Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-24
cEyERAL PRE,roNT.
SynopsIs of the Debate Concerning
Him in the House OF Represents.
dives on Monday Last.


up. It's as follows:
Rssofrsd. That the Attorney General be
requested &c take proceedings to recover
from John c. Fremont and E. L. Beard the
sum of money obtained from the treasury,
on the order of the said Fremont, payable
to the said Beard, as set forth in the report
of the Select Committee TO inquire into the
contracts of the Government
Mr. STEVENS PA, moved to lay the res
, olution on the table.
Mr.. DIvES claimed his own right to the
floor, and said be was opposed to arraigniug
men without giving them an opportunity of
being heard IN their own defence. After
an indictment speedy trial should be af-
forded. Either the committee or the Gov
eminent contractors are guilty OF making
false report, and placing = false record
before the House, or Gen. Fremont stands
convicted OF an odious and gross Pecula-
ton, for which he ought 10 be brought TO
trial. All he OR. Diven) proposed by the
resolution was that Gen. Fremont should
have trial before court OF justice.
Nr. KELLEY (Pa-) asked il NJ. Diyen had
seen any testimony outside OF the report.
} Mr.. DIVES replied that he had Only stated
what he had seen ia the report II the
committee were guilty Of making false
charges he would punish them.
Mr.. KELLEY aud Mr.. STEVENS interPOsei
few remarks in explanation, defensive of
! General Fremont
Hr. DIvES resumed his speech, CRITICS.
! ing the alleged extravaganza attending the
erection of the defensive works at 81. Louis.
I Extraordinary sums were advanced before
| the work WAS done, on the mere say-so of
the contractor; $4,000 of the public
money WAS thus expended while the SOL
diers remained unpaid. Even McHinsIry
could not approve OF snch extravaganza
and Wssteiulness. These points he derived
| from the report ofthe Select Committee
| lie wanted a suit brought against Fremont
and Beard, in order to recover 80 much OF
the money - has been drawn without a
/ just equivalent aud without form OF law
! If all the drafts had been honored the sum
| would have amounted to $3.50. 900.
/ Tue payment of money, on such a prin-
1 ciple, would bankrupt any nation. Ii the
| friends OF Fremont want him to lie under
an imputation of this kind, they mistake
their duty. If a Jury tiud that the money
| was properly drawn they would exhoner-
ate him. II the money is due TO Govern
nent, Congress would be derelict in its du-
/ ~ If it did not take measures TO secure it.
| Fremont's safety Was owing 10 his hold on
the affections of 4 large number of the
people. No other man could have made
such drafts aud escaped.
Mr. CcLTAN (Ind.l said the Een,leman's
! persistent malignity was worthy of a bet
Ter cause. Why did the gentleman allow
| his thunier against Fremont to sleep dur
~ session, to open upon him when he is
| again in command
! Mr.. DTvES explained that he had intro
duced his resolution on the very dny that
/ he read the report and was watching for it
to come up for the action of the House
ever since.
Mr.. COLFAx replied that the gentleman
had had frequent opportunities in the
meanwhile 10 make his speech Why did
4 he wait till Fremont was il front OF the
enemy, and then hurl arrows from the
| legislative council! at his back? Common
justice would demand that he should be let
alone until the end Of the war, when the
gentleman's malignity could be stated to its
full extent. The gentleman had informed
him (Mr- COlfax), before the evidence was
officially published, that he WAS opposed
10 and had lost confidence iu Fremont,
predicating his opinions only on newspaper
statements.
| Mr.. OWEN said he had no recollection OF
such conversation.
Mr. CoLy4S said it took place at the St.
/ Nicholas Hotel before the meeting of Com
| gress- Why was not this movement made
! against Fremont when he Was not in active
cOmmani2 Why now seek to deprive
him of his influence with his officers and
men, aud bring him into criminal Court?
Mr. DIVES said he did not propose to
bring him into criminal court, but to q
| suit at law
Mr. CoLEAx replied that it was virtually
Ervasa L. l.. n
expenditures connected with the fortifica-
tions around St. Louis were extraVagant,
bu: mentioned the circumstances which
extenuated the expenditure, that Fremont
was just leaving St. Louis to attack Price,
and that perhaps enough had been saved
in the smaller number of men required 10
defend ST. Louis to make up the excess.
Mr.. MALLORY (Ky.l suggested that the
friends of Fremont should desire an inves-
tigaton in order to relieve him OF the pend
ing charges.
Nr- CoLEAx continued, saying the re-
storatiou of Fremont to command by the
President was in the nature OF Yindica-
ton of his character.
SIR. OWEN diselaimed holding any NAL
ice toward Fremont, who was . stranger to
him.
Mr. LovEJOY (ll.) essaycd to illustrate
York.
Mr.. OWEN could not see the application.
Mr.. LOvRJoY-Tnen read Virgil.
/ Mr. DIyES-It IS too late for me 10 com
mence the study now.
Mr. LovEJOY said that while Fremont was
in the presence of the enemy it looked like
malice prepense thus to arraigu him.
Mr. CoLPAx repeated that he did not APP
prove OF the fertilization contracts, but
other Generals had made far worse mis-.
takes. He instanced the lack Of transpor.
tation at Balls Bluff. He was willing to
condemn Fremont for his faults, for be
knew that no man was perfect. After fur
Their remarks in vindication of Fremont, he
said: "Give this man chsnce to be heard
before he is stricken down by the ez pqrte
testimony of committees, who publish the
evidence in his absence as conclusive, with.
out giving him an opportunity to cross ex-
F. aWIa . -.