The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-13


have succeeded in that which all editors
more or less aim at, but in which so many
fail-they have created sensation. The
article in the Press of Saturday in refer
ence to Col Moore is one Of the queerest
productions We ever read. 1t starts out
by pitching into Col Moore without gloves
coils him an imbecile and lunatlc, with
lots of other hard names-and winds up
by one Of the editors accepting an APP
pointment to field office at his hands,
puffs the other field officers appointed,
and thinks finally the regiment is about
all right.
The nub Of the matter between Col. N.
and the Press men Is about tins. Col NJ.
has long felt himself under obligations to
the Press editors for various and sundry
political favors, and has been paying them
as fast as possible for year or two
When he conceived the notion of becom.
ing colonel Of the La Sale county regi-
ment, they placed him under new obliga-
tions (very imaginary, however, we should
say) his election by immoderate puffery,
and indecently and unnecessarily abusing
men supposed to be his rivals. As pay for
these favors, the publishers expected, and
We're probably promised something big in
the regiment Col NJ, we are told, meant
to make one of them Quartermaster but
was forestalled by the activity of Herrick,
who slipped in ahead of Moores own
election He then tried his best TO have
/ one Of them made Major, but 10 this the
officers of the regiment denurred so
/ stoutly that lie ceased to press il; and
( finally he did the best he had left, he
made one Of them his adjutant This: very
! likely, the Press men reg: rded as most
lame and impotent conclusion, consider
/ ing their high wrought expectations; but
how, after Col. NJ. had labored so faith
fully and earnestly to do better for them,
abuse him, is more than we can account
for. And still more, after such abuse that
Mr.. Stevens could accept an appointment
which brings him into such lose relations
tant, certainly claps the climax OF our
astonishment.
The case of Col. Moore is not without
its hardships. OF a who!esouled, joyous,
hearty disposition, he doubtless found
securing his election the easiest task be-
fore him. To gain the confidence, respect,
and good viii of his officers, some of whom
aspired to the same position and most of
whom considered themselves his superior
in military qualifications, was heavy task
to begin with To satisfy them IN the Sc.
lection of field and staff officers, was still
more difficult but more difficult than all
with his limited military knowledge, sud
denly to bring order and discipline out OF
the confused mob suddenly thrown upon
his hands, to get them into quarters, to
provide proper equipments for them,
clothing, rations, arms, &c Surely this
was enough to tax to their utmost, abili'
ties to which Col NJ laid no claim. Ner.
vous and excitable- he went to work with
a mind not lt,le'harrassed and confused
yet with an energy and earnestness which
only failed of success because overdone
for it broke him down in a week, and Col.
NJ. was forced into bed, and still remains
there-an invalid. Under such circum
stances, to pile upon him all the abuse
to pronounce him a lunatic, a dead failure
&c, is certainly la oar Judgment, very un.
charitable, ard jumping at nasty coaclu
sions II may be Col NJ has undertaken
too much, but in all christian charity, he
deserves fair trial before being so sweep
ingly and dogmatically pronounced a
| failure