Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-14

For this Gen Fremont had betn denounced all the
country and To these charges aud accusations he hasbeen
silent and orcbore answer up to this time The gem
tcman Mr Blair said that the hundred days Of Fremont
men u the northwest differ with him thee also On
no there sadder days than those
II was after Gen Fremont disposed, when the gal
ordered to fall back Then 1t that the loyal men,
who had long suffered from the presence N the
rebels and who hailed the glorious Stars and Stripes
with acclamatons as the promise Of safety and security,
and with clasped hands and joyful fares chccrcd once
more Tor the Union- was when these people forsook
their homes 10 follow in sad procession the tecatng
army, avoid the halter and the gbbet hopeless aud
fondess, The days following that which saw Gen Ere
deposrd These the saddles days Tor the peo
pie of the NotthNc.t. The gentleman from Missouri
characterized the proclamation issued by Cen Fremont
as bombaste have this 20 say about that proclama
lion never quarrcled with the President because he
ht TO say that that proclamation should be modified
regret that he did So but know Mr. Lincoln is hon
est man as lives on the continent. aud he acted
doubt from convictions Of duty aud while differ with
him IN respect that proclamation would be the last
To- aspcrse act Of his. The President said il should
be modihed But Zen. Fremont said the President must
then modify il himself, he would bow to the order
subordinate should to the rebuke Of his chief The gem
uemau tMr. Blair might have RETAINED from his re-
Springfield. Now, he had it from distinguished author
ity, that spirit OF characterization was manifested all
over the camps when it known that their General
was superseded In his command II then that he
delivered his farewell TO the army, and the whole country
was seized with admiration when they how brave
and noble man, stricken down, can fall without word
OF complaint and without a murmur Gen. Frcmunts
conduct tnc occasion should have shielded him from
least one charge OF the gentleman opposite Even those
New York papers which had most petsstcnty nouuo-
ed him, expressed In eulogis language their admiration
Of his conduct in that trying moment IL is true he could
not escape an ovation In St Louis his but In
Cincinnati, when be learned, he passing through
IT, that the citizens were determined 10 give ovation
he avoided II by keeping on his way, declining 10
accept Of rs hespiiaues Has there ever been man
stricken down from high position undcr presence Of
untoward rircumstuceswho has borne himself meek
y speak as an independent member Of this House,
not having had one fact communicated 10 me by Gen
Fremont Now, with regard to the proclamation What
difference was there between 1t and the declaration Of
that distinguished man, ANDEw Johnson, one Of
the most loyal wCn living Johnson declared that no
rebel had right 20 anything. That all that
Fremont said, clothed IN the language Of proclamation
lie said lhe real and personal property Of rebels shall
be cpnhscaed and the slaves Of any shall be free men,
Johnson says NO rebel has right 10 anything ="
don't any difference and yet person has attempt
ed TO condemn Johnson. come the fall Of Lex
ngton happened to he in st. Louis on the l4ih Of
September, and found the whole city excited with the
which had just reached there that Price march
ing upon the gallant defender Of the Of Lexington
and when my friend speaks about the Home Guard, IL
appears 20 me that Col Alulgau didn't bear very high
testimony to their yaantry then. But Lieut. Gov.
Hall and he told me that Price was marching toward
Lexington with 600 men, and that Fremont ought
send ont column 20 intercept him ! asked him how
many men Fremont had, aud he sadh thought he rad
10000 thought he had that number he certainly
could send out some and went TO Gen Fremont, full
Of zeal for the reinforcement Of Mugan and told him
what Lieut. Gov. Hall mad said, and that IL be had
twenty thousand men some ought to be sent out tie
said 81 will tell you, conhdenually, what would not
have known 10 the streets OF St. Louis for my life They
have got the opinion that have twenty thousand men
here will show you what really have got" lie rang
the bell ami his Secretary and brought the MUSTER
roll Or that day and by that muster roll he had in ST.
Louis, and within seven miles round about less than
eight thousand men, aud only two otthem ll regiments
II was bcggary array % army, and it AN need
ed to defend that city at that time. But asked him II
ne could not spare some OF these Sir the tears stood
u his eyes hc handed tccgraDhc dispatches he
had that day received from Washington l will read
them that you may see how little was At his command
10 reinforce Muihgan. Mr.. ColhX then read the dis
patches ordering him send 600 armed infantry TO
Washington. and continued / have shown YOU that he
had men, but no guns and when he bought guns. the
necessity for which impcri0us, he denounced
from one end Of this country the other because they
were not Springfield rifles Of the best quality. Yet he
must send five thousand well armed infantry to Wash.
ngtun once, and this draft him was to be replaced
by troops from Kansas or wherever he could best gather
them asked nm, ''What can you do land my heart
sank within asked the question: here with in
ferur force aud your best forces Washing
ton y said he, Washington must be in danger aud
they must have my troops though Missouri fan aud I
fall MYSELF After had heard that would haze been
to my conviction, Il did not stand up to do.
fend this man, who willing sacrifice himself 70 de-
fent the imperiled Capital Of the country.
