The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-06-19

l wish to call the attention of the House
and the country. l allude to the melan-
choly history Of the military department
Of the West. as written by the commit
tee on war claims, at the city Of St. Louis
Would to God that this Republic could
have been spared this additiona! aud most
bitter cup of shame! The report of this
committee is SO extraordinary, so utterly
amazing in its monstrous revelations Of
lawlessness. aud fierce. devouring cupid
ty, that the mind almost refuses belief in
its statements. l venture to assert that il
is without parallel in the recorded trans
action Of any nation on the face Of the civ.
il'zed earth. But painful and humilating
as the facts therein contained are to every
man who loves the pnrity of our national
name. vet the character of the gentlemen
who compose that committee, eminen,
alike for their ability. their patriotism. and
there integrity. together with clear and en-
questioned evidence on which they base
their report rivet the belief in every candid
mind that the simple truth has been con-
scieptiously told There is no escape
from this damning exposure. It's light is
as scorching. whitening as the hot blasts
Of the simeon of the desert 1t will not
do for gentlemen on the other side of the
Chamber to attempt by studied silence to
ignore its existence. 1t is not document
to be treated in that wav. 1t ema
mates from source of the highest respon
sibility. 1t is the wori of honest. faith
full labor. No malice from personal grieis
or political rivalry can be charged against
it. lie, us see then how so fair, SO able a
report deals with the idol to which grea,
party has linked its sinking fortunes. l
can quote but enough to show the general
lcerse and corruption which prevailed.
My time forbids more than this
In July, 1861, General Fremont. sur.
rounded by his personal and political IA
voriles, gathering from the Atlantic sea
board and the coast Of the Pacific, like vul-
lures assumed command Of the ives,
tern department. with the rank of major
general. and established his head quar-
ters at the city Of St. Louis. He at once
proceeded to inaugurats a system in the
purchase of military supplies. of which the
committee speak as follows:
This system, alike fatal 10 the pecuni-
airy interest OF the Government and the
morality Of the service, was not confined
to tents, but extended to every portion OF
the field of army supplies which was suf-
fciently fruitful to attract the avarice OF
this class of men. Honest mechanics who
Lad tents for sale, and merchants who had
supplies which the Government needed
and men from the country offering horses
and mules were turned from the quarter
masters Office without a conference, and
driven down into the meshes of the mid
die men, to become. in common with the
Government. prey TO their rapaciiy.'
Starting with such system. each days
practice under it was new page of cor.
rurtion. Whether fortifying St. Louis. al
loss to the Government of S25O,OOO,
in the infinite folly Of building a worth.
less pontoon bridge at Paducah, at another
<fS la, l.
construction of railroad cars at a loss oil
S75, 600. in the purchase of forage. by
which 100000 were plundered from the
people, whether in the purchase of arms,
Of clothing. the building of boats, the
purchase of horses. mules and their equip
ments. the rent of houses, Of barr acks, ol
steamboats,, the use Of railroads and tele-
graph lines. in all, in everything. every
where, all pervading and omnipresenl
fraud Of the boldest and most audacious
character is discovered and dragged to
light by the labors Of this committee. 1t
is not, sir, poor. pitifal. sneaking fraud,
but fraud of gigantic dimensions. and Of a
daring satanic aspect it is fraud such rs
a corrupt and aspiring consul OF Rome
might commit in some distant and opulenl
province, when he cast his ambitious and
longing gaze upon the imperial purple. 1t
is fraud such AS has marked the career in
all ages Of those who entertained the
usurper's designs against the liberties OF
thsir country. That do not state this
case too strongly, let the following ex.
tracts from the report before me bear wit.
ness:
"The most stupendoss contracts. invol.
wing an almost Unprecedented waste of the
public money, were given out by him
General Fremont. in person to favoriles.
over the heads of the honest and compe
tent officers appointed by law. 1t seemed
to be his purpose to present himself as
the embodiment Of political power, and to
show alike by his words and his conduct
how little lie depended upon the Govern
ment of his country. and how utterly he
disregarded its laws. its regulations and
Ito nnlicv OF courso such an ox..l