Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-11-13
IouN G. FREMONT.

character of John u. Frcinont, an oVer-ween-
ting self-esteem is not one OF them. 1t may be
that he is too proud to be vain-for vanity and
pride do not often go together-but certainly
he has none of that self-love which is quick to
| take offense, and so apt TO lead its possessor
to rash and ill-judged, and sometimes to GRIM
iual acts for his own justification. 1t may be
that he is not great enough for the military
command of the Western District; that he
wants experience, judgment, energy, and that
insight into character which would be safe
guard against his surrounding himself with is
honest men. On these points we have nothing
to say here, for it is on such charges that he
is arraigned by the Government. But surely
it is not improper for us to affirm that if he is
not great enough for that command, he is, at
least, great in his removal from it. "He that
ssruleth his spirit is better than he-that taketh
sc a city,
For in truth it seldom falls to the lot of man
to be placed in a position more trying than his.
1t is not within the range of possibility that he
believes himself guilty on those points where
of he is accused for, if that were the case, he
would long ere this have relinquished his
command voluntarily. However wise and
just the Government may be however wrong
Gen. Fremont may be, most aSsuredy his con-
ffdence in his innocence IS unwavering, and
he looks upon himself as an injured man.
The order for his removal comes to him at the
head of an army in the fie!d-an army of ~ )
600 men, every one of whom is bound to him
with personal devotion and attachment such
as has been rendered to no commander OF any
country except Napoleon. 1t is something
that he should obey the order for retiring
without murmur, though we trust there is no
General in the service who would not have
been equally prompt in obedience to such a
duty. But it is not only that he was at the
head of such an army, SO bound TO him by that
peculiar influence which he wiedS over all
who become his followers bnt he was on the
eve of battle, long looked for and longed for.
The enemy whom he had followed for hun
dreds of miles; the enemy by whose defeat the
country for weeks had told him he might JUS
tify hmSelf the enemy who, with fire and
sword, had made a State desert, was at
length before him, and about to be delivered
to his bow and spear. In the temper of that
army at whose head he stood, not merely
General but beloved chief, he could have
famed the spark of mutiny-who can doubt
it ?--into the flame of rebellion by word.
Was the word spoken? Was there even the
thought of speaking it Clearly not. ''Sol-
diers - he says, 81 take leave of yon. | re-
" gret to leave you sincerely. l deeply re-
ss greet that | shall not have the honor to lead
ssyou TO that victory you are about to win. We
sc have grown up together, and L have become
90 familiar with your brave and generous
s'splrits. l thank you for your regard and
50 confidence"
If there is in all this shade of sadness,
there is, much more, tone of unbounded
trust in the personal relations and the sense Of
duty that bound them together. For, he says,
s' Continue as you hare begun, and give TO my
60 successor the same cordial and enthusiastic
50 support with which you have encouraged
ssme. Emulate the splendid example which
- you have already before you, and let me re-
60 main, as am proud Of the n bic army which
&c | have thus far labored to bring together.'
Measure these words by the temptation which
the times, the circumstances, and the hour,
would have been 10 common men, and they
are simple noble and sublimcly right. There
was no temptation for him to trampie under
his feet, because it is in the character of the
man to forget himself and remember his duty.
He had no self-love and no ambition to justify,
but remembering that the enemy, whom he
had followed so far, was before him, and by
his side an army whom his lightest word
could sway, he bade them follow their appoint
ed leader to victory, claiming only the right
to share with them hffT triumph. There are
not many instances in History of such entire
abnegation.
Whatever, then, may be the result of the
court martial which, will be accorded to Gen.
Fremont, the praise, at least, is due him OF
being man who can fall with dignity, and
without losing, at the moment OF great and
sudden trial, his keen sense of self-respect,
and of his duty to his country. Whatever
may be his faults as General, If shall be
proved that he has any, the strength and the
purity of his patriotism even the best among
us may emulate. Even his enemies who have
expected perhaps hoped different course of
conduct in him, must, at last, give him credit,
at LEAST, for the integrity of his character and
Y. Tribune.