Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-20


has planted the stars and stripes on the
highest point of the Rocky mountains
He has suffered privation and suffering and
toll in his daring journeys. His cheek
has not blanched in the presence of dan
ger or of death. And when he knew that
the sword of Damocles was hanging over
his head by a single hair, he went forth
with his army in pursuit of the enemy. TO
punish treason with tho sword. and en-
camped with the advance guard. instead OF
with the rear. as is usually the custom of
commanding generals. No. sir. General
Fremont is not a coward. lie has no tim
idity.
Mr.. BLAIR, ofMissouri. My friend does
not state, trust. that | called General
Fremont coward
Mr.. CoLFAx The language that my
friend used was ''timidity,'' which is of
course qualified degree of cowaradice-
Now. in relation to this contract for the
construction of earthworks in St. Louis.
l wish to say that will be frank upon this
subject as upon every other. j do not APP
prove OF that contract. / think the con-
tractor made too much money out Of it,
/ do not suppose it was made upon the
Judgment OF General Frement, but that he
yielded to tho opinions of the heads of the
engineer department about prices. l
think the prices were too high. and truth
compels me to says SO. because when |
stand here to vindicate General Fremont.
I will not sacrifice the truth to vindicate
him or anybody else. If | speak at all. /
must express my convictions. But admit
ting that there was extravaganza in his de-
partment. | ask whether every other de-
part ment Of the Army has been managed
with more care and less extravaganza
Has not the Government been imposed on
even here, despite the keenest watchful-
ness OF the most experienced officers. some
of whom have had no military duties to
engross or distract their minds?
General Thomas says in his report that
two or three hundred horses were found un-
fit for service; that they were lame and
ringLoned and spawned. although it is not
proved that Fremont had seen a single one
OF them. Well. sir, when l came to
Washington at the beginning of the pre-
sent session, upon looking into the Star. !
noticed the sale of fourteen hundred son.
demned Government horses, Of the Poto-
mac. which brought prices ranging from
twenty five cents to sixty dollars. lel
my friend had no denunications a
ga:n,t the management OF this depart
ment. In time of war, in conducting op.
erations on so extensive scale. the ex-
perience of England in the Crimean wa
and of oil other nations at such times un
fortunately prove that it is not to be ex'
pected that everything would be precisely
right, that all articles shall be suddenly
bought of the best quality and at the low
est prices. / noticed. also. that the exhib
its attached to General Thomas's reports
contained two singular complaints agains
General Fremont. One was a complaint
by General Hunter. that Fremont had or
dered him into the field, and that he had
forty wagons and forty one mules. AnC
the very next of the exhibits was com.
plant by Quartermaster Turnkey. within I
few days of the date Of General Hurter''
letter, complaining that Fremont had or
dercd him to push on the inspection o
mules as rapidly as possible. | thinl
these two complaints exactly answer eacl
other. Bat how could Fremont have sat
isfed such critics?
Ny friend from Missouri vindieates th'
character Of the city OF St. Louis. l wisl
could believe all he says about the loyal
ty of that city. have spent many pleas
ant days there; I have enjoyed not only th'
hospitality Of my friend from Missouri
representing the St. Louis district. but o
many other friends in that city. i bcliey'
with him that the great body OF the work
ing men Of that city are loyal, but that ma
ljority OF the men Of wealth and high socia
position there are disloyal.
Mr. BLAIR. of Missouri. The gentleman
is mistaken.
Mr.. CoLFAx. ] cannot yield to M
friend at least until ] have finished thi
sentence. Why, sir, even since Genera
Halleck assumed the command of that de
partment, the secession candidates for Off
GERS of the Chamber Commerce Of ST
Louis were elected by sweeping majori
lty.
Mr. BLAm, Of Missouri 1t is true tha
the secession candidates were elected by
the Chamber of Commerce by majority
and the same fact is true In reference ts
the Mercantile Library Association of st
Louis. but that only shows that the com
mercial men Of the city were largely en-
gagged in commerce with the South, and
were in that way identified with secession
But say to the gentleman that / know
the city well. and / know that the tive
Regiments raised. which General Igor
took prisoners at Camp jackson. were al
the secession troops they could raise ana al
they could aris There wa$never any ne
cessity Of declaring martial law.
| Mr.. CoLFAx beg to say tomy frient
that know something about St. Louis
though not, of course, as much as himself
I have not only visited it frequently. bu
l read the newspapers published there. an'
particularly paper which used to be con
sidered his organ, bnt believe is not nov
favoriie Of his. the ST. Louis Democrat
And my friend knows very well that in tn
case OF the Mercantile Library Association
cvery effort vas made, both by the Union
lists and secessionists, to carry the election
that the Union men paid the dues of Unio'
members in arrears. and proposed number
Of others. qualified for admission. 70
the purpose Of obtaining their votes. bu
nevertheless were defeated by large ma
ljority.