Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-10
TIE CHARGES AGAINST FREMONT.

Immediately after the second arrest of Col,
F. p Blair he prepared series of charges and
specifications against Gen. Fremont, and for
warded them t. Washington with the request
that they should be laid before the president
without unnecessary delay for lis considera.
ton. The charges are, !. Neglect of duty and
unofficcr.like conduct; 2, Disobedience of or.
ders 3, Conduct unbccomng an officer and
a gentleman 4, Gross extravaganza, waste
acknowledgement, and misapplication Of the
public monies and 3, Despotic and tyranncal
conduct. The more important specifications
are that lie failed TO reinforce Gen. Lyon at
Springfield and Col. Mulligan at Lexington;
that he suffered Martin Green and other guerilla
chiefs to recruit an army and rayage the coun
try in northern Missouri; that he appointed
and retained in important commands persons
OF disrepuiable character; that he established
a barricade about his headquarters at ST. Louis
whereby information absolutely Indispensable
to the public service was repealed ami shut
out from his urind that he refused to receive
messengers bearing important intelligence,
thereby deeply njurng the public service
Under tue charge of disobedience of orders
the following specifications are made:-
That the said Mai. Gen. John C. Fremont,
when ordered by the secretary OF war, ON or
about the 81 day of July, 1861, to proceed to
the city Of st. Louis, i'll the state of Missouri,
from the city OF Washington, in the District
of Columbia, did not aud would not comply
with said order; but, in disregard thereof,
., ,.,eN NJ tlar
manned until or about the 23d day OF July,
1861, to tue great neglect OF the duties belong
ing to his department.
2, On the 30th day OF August, 1861, the said
Maj. Gen John c. Fremont issued the follow
ing procIanati0n Here follows the proclama
ton which was modified by the president with
respect to declaring slaves free belonging to
persons in arms against the United States.
That on the - day Of -, 1861. tile president
OF the Unjtei States ordered the said Major
General }. y. Fremont to modify the said pro-
Clamatiun, 50 as TO make it conform to an act
of congress entitled can act to condScate prop.
erty used ior iusurrecliocary purposes ap
proved August 6, 1861, which the said Major
General j. .. Fremont has ever since failed
neglected and refused to DO, in dsobedience
of said order and in contempt Of the authority
of the president of the United States
3. That after the order aforesaid Of said
president OF the United States, commanding
the said Major General Fremont so Ia modify
his said proclamation, lie, the said Fremont,
did, on or about the 2lst day OF September,
1861, cause to be printed and circulated large
number Of his procaulations i'll original form,
contrary TO the order OF the president OF the
United States, and in contempt OF lis authorl.
u.
He is further charged with conniving al cor.
rupt contracts 10 the scandal and detrment of
the service, with surrounding himself with adj
venturcrs from California, Of whose disrep-
ufable characters he was well acquainted, with
encouraging officers and privates to write let
tiers for public newspapers, in praise Of himself
and in denuuciation OF all who differ with him,
and with despotic treatment OF all who qucs-
toned his conduct, 10 the end that his errors
might not be exposed, aud overruled by his
superors, whereby the government of the
United States and the people have sustained
great detriment These grave charges are
9pd ihenS yso %lS dT'sd nti, whose hands
5000 yards a1a a DARE Ba aia
rest. Ii they are sustained, there is but one
course open and clear. The welfare OF the
nation is OF greater consequence than any
mans fame however much he may be loved
and admired. But, while Fremont is in
the front of the difficult field he has
chosen, facing whatever danger may await
him, offering the last sacrifice which it is
possible for man TO make as the evidence
of the sincerity of his intentions, and the
patriotism of his heart, the government can
not so far imperl the salvation of Missouri
now hanging upon the contingency OF his
success-as to decree his immediate removal.
Nor is it proper at this time that public
criticism should anticipate judicial verdict,
or attempt to break the prestige of good
name, which has stood like pillar of fire
before the army OF the northwest.