Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-15

hodHSCI " " Nui'iS VI Luz p
Weekly, expresses, as it strikes US. sound
view of tho subject
JUSTICE TO OUR GENERALS.
It docs not follow because General Fremont |
is an honest aud able man that he is there |
fore a competent director of the Department |
of the West, But it certainly does follow, |
that il the Administration is convinced OF |
has ineompeten9y, it should remove him and |
not revile him, The Department of War; |
authorizing, as the tribune says that 1t did, |
the publication OF General Thomas memo |
randa of his Western tour, surely exposes its |
own incompetency quite as positively as
Gen. Fremont has exposed himself.
For either the report had convinced the
Secretary that Fremont was incompetent, or
it hsd not If it had, it was his duty to
urge his removal. Then, if the effort were
unavailing, it was his duty not to injure the
service by taking the public into his conf
dence. 1t is not his business to appeal to
the public against the President.
But if it had not convinced him, what
honorable motive can be suggested for the
publication of document which necessarily
demoralizes the entire Western Department
at its most critical and perilous moment
We do not complain of blunders, for they
must occur in our situation, and every man
of common sense will expect them. But
when blunder evidently involves bad faith,
every man of common sense ought to speak
out. In the cloud of uncertainty which rests
upon the whole campaign in Missouri, and
in the unfortunate quarrel between Gen.
Fremont and Mr.. Frank. Blair, it has been
impossible to see enough to express any de-
''cided opinion except Of perfect faith in Gen.
Fremont's honesty and earnestness.
But this documentiof General Thomas is
not at all cloudy. 1t states facts and ru-
mors prciudicial to the ability of Gen. Ere
mont. If he is to be heard upon them, the
dshOnor of their publication before his an
swer is patent. Ii he is not to be heard upon
them, their publication can have no other
conceivable result than to aid and comfort
| the enemy. We say again, the report may
| have justified his removal. That is ques-
| ton for the COmmande-in-chiei. But moth
| ing can Justify its publication.
Grant that Fremont is incapable, does any
| body suppose him to be traitor, or treache-
rously inclined But does any body that
| Patterson was morally responsible for the
| disaster of Bull Run ? Then why is not the
same charitable silence allowed TO fall upon
honesty and loyalty, however unayailing,
| that so closely envelopes conduct which you
may qualify as you will
If the President thinks Fremont lncompe-
| tent, let him be removed. We shall all ac-
! quiesce and if the newspapers choose to
wrangle about him, let them wrangle But
| if the President is not yet persuaded, then,
in the name Of the national honor, OF his
own dignity. and Of the justice due to a
brave and noble man who is busy with the
enemy in front and is silent toward assailing
SANDER in the rear, let the President Of the
United States and COmmander-in-chief of
the army show that the good name OF every
faithful soldier, whether major general os
private, is his peculiar care, AMI that the
public shall have n official hints to his IN
jury.
JOINT AssEHBLY.-A Joint Assembly was
held on. Tuesday, aud the following elections
were made
For Adjutant and Inspector General, Mr..
Gardner of Bennington, nominatll ~ Henry
Baxter, Of Rutland.
Mr. PIngry of Weathersfeld nominated
Peer I. Washburn, OF Woodstock
The ballot resulted as follows
Whole number oil votes 247
Necessary to a choice l24
Peter 7. Washburn I5S
II. Henry Baxter 81
Scattering ;
Washburn S majority CO
For Quartermaster General. Mr.. Fletcher.
OF Caveadish, nominated Geo. F. Davis, of
Cavendish.
Mr.. Underwood of Newbury, nominated
F. D, Sawyer, of Townshend
The ballot was as follows
Whole number Of votes, 246
Necessary to a choice, 124
Geo. F. Davis, 100
f. D. Sawyer, 80
Alfred Keith, Is
Scattering; 2j
Davis majority, ST
For Judge Advocate General, Senator
Hubbard, of Windsor, nominated John S.
Marcy of Royalton.
Mr.. Miner, of Manchester, nominated \.
Gardner of Bennington
The ballot stood
Whole number of votes OIL
Necessary to a choice, III
\. B. Gardner, IS5
John S. Marcy, 81
Scattering, .
Gardeners majority, l29
For Sergoant-at, Arms, Senator Stewart of
Addison, nominated Erastus S. Camp, of
Montpelier
Senator Hubbard, of Windsor, nominated
Gilman B. Dodge OF Montpelier.
Senator Judeyine. nominated Horatio
Palmer Of Montpelier
Mr.. Jones of Berlin, nominated Samuel
Campbell of Berlin.
On the first ballot there was no election
Mr.. Dodge lacking fifteen votes of an cleo
ton. On the second ballot Mr.. Dodge was
elected, tho vote being, Dodge 1873, Palmer
SO, Camp 50, scattering ii.
Mr. +. Dickinson Of Chelsea was chosen
X, X. Commissioner on the second ballot
First ballot, Dickinson SO, George A. Mer-
rll o., A. l.. Brown II, Albert d. HOGAN
u, Alanson Allen 81. Second ballot Dick
Inson l37, Allen %, Hogan; %, scattering
The BLOCKADE AND SLAVE PROPERTY
VIM. T. Specr, of Middle Tennessee, now a |
refugee in Louisville, Ky, thus refers to the |
blockade
tuttLlAl
kept up, hundred manassas victories vouId |
tail to establish the Southern C0nfederacy. |
The blockade is literally running the South
running 1t IN its tendorest point Slavery. If !
1t could be maintained for years, | venture
to say no man would consent to own, or buy.
Or accept as free gift, a single bigger south |
d the tennessee line. Even at the present /
price OF nj ;aTs there. masters cannot afford !
to raise negro children. {" 1t is worth MO
ger to raise one, Is a southern proverb even
q flush times. 1t will soon be tn three
liggers to raise Que.
Star gazers say the period from tn, IIth
% tue 18th of November will probably be
distinguished By remark ible number of dis
plays oil those brilliant and cratic vlsitants