The New York herald., 1862-03-08
NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY MARCH 8, l862-TR

the SICK and wounded sodiersfor the OF the men
VINO had shed their blood for the country. For this
eeneral Fremont had been denounced all the coun
Wy ana 10 these charges and accusations he has been
man Mr. Blair said that the hundred days Of Fremont
were the saddest days that had beAlen the loyal
men men Of the Northwest differ with him there, also
On, no; there sadder days than those. IL
| was after General Fremont deposed, when
the gallant army, with which he had driven
Then it that tho loyal men, who had long suffered
from the presence of tho rebels, and who Laied the
glorious stars and Stripes with acclamaions as the
promise of safety and security and with casped hands
and joyful faces cheeed for tho Unonit was
when these people orsook their homes follow in sad
procession the rereatng army, TO avoid the halter and
the gbbct hopeless aud foodless the days following that
which saw General Fremont deposed. These wcre the
saddost days for the people OF tho Northwest Tho gen
tleman from Missouri characterized the proclamation
| issued by General Fremont bombasc. / have this
to say about that proclamation: never quarreied with
the President because he fit TO say that that pro-
elamation should be modified. l regret that
| ho did so, but know Mr. Lincoln Is
honest lives on this continent and he acted
no doubt from convictions Of duty and while differ
with him in respect to that proclamation would be lhe
last TO asperse act of his The President said should
be modified. But Gen. Fremont said the President must
then modify IL himself he would bow to the order
subordinate should to the repuko of his chief The gen
tl.man (Ar. Bair) might have refrancd from his re-
marks with reference to what he called the ''muny" at
Springfield. Now he had II from distinguished author
ty, that spirit Of insubordnaton was manifested all
ovor the camps when il was known that their General
was superseded in his command 1t was then that
| no delivered his farewell to tho army, and the
whole country seized with admiration when they
saw how bravo and noble man, stricken down,
| can fall without word Of complaint and without
a murmur. Cen Frcmonts conduct on the occasion
should have shielded him from at least charge Of the
gentleman opposite. Even those New York papers which
had most persistenty denounced him expressed in euo
CYSTIC language their admiration of his conduct in that
trying moment IL Is true he could not escape an oya
ton in st. Louis his return; but in Cincinnati, when
he learned as he was passing through it, that tho c
zens were determined to give him ovation he avoided
II by keeping his way evon declining to accept OF its
hospalities Has there ever becn stricken down
from high position under pressure OF untoward
speak independent member Of this House,
not having had one fact communicated to mo
by General Fremont. Now with regard TO tho procama
tion-wha difference was there between it and the de-
caration Of that distinguished Andrew Johnson
Ct the most loyal men vings johnson declared that
rebel hadN right to own anything That all that
Fremont sad clothed in the language Of proclamation
e sad "The rea and personal property Of rebes shall
be conscated and the slaves Of any shall be free men,
Johnson says, 'No robc has right to anything"
don't any difference, and yet person has at
tempted to condemn johnson. come tho fall OF
Lexington happened to be in St. Louis on the l4th Of
September, and found the whole city excited with the
upon the gallant defcnd of the Of Lexington
when my friend speaks about tho Homo Guard appears
to me that Colonel Muigan didn't bear very high est
mony to their galantry then. But saw Lieutenant
Governor Hall, and he told that Price marching
towards Lexington with fifteen thousand men, and that
Fremont ought to send out column to intercept him.
asked him how many Fremont bad, and ne said ho
thought he had twenty thousand thought il no had
went to General full Of zeal for the ronforco
ment Of Mugan and told him what Lieutenant Governor
Hall had said and that If he had twenty thousand
some ought to be sent out He said, ~ will toll YOU
conndentially, what would not have known in the
streets, of St; Louis for my life. They have
| men berc. / will show you what l really have
got" He rang the bell and his secretary camo
roll ho had in st. Louis and within miles
round about less than eight thousand mon and only
| Of them full regiments. ltwas bcggary array OF
army, and it all needed to defend that city at that
time. But asked him if he could not spare OF
thesoy Sir, the tears stood in his eyes, he handed
two teegraphic dispatches he had that day received
from Washington. will read them that you may see
how little was at his command to reinforce Mullgan.
