayonets thin
lie He holds it necessary that the cause should al
y peal to the minds of those whose bayonets ca
n ry it. But this is Government of opinion.
: does find intelligent expression; and an Admit
istratiOn which depends on public opinion
furnish the men and means to carry on this va
perils the cause when it treats public opiniC
n with the contempt which il has shown in
|, course toward Gen Fremont and the army
sr the Mississippi. How long will the people col
- tinue to furnish the men and submit to the sa
rifices to carry on this war, if those TO who
charge its conduct is entrusted have no symp
- thy with them, and treat their convictions wi
contempt?
~ We have before expressed ourselves so free
" on the course of the Government in this matt
up to the removal that we have little to add no
The Administration was not required to ma
: out case against Gen. Fremont in order TO
move. Had it displaced him when it determi
4 ed upon il, without assigning its reasons I
q people would have concluded that the Admi
N, istration knew sufficient reasons for 1t. But t
lis Administration raised the issue before the pu
70 lie, and undertook to make out Il case agaiI
y, Gen. Fremont and failed. The people were a
ne pealed to and they judged the case. But VIII
sir the Administration had failed to establish ca
ut before the people, it disregarded their verdic
If convinced of Gen. FremOnt's S iacompetens
: the Government should have promptly disp
ced him. 1t chose to make out a case bef,
the people first, and in so doing succeeded
putting its own capacity on trial. greatly TO