Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-10-24
From the New York Independent
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.
BY OUR WASHINGTON CORES.
PONDENT.
wAsHlxorox, D. C., Oct. G. 1861.

III we were 10 DelleVe all the
stories of the enemies of General
Fremont-the most of them find
their way into The New York
Herald-we should come to the
conclusion that Fremont by this
time is not only courtmartialed,
but exiled to his gold mines in
California, but such is not the
case. Fair play is jewel; and
the people are determined that
Fremont shall have it. The
Herald, however, was not so far
wrong as some people thought
when it declared that Fremont
was to be superseded. This was
planned in high circles, and would
have been carried into execution
but for the voice of the people.
The enemies of Gen. Fremont
openly boasted of his fall. They
were certain of it, and were in
formed by very distinguished
persons connected with the Gov
ernment that 1t was sure to occur.
The simple truth is that the men
who had arranged for the dis
grace of the Western Gen'l had
not calculated rightly upon the
hold which Fremont has upon
the popular heart. There need
be no fear at present that he will
be deprived of an opportunity to
show his capacity as a general;
but the opposition TO him is only
sleeping-it is not dead. If he
does not win an immediate victo
ry, whether he has troops enough
or not, his removal is a foregone
conclusion. There is, however,
to be settlement ere long, when
the difficulties which have been
heaped in his path will appear.
1t is scarcely necessary to say
that the feeling among the politi
clans Of this latitude is against
Fremont's proclamation. A ma
| jority Of the Cabinet agrees with
the President, but Secretary
Cameron is reported to side very
/
decidedly with the Western Gen.
in his policy toward slavery.
The time servers, the timid, and
the unprincipled all combine
against the proclamation. There
are also many truthful, honest,
loyal men who believe it impo
litic to interfere with slavery at
this time by proclamation or
otherwise. The sentiment of the
people o. the loyal states is fan
In advance of that of Washington
on such subjects, and this is the
principal reason why the Admin
istration lags behind the people
Society here is more or less pro.
slavery-it is certainly not anti
slavery. But improvement /:
the word OF the hour. Thing,
grow better every day. The
logic Of events is inexorable, anc
presidents as we'll pro as slavery
clergymen give way before 1t
Just as soon as our army get:
fairly in among the slaves anc
the fight grows intense, will the
Government grow anti slavery
1t must be remembered that il
Virginia and Missouri thus far
a dozen proclamations of freedom
to all the slaves would have
'emancipated but few slaves
We have first 10 show that We
have the power to touch slavery
to convince the slave that we car
step in between him and hl'
master. Till then, as matter o
course, the slaves will cling tC
their masters Tor selfprotection
There are some facts connected
with the slavery question, in thl,
city, which need ventilation
Our city Jail is crowded witt
fugitive slaves. They are with
out claimants, and many of then
doubtless once belonged to meI
now in the rebel ranks. Oae o
them certainly did, for his las
master was John A. Washing
ton, of the Mount Vernon estate
By what statute these slaves ar,
kept in the U. S. Jail, no on
seems to know. They are pu
and kept there by a RepublicaI
marshal, and it is well know
fact that prominent otiice-holder
here hold that the late Conhsca
ton Act does not free the negroe
who come under It's operations
but simply turns them over iron