Mr. Coax then road the dispatches ordering him to
continued II have shown you that he had men, but
guns and when he bought guns tho necessity for which
was impcrious ho denounced from end of this
country to the othor because they not Springfield
rifles the best quality Yet he must send Ave thousand
well armed infantry to Washington once, and this
draft on him was to replaced by troops from Kansas
| or wherever ne could best gather them. asked him
| swhat can you do (and my heart sank within mo as
asked tho question: horc with inferior force, and
your best forces sent away to Washington" Said he
''washngton must be in danger and they must have my
had heard that, would have been traitor my con.
vicsns if did not stand up to defend this man, who
willing to sacrifice himself to defend the impered
| Mr. BLAIR said General Fremont mado a return to
Secretary Cameron about the timo, which showed
that he had fifty five thousand men In his department
| Mr. CoIFAx-I am coming to that very point
He tslcgraphod to Washington that he was
preparing obey tho order received, and doubt not
II made his heart bleed knowing tho strait Mugan
n Then he teegraphed to Governor Morton and Cover
,a os nv more aa an% e We ne RE-
thor troops East. so there his reliance failed. My
friend say TINT it cannot be shown that no moved any
Of his until after Lexington had lalen. Lexington
fell Friday the 22d Of September. well remember
the day. Here dispatches to General Pope the
10th September and dispatches from Genor Sturgs
Colonel Davis hurrying the Tho wires hot
with orders hurrying the men to reinforce bfulgan.
p De sy a M
| have been two days before Lexington surrendered,
and sturgis thought he should be there Thursday
C Muligan told himself that if Sureis had appear
ed the opposite side OF the river no thought Price
would have retired Thus from three sources Fremont
sent on troops reinforce Mugan, but he failed
because the elements seemed to be against him. and not
because he did not seek to do so In every possible way
there all tie different posts in Missouri to be held
his three months mc were rapidly retiring and his best
sent TO Washington Price, with fifteen thousand
men, marching To Lexington; McCuloch threatening Ro
la Hardee threatening Ironton, and Polk and Pillow ct
| Columbus; and all over the state were or
bands on S% ooa eighty thGu
| inadequate force to meet Them And while thus srug
Cling, from every sido were launched against him the
poisoned Of hate aud partisan enmty, aud while
Fremont out hunting tho enemies or his country
somebody was in ST. Louis hunting up witnesses against
him. and giving or pare Testimony taken there; and
while hc facing the foo cndeavorng TO vco
ry synopsis OF tho testimony sent upon the wires
all ovor the country, that tho public mind should be
m isoned against him and his overthrow might be The
easier. think, In the name OF humanty-iI there Is no
such word justicchcy should at least havo sent him
this evidence aftor hc came back hrs post but to this
very the committee have not sent him this testmo
ny at all. My friend says Fremont has not demanded
trial. II the charges made against him TO the
| War Department, and If they think them substantial
enough receive any attention, is their business
| put him on trial.
| Mr. wApswoRrH (Union) Of KY, understood to
make inquiry about tho contracts for the fortica
ons of ST. Louis and the contracts for clothing and sup
| plies.
Mr. CoyAx-l have said, that did not defend the for
tifcaion contracts but then there may be inus
tce him by pdre testimony II General Fremont
could prove that he had acted tho advice OF conpe
tent men, and that work Of this kind, day and night
hurrying all tho while, worth something like what
lac paid IL would at least be paation for It. But
| do not know what his dofcnce Is. lie directed
| General McKinstry to make the best bargain he
could and then he approved it, whatever tho decision
was yet General Fremont held responsible for all
that General McKnstry had DONE But General McKinstry
was not appointed by him, but Nos sent there by the
government before General Fremont got there. When
Fremont superseded this the condition OF things