The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-10-17
Letter to President EincOIn.


ident Lincoln by Charles Gibson, Esq,
Solicitor in the Court Of Claims, was
placed in our hands some days ago, and
having meanwhile appeared in the press oI
New York and elsewhere, was reserved
for publication in our columns at such a
day as we could conveniently give it in
sertion. 1t will be found to relate to a
subject which at present largely engages
the public attention:
WAsnINGToN. September 81. 1861.
To tie President:
SIR-Having been from early youth a
citizen of Missouri, well acquainted with
most of the leading Union men of the
State and having taken an active part in
the composition Of the State Convention.
and the establishment Of the State provis.
ional government being. as l trust | ev-
er shall be. truly loyal to my country, and
being willing TO suffer, to do, or to dare
any thing in my power in order to restore
the blessings OF peace to my great but un-
happy State, claim the privilege of ad-
dressing you upon subject which is now
the theme of public discussion in all
parts of the nation. and is Of the very
last Importance to Missouri and Missouri.
ans. l allude, Of course, to a proposed
change in the Military Department Of the
West.
At the time when Gen. Lyon was su.
perceded by Gen. Fremont, Gen. Jackson
and his crew had been driven headong
beyond the Ozark Mountains, and the
Union men Of the State felt as secure in
their persons and property AS those in
Pennsylvania now do. All this was ac-
compllshed by Lyon with the Union SOL
diery Of Missouri alone not a man was
drawn from another State, nor was An inch
Of the soil of Missouri then held, or
claimed to be held. by rebel. Recipro-
cal admiration and cordial co operation ex-
listed between the hero Of The West and all
the Union men of the State.
Not so with Gen. Fremont From the
inception Of his command error has been
succeeded by error. and disaster by disas-
ter, until, AS | am informed by the Mis-.
souri, Democrat, ee-fourths Of the
State is now in the hands of the rebels.
and the Union forces. scattered of neces-
sity, are difficult 10 handle"
His first act was to waste the time, tn e
treasure, and the means placed under his
command for the purpose of organizing a
grand army of invasion. in fort:fying the
city Of ST. Louis at a time when the ere
my lad been driven by Lyon further from
that city than they are now from Philadel-
phi., and when its inhabitants had given
as satisfactory proof of their loyalty and
their ability to defend themselves as those
of any city in the Union
He permitted Gen. Lyon to be sacrificed
for want of small reinforcement, when
an overwhelming force was kept idle in
st. Louis and other places.
He has permitted the enemy to quietly
occupy the whole of Southwest Missouri,
to drive out thousands of Union men with
their families, and to supply themselves,
ever since the 10th Of August, with the
lead and other resources OF that region
With five times the military power OF
the enemy, he permits them to march
from Springfield to Lexington. distance
of one hundred and eighty miles, pre-
senting their flank to bis column, and to
besiege for a whole week and finally can.
ture Mulligan.
In short, the great army, which should
now be in Memphis. is. under lis COM
mand, fully occupied in Northern Mis-.
souri,
His political administration is no better
He has surrounded himself with gentle
meu who are in the main strangers to the
people and the country in which he is to
act and at tie same time the most dis.
tinguished aud influential citizens of the
State. coming on subjects of vital inpor.
tance to the public service. after waiting
in the ante-chamber for DAYS, have gone
away without obtaining access 10 his
presence.
He has given to tho world the most sat
isfactory evidence of insubordination tc
you on his part. by the PRONUNCIATION of q
decree which violates all law, and is .
usurpation of supreme powe!, and at the
same time be exacts from his subordi
mates the most rigorous and technical ODE
dience.
BY the rules of action which he has
established, the Government, the Consti
tuition. and the law are concentrated in tn,
person Of John G.. Fremont. The mos
devoted attachment to the Union. tb,
greatest sacrifices by the men or the