The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-13

The statement OF Gen Fremont before
the Committee on the Conduct of the War
Las been published, with the Official cor.
respondence relating thereto, in the New
York Tribune.
The whole matter is too yoluminous for
newspaper. although the Tribune has
enterprisinely and generously published it,
giving four pages to it. We doubt if an yone
can read the statement and evidence with
out the conviction that Gen. Fremont 4
administration Of the Western Depart
ment is fully justified, and that it was ex-
ceedingfy unfortunate for the country that
it was broken down.
The correspondence gives a lamentable
picture Of the ncglectot the Western De-
partment before Fremont took the CON-
mand - small army endeavonng TO oc-
cnpy country three or four hundred
miles in extent, with disafectcd popu-
lation which could only be kept down BY
strong force, the army scattered in small
detachmehts, on every hand calling for re-
endorsements; the troops neglected ragged,
poorly equipped, unpaid; the force just
on the point of falling to pieces by the
expiration Of the enlistment Of the three
months men ; they suffering and ipdig-
nant for the want Of their pay, aud scout
ing the idea Of re-enlisting under such
neglect; all appeals to Washington un-
noticed, aud Gen. Scott even ordering re-
gulars from Lyons command at Spring
field, to swell the useless army Of the
Potomac.
II WAS in this state of faffairs, when Gen.
Fremont arrived on the ground, that he
wanted money TO pay several three months
regiments, to induce them to re-eniist. -
The paymaster ut st. Louis had 30O, 900
dollars in his hands, but refused to apply
it to that purpose. Gen. Fremont persmp-
toriIy ordered him to disburse SlOO. 900
for the pay Of the volunteers, and com.
pelled him TO do it, stating, in private
note to the President his reasons. This
was that act which the Investigating Com
mittes charged to be "arbitrary and
illegal dangerous to constitutional
liberty, and in defiance Of the law" The
people will justify it, and will wish that
all the acts of arbitrary power, even
against persons in civil life, had az good
justification as this act Of military neces-
city. The committee further went on TO
say that the act was not required by any
military necessity. They gave little at
tention to the military necessity
General Fremont was assigned to the
command Of the Mississippi Department
in July, with instructions that he was to
create and organize an army and material
70 descend the Mississippi. and when ready
report for further orders. He immediste-
y set about procuring arms, and got an
order on New York for 1000 stand, and
whsn he arrived there found that ii had
been countermanded. This is speci-
men of the way he was aided all
through. Tine late oi General Lyon had
been fixed by the circumstances before
General Fremont took command. Free
mont did what he could, but it was too
late.
Not only was General Lyon in critic.
ii condition, but Cairo, Birds Point and
Cape Girardeau were threatened with .
greatly superior force then at New Mad.
rid. The attention of Gen. cClsllan,
who WAS in cominsnd mp 70 the time thst
Fremont arrived, Was chiefly dirsctsd -