The Placer herald., 1862-05-24
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
Joseph Holt on Fremont's 'Unscrupulous
Ambition"


spirit. They report q still more serious charge
than that of seizing the public money in the
banks, to squander it on avorites, while soldiers
mechanics and laborers grew mutinous and dis
affected for lack of the wages they had earned
Mr.. Holt thinks that the facts he has presented
and the testimony taken reveal in General Ere
mont an INSCRIPTIONS ambition, which awaited
but the prestige and power of victory to sweep
the government itself from its path low true
this inference is, or how far fetched, may be judg-
ed from the following testimony which is the
substance of what was presented on this point.
Lieutenant I. p. Andrews, Paymaser U, S. A.,
| being on the stand was asked:
Did the commanding general ever make to you
any remarks showing that he knowingly violated
any of the laws and regulations of the War
/ Department?
Answer.-He did on one occasion, in my Office,
make remarks showing that he intended to dis
regard the ordinary instructions and regulations
of the department at Washington.
Question.-Can you repeat the substance Of
| these remarks?
Answer-I can. This conversation was late in
August or in the early part Of September. Gen.
Fremont came into my Office with Gen Mcknstry
and after Cen McKinstry left, he commenced the
conversation without anything calling for it that
| am aware Of He spoke pleasantly, but said,
''the people of the United States were in the field :
but he was at their head; and he meant to carry
out such measures as they (thc people, expected
him to carry out, without any regard to the red
tape OF the Washington people. My only reply
was in few general words, that as well as
could understand. the term red tape meant sys-
TEN Of government which in its details, mi ght
be carried too far by subordinates, but had al
ways been of the opinion that our general system
was wise and good one. and that he who under
took to set its principles or general details aside
would sooner or later become entanged in diff
cultcs by disregard all system. He replied by
repeating the remark, (for think the third tme)
'.that the people were in the field and he was at
their head, and would have everything done ac-
| cording to their expectations from him; saying,
now we have only extra constitutional govern
ment: no civil rights, so to speak; all ordinary
peaceful rules were to be set aside. and all this
thing of "red tape, must give way very shortly
to what the people required of him. | had pre-
vously disobeyed Gen. Fremont. by resisting an
order of his which considered unauthorized by
law and concerning which gave my testimony
before the Congressional Committee. Gen. Ere
moct had never before been in my office. nor has
he been there since. lie had no business to trans
act with me that morning.
The Commission. astounded by the report Of
such d declarations on the part of Gen. Fremont
examined Major Chauncy G. Z. johnson, Paymas-
ter in tie regular army. Being sworn, he testi-
fed as toOWs
Question. Did the late commanding general
in this dep rtment ever in your presence counte-
nance any disregard OF law. or the regulations
governing the army?
AuSWNr.-U zen. FTctnOut COllutelHucCu 1T IIt-
oucnty in my presence, and to me, by saying that
he did not intend in the administration Of his de-
partmeHt. to he governed by the rules amt regu-
latious that were laid down. and that he would be
guided hy the circumstances which surrounded
him entirely. The reason that this conversation
occurred so frequently was that was thrown much
into hi> company. in my capacity OF payinaster
and privately, When he first came here went
to see him. having known him before and was in-
vited TO come and see him frequently. as was
acquainted in the west and had been connected
with the organization of the home guards, in this
city fro m the beginning. lu regard to the official
business which had to transact with him. eve
raj instances occurred in which orders for payments
had been issued to Col. Andrews, Paymaser-Gen-
erol and these orders, transferred to me. and not
being considered by me legal. | called on MN In
regard to them. and he told me he intended TO DO
what he thought best for the service, without ref
erance to law regulations that be Intended to cut
red tare and arrive at the enu, without reference
TO order or system and directed me to pay these
orders.
Upon this testimony the Commission comment as
follows. OF the Justice of the commentaries and
the fairness OF the differences. we leave the reader
to judge
The statements of thee witnesses officers Of
unimpeachable integrity and intelligence-will.
we are sure be heard by the Government with
equal establishment aud sorrow. Gen. Fremont
proclaims. on assuming command that there
no government except that outside OF the Consl-
tuition, which had been suspended; and it was his
determination to administer his department with
ont reference to law or regulations; that the pco-
pie of the United States were in the field, and
| that he was at their head and that he meant to
| carry ont such measures as they the people, eX-
pected him to carry out without regard to the red
tape Ct the Washington people'-that is. the
President and Congress. 1t is singular how per-
fectly these sentiments harmonize with those held
| in, a,nn n hnr
world. have sought and established absolute pow
er upon the ruins OF public liberty. Some OF
these usurpers taking yet hi CHER ground than that
assumed in the interview with Col Andrews, have
have claimed for themselves mission to ''carry
outn the will of God but none of them have sunk
their pretensons below special mission to carry
out the will of the people Caesar, when be stood
upon the banks of the Rubicon and waved to his
veterans to advance, did not make Il boder dec
laration against his country than this. The words
SO often and so earnestly spoken, announced
revolution conceived but which, happily, most
happily. for the country, the parent had not the
strength to bring forth. No man has lived in the
tide of time wise and pure enough to be lntrust-
ed with such power as is here claimed. Military
chieftains, who cut 'red tape" always do 1t win
their swords, and history proves that the tnfoat OF
their country suffers quite as much as does the
ntopev in the operation. AS free institutions
have their foundations in law, and in obedlance OF
the people and their representatives., CIVIL ana
military, to it, this expression OF purpose TO
cast all political and constitutional restraints,
made in the halls of legislation even, would
alarm; but when made in the field by chieltaln,
at the head OF great army it chills and awes
the patriots heart by it's parricidai spirit. IL re-
veals an unscrupulous ambition which awaits put
the prestige and power OF victory to sweep the
| Government itself, as a cobweb, from its path.
This sad passage in the history of the late com
mouder of this department gathers deed shadow
from the circumstances under which these dec
larations we're made. Gen. Fremont had, a lew
weeks before, taken and subscribed the s foliow,ng
swear thar will bear truetaith and allegiance to
the United States, and that wlIserve them hon