Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-20
GENERAL FREMONT.

bic inquiry and feeling all over the country,
and especially at the west where his name has
been so inspiring at every recruiting station,
and has drawn so many young men into the
volunteer regiments. The trouble seems TO
have originated with Col. Frank Blair, Jr,
who, being member of congress and having
a brother in the cabinet, may have attempted
to exercise degree of authority with FIRE.
monts command to which lie is not entitled.
The matter has secret history which has
not vet been revealed. We can see that Frank
Blair has been justly put under arrest. We
can not see that Fremont deserves censure.
He is earnestly sustained by the 81. Louis
Democrat and other western papers. We
make some extracts from various papers TO
show what is said of the matter =
From the ST. Louis Democrat, 18th.
The arrest of Col f. p. Blair, Jr,, by order
of Major General Fremont, on Sunday even
ing has given rise 10 great deal OF excited
comment in our city, and will be received
with profound establishment throughout the
country The particulars of the case, as we
learn them, are to the following effect
Col. Blair's chief offence is the writing of
certain letters to the president members OF the
cabinet and other leading parties in Washing.
ton city, complaining, among other things, OF
the int Efficiency and incompetency OF General
Fremont. speaking disrespecttully of him, and
asking for his removal from the department
of the west. This, as a subordinate officer,
according to military regulations, he had no
right to do, and consequently became amen
able to military law providing for the discip
line and good order of the army. 1t was
doubtless OF the urgent demand of Col. Blair
that james o. Broadhead, Esq of this city,
made visit to Washington city few days
ago, to lay before the cabinet the case of Gen.
Fremont, and to urge his removal; and
it is probable, upon these representations OF
Colonel Blair, through Mr. Broadhead,
that Judge Montgomery Blair Of the
cabinet and Gen. Meigs, of the quartermaster's
department, were appointed a commission to
proceed 10 the department OF the west, and
make inquiries into the nature of the charges
against the commander in chief. OF the re-
suits of this commission know nothing.
Gen. Meigs, ii is said, is the friend OF General
Fremont in this matter, and such investga-
tons as may have been made were uDdoubted-
ly conducted with rigid impariiaity. This
commission, however, as far as we understand
it, does not affect in the least the question of
the arrest of Col. Blair. He was at liberty, as
an officer of the army, to prefer charges
against his superior in command, but there is
a manner of doing this specially prescribed by
military law, which Col Blair did not choose
to adopt The evidence OF his insubordina
ton, as expressed in letters and commnnica-
tons, we understand, is of the strongest char
acter. Ii is rumored that some OF Gen. Fire.
mont's staff, and large number ot subordinate
officers who owe their commissions to the in
fuence of Col. Blair are implicated in this
effort 10 remove Gen. Fremont, and have been
imprudent in their daily speech and action.
The evidence against them is also in the prop
err hands.
The case n hich is so seriously regretted 10
this city and state where Col Blair is so well
knoSnn s.fs5I>S here he has spent the better part
vi his life in iaaGra ! & patlie tiert IND ssE.
vice, is not without its peculiarties and en-.
barrassments The examination will be OF
private character, and will not take place for
some days.
From the New York Herald's Dispatches
WAsH1NGroN, Sept. 1S.-The government
is much troubled by the difficulties that have
arisen in the military department of the west.
There are three sides to the controversy, rep
resented respectively by the president, General
Fremont, and the Blair family.
First. The president does not approve of
the sweeping terms of Fremont's proclama-
ton, declaring emancipation to the slaves of
rebel masters. The law of congress does not
expressly authorize that course. 1t simply
confiseates all slaves who are employed by
permission of their owners in service against
the United States. Herein lies the discrepan.
cy The act contemplates the hostile employ
ment of slaves the proclamation the disloyal-
ty Of the master. Apart from this, the presi-
dent sustains and relies on Fremont.
The second phase of the difficulty is an al.
legation coming from the Blairs against Gen.
Fremont, that he has surrounded himself with
a swarm of peculators from California, and
has thought too much of making contracts Tor
their enrichment, and too little OF taking active
measures for the defence of Missouri In the
first branch of that charge the response is a
general denial. No contract has been entered
into by Gen. Fremont tor the benefit of any
parties, but for the advantage of the govern
ment alone and only one Californian had been
placed on his staff-and that at the instance of
members of the cabinet-and he had been re-
moved by Gen. Fremont some fortnight ago,
on account of his being mixed up in some
contract. As to his not having taken more
decisive steps to expel the rebels from Allssou-
ri, the reason alleged is, the withholding from
him OF the forces necessary for his projected
movements, they being, for probably good rea.
sons, sent to other points. This explanation
entirely exonerates Gen. Fremont, as he has
had no force adequate to undertake any great
movement.
The third phase OF the difficulty is the inter
ference in it of the Blair iamily-the post
master general and Colonel Frank p. Blair,
Jr, member of congress from st. Louis. 1t is
from them that the charges have emanated,
and the last named has been placed under ar
rest for speaking disrespectfully of his superior
officer | understand that the real secret OF
the hostility Of the Blars is that Fremont
hon n