Mr. Blair said Gen Fremont made return TO secre-
tary Cameron about the time, which showed that
he had 5000 men in his department.
MIR Colfax-i am coming to that very point. liz te-
egaphed to Washington that he preparing obey
me order feeeved' and doubt not II made his heart
bleed knowing the strait Mulhgsu in. Then he te
egaphed 70 GOV. Morton and Gov. Denuison Tor
troops and the answer he received that they had 70
ceised orders send all their troops Eaht so there his
reliance failed Ny friend says that II cannot be shown
that he moved any Of his until after Lexington had
fallen. Lexington fell Friday, the 22d Of September.
well remember the day. Here dispatches TO Gen.
pope on the 10Th of September. and dispatches from
Gen. Sturgis To Col Davis hufryng the men The wires
hot with orders hurryiug the reinforce Null
lgln. Pope ielegraphed the l7h Of September That
his troops would be there day after morrow, which
would have been days before Lexington surrendered
and Sturg thought he should be there Thursday Col
Mugan told me himself that n sturgis had appeared
the opposite side OF the river he thought Price would
have retired Thus from three sources Fremont sent
troops 10 reinforce Mugan but he failed TO do IL be-
the elements seemed 70 be against him and not
because he did seek do in every possible way
that he could 20 send 90 him. Al this very time
there all the different posts in Missouri to be held
his three months men were rapidly retiring. and his best
Washington; Price, with Is 600 men. march,
ing 10 Lexington McCuloch threatening Rola, Har-
dee threatening lon,ou and Polk and Pillow Coluni-
bus and all over the state were organized bands OF rebels
about $4,000 threatening him and he with made
quate force 10 meet them Aud while thus struggling,
from every SIDE were Launched against MIN the poisoned
Of hate and partisan enuiiy and while Fremont
out hunting the enemies Of his country somebody
in ST. Louis hunting up witnesses against him, and
giving pare testimony taken there and while he
facing the endeayoring victory synopsis OF
the testimony was sent upon the wires ali over the coun-
try that the public mind should be poisoned against
him and his overthrow might be the easier think, in
the name of humaniy-if there is such word as
uce-'hey should at least have him this evidence
after he back to his post but 10 this very hour the
Committee have not sent him this testimony at all. My
friend says Fremont has not demanded a trial ~ tho
charges were made against him % the War Department
and If they think them substantial enough to receive any
attention, it is their business put him trial.
Mr. Wadsworth, Of Kentucky, (Union,) was under
stood TO make inquiry about the contracts for The
frdcatons Of ST. Louis and the contracts for clothing
and supplies
Mr. Calhx-I have said, that did defend the for
tfeauon contracts but then there may by injus
tce done him by parte testimony. II Gen. Fremon
could prove that he had acted the advice Of oompeen
men, and that work Of this kind, day and night, hurry
ing all the while worth something like what he paid
it would at least be paation for IT, Butt do no
know what his defence is. lie directed Gen Mckins,r
make the best bargain he could and then he approved
IL, whatever the decision aud yet Gen. Fremont
held responsible for all that Gen Mekinstry had done
But Gen. Mckinstry not a. pointed by him. but
by the Government before Gen Fremont got there
When Fremont superseded, this was the condition
Of things in Missouri and is the proudest aud blcs
vndicaton that he have that the whole State wa
more tranquil than was Western Virginia or Kentucky
don't whether you say anybody else did i, Ere
mont, bu such the fact la the second place his
my headed and further South than any other ARM
In the Union al that day In the third place. head
ed Ia the right direction In the fourth place. the
under his command, who il he had been this mbecile
foolish and timd man that my friend has talked about
would have scOrned and dcspised him for leading then
into the Jaws Of death. These filled with 10y
atty and enthusiasm for him. and the brave Life Guard
with Haggon at their head who performed the most bril-
, liant achievement Of the war--thOugh my friend say
they did nothing at Springfield they charged enc
fay times their force with the cry o. " Fremon
and the Union"and when they came back TO ST. Loui
they dismissed from the service for words spoken
Springfield refused raons aud forage for their horses
and treated with and contempt Those brave
who dared to charge enemy ten tines Their force