The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-06

Ueus II TcHHlOut anu HIS ACcu>etS.
We deem it exceedingly unfortunate at
this hour of national peril, when the undi.
vided attention and effort Of every loyal citi.
zen ought to be absorbed by the work of
prosecuting the war for the Union, that the
public mind and energies must be distracted
toy quarrels among and about the Generals
to whom has been intrusted the duties and
responsibilities of leading our armies. Gen
Fremont may be liable to grave censure fol
ausht we know, or it may be proper and
necessary to call him to an account, but i,
seems to us that the business might be con,
Quoted in more quiet and delicate manner
than it has been. 1t may be true that he
has been extravagent that he has had too
little respect for red tape, as it is called ;
that he has placed too many foreigners on
his staff and in other positions in his com
mand that he has taken too little pains to
see, confer with, and concl!iate the people
gener1lly and that he has neglected to send
reinforcements to the aid of Lyon, Mulligan
and others, when he ought to have done so.
These charges and perhaps others, may he
true, probably they are mainly so. The
charges Of leaving Lyon md M,lligan to
their fate seems to be well founded and is a
serious one. 1t looks bad on the surface at
all events
But admitting the whole batch of allega
tons as set forth by Adj. General Thomas,
in his official report, just published, to be
true, and that they are of so serious char
acter as to require an answer from Gen. FIRE.
mont, it does not follow that the proper
time for making the charges public has been
well chosen, or that the manne.' and spirit
of the proceedings is free from objections.
Gen. Fremont was rendered most important
and responsible position in the army of the
Republic, and was thereby endorsed and held
up to the country as worthy and eon,n,s ri,
That appointment hc accepted, and With an
fsse'iS, 81 LA equallei, in period astonish.
ingly brief, ne has organized and equipped
an army of 10000 men fortified and sue.
cessiully defended the most important points
IN his department, gained permanent foot
hold in Kentucky, and If he did not save
Lyon or relieve Mulligan, he is now at the
head of a well appointed army, taking seem.
ingly effectual steps to retrieve former mis-.
takes; and wipe out the disgraces Of Spring.
Held and Lexington, all the time command
ing the confidence Of the great mass of the
people among whom his operations have
been carried on, and the love and devotion
OF his men, to degree seldom eeualled.
1t seems strange to common apprehen-
sion, why, under such a state of facts. a
war so furious should be made upon Gen.
Fremont. If he is liable to censure, he surely
is not the only officer in high command who
has made mistakes. There have been other
disasters in other departments, quite as Sc.
rlous as have been met with in his. Others
have been extravagant, if all accounts are
true. Why then, we ask again, is Fremon,
singled out and made almost solitary ex
ample Of? This is question the people are
asking, and which they would like to have
answered.
1t Fremont deserves censure, if he is in
mpetent and ought to be removed. let il
be done. but it seems as if it might anG
ought to be done in more delicate manner
and done at once. This thing of proclaim
ing to the world through the newspapers hi.
short comings. and opening upon his real
while marching against the enemy, so annoy
ing fire, seems to be untimely and unseen
Iy, and it will be difficult to convince tn,
people that there are not other motives be
sides zeal for the public service mixed u,
with the matter.
We do not pretend to say that Gen. Ere
mont ought not to be removed but we d,
say that it is due to the high position he occu
pies to the services he has rendered, ant
to the efficiency Of the service, that the mat
ter should be gone about in different man
ner, and with more becoming spirit, ant
that he should have an opportunity to defen,
himself, before the public mind has PREJUDICE,
his case. 1t is a case more suited to a cour
martial than to the newspapers, to the record
ola military tribunal than to the one sidet
reports of examining officers, made to tn
irresponsible public instead of in confidenc
to the powers that be.
The most serious danger to the success O
the Union cause now to be apprehended, i
dissension among our military leaders Quar-
res. jealousies, and chickering's in the arm,
will do more to defeat us than the Who'll
force of the enemy can do We trust tina
this great danger may be averted that com
petition and private quarrels may be held il
subordination to the public good that tn
right men may be found for the right places
and that the Grand Army may be led on b,
brave, faithful and competent officers, to
speedy victory over the enemies of the Re
public. In such crisis rs this, men ar
nothing-the cause everything. 1t is Ia con
ISOLATION that there is ONE in whom all hay
confidence, who can be relied upon amid a
the excitem mt, passions and Leril of tn
hour. to hold with steady hand the reins G
government and direct the affairs of the Re
public with Justice, discretion, and iudgmen,
CALL AND SErTLE-PerSons ,rdebted 4
the Courier Office. are again requested t
call and settle. A new volume, the XIV.
commences about January LIST, and il /