Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-27

consequences If any result would thus be ac-
eomplIshed; but when / find proven offenses IN
our own midst Of sufficient enormity to PROSTATE
any nation that ever had place on the pages of
history, If not speedily checked see not why
should pass them by, in order to discuss a sub
jet on which there i, no diversity Of opinion.
have not, however. completed my proof Of
the charge which l make of general and wide
spread fraud in the management Of the financial
concerns of tic Government. There Is one dark
chapter more TO which IwiSh 10 call the attention
Of the House aud the country. i allude to the
melancholy history of the military department
OF the West, as written by the committee on
war claims, at the city Of St. Louis Would TO
God that this Republic could have been spared
this additional and most bitter cup of shalnel
The report of this committee is so extraordinary,
so utterly amazing in its monstrous revelations
OF lawleSsness, and fierce, devouring cupiiity.
that the mind almost refuses belief in its state
ments. 1 venture 10 assert that il Is without
parallel in the recorded transactions Of snv ma
ton on the face Of the civilized earth But nain-
tul and humiliaiing the facts therein contained
are TO every man who loves the purity OF our ma
tional name, yet the character of the gentlemen
who compose that committee, eminent alike for
their ability. their patriotism and their integrity
together with the clear and unquestioned evil
donce on which they base their report, rivet the
belief in every candid mind that the simple truth
has been conscientiouSly told. There is no es-
cape from this damning exposure It's light Is
as scorching, whitening the hot blasts of the
simeon of the desert Il will not do for gen.
tlemen on the opposite side of the Chamber 10
attempt bv studied silence TO ignore its exist
ence. 1t is not a document to he treated in
that way. 1t cmanates from a source Of the
highest responsibility. 1t is the work of honest
faithful labor. No malice from personal griefs
or political rivalry can be charged against il.
Let US see then how 20 fair, so able report deals
with the idol t. which great party has linked
Its sinking fortunes. l can quote but enough To
show the general license and corruption which
prevailed. My time forbids more than this
In July, 1861, General Fremont, surrounded
by his personal and political favorites gathering
from the Atlantic sea board and the coast of the
Pacific, ike vultures 10 their prey, assumed the
command of the Western Department, with the
rank of Major General and established his head
quarters in the city of St Louis He at once
proceeded to inaugurate.a svstemin the purchase
of military supplies, of which the committee
speak as follows:
This system alike fatal 10 the pecniary interests Of
the Government and the morality of the service not
confined 20 tents, but extended every portion the
field Of army supplies which sufficiently fruitful TO
attract the ayarce OF tins class of Honest mcchan
cs who had tents for sale rchantS had supplies
which the Government needed aed from the country
Offering horses and mules were TUNED from the Quarter
master Office without conference, and driven down
into the meshes % the middle Inpn'' to become in
common with the Government, prey 10 their rapaciiy
CONCLUDED TOMORROW