The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-03-14
GoNGEsI:sssoNAI
MAsnrNarnn. Mnrch n,h i

dehberation, tO employ him in some ono
OF the military departments. lie (T,lair)
bad seen IL stated in telegrams that Gen.
Fremont had again and again demanded q
trial This is not true.
Mr.. RIDDLE Of Ohio asked on what
authority the Gentleman mado the last
statement.
Mr.. BLAIR, rcsuming, said no demand
Tor triel had been madc, unless il has
bccn made within the last two or three
days. Gen. Fremont had not made the
demand at all. for lie (Blair) had taken
pains TO satisfy himself Of the fact by in
quiry Of the Office of the Adjutant Gener.
al and that Of the Judge Advocate Of the
army. IL was most extraordinary that an
officer OF the army charged with crime
Iuutihy aud misconduct Of the wsr, and
/ deposcd from bis command in consequence
| Of these charges, should not ask trial
lie We injured the assertion that IL Gen.
Fremont will demand trinl the ndminis-
will grant il. II has also been heralded
! that tho Committee on the Conduct Of the
War had demanded his (Fremont's) res
toration. He (Blair) undertook to say
that such was notthe fact. II was simply
a publication Of some Of Frcmont's parti-
zans, and il was also said through the
press that Fremont was TO be restored TO
a command. lie (Blnir) nd not know
whether this was 50 or not, but inasmuch
ns ,hc information came in somewhat the
shape Of other publications, he believed il
was Of the same character.
Mr. BLAIR said there were preliminary
symptoms which foresbadowcd, and an
nouncod tho simultaneous appearance
OF the statement made by General Frc-
montin his defense bcforethc Committee,
aud The speech ofhis aid -de-camp, Shanks.
in this House. Tho statement and
the npcech inaugurate n new campnipn
and u new field, and battle is TO 30
fought with weapons far different than
The rude instruments of war--with proc
lamations, which up TO this timo, in Gen.
fremonts hands, have had no serious
elect. lie (Blair) commended General
Fremont's choice OF weapons. Ger
tain IL was that his proc amations did not
help the oncmy os much as his exposed
and isolated posts at Lexington and
elsewhere. His proclamations did not
iniure tho Administration as much as
= single purchase of worthless arms
and the erection Of useless earthworks.
He (Biair) did not believe that Gen.
Fremont wag, authorized to publish his
statement, which was extraordinary In ito
character.
MIR. GOOCI Of Mas, member Of the
Committee on the conduct of the War,
said that Gen. Fremont, having presented
u large number of documents, was re-
qussted by the Committee to prepare
concise statement as to the administration
OF affairs in his department, which he
(FremonD did at subsequent period.
General Fremont again appeared be-
fore tho Committee, and was questioned; I;
when he was about to leave the room no
was requested not to give information to
anybody outside of what he had stated to
the Committee. He (Gooch) understood
General Fremont to acquesce in this re.
quest, rs he had in others made by the
Committee. He (Gooch) only wished 10
add, that the publication was mudo with
out the knowledge, and against the con-
sent Of the Committee.
Mr, BAlR-"Was it all putlishcdW
Mr.. GOOCH-"His (Fromon.,s) state
mont and documents, aud not tho portion
in response to the inquiries Of tho Com
mittec.
Mr.. BLAIR said Mr.. Frcmonts ststo-
ment was as extraordinary as The manner
In which il found its way into print. Ii
was an apology for disaster and defeat,
and ingeniousy the suppression Of i'm
portant iaets and suggestions of others
which never existed. In this he shows
hc 10 better apologist for defeat than a
General TO achieve victories. Mr.. Blair
proceeded to speak of his early friendship
tor Fremont. III now had no private
gricfs, and it was only for the reason that
Fremont was found to be incompetent for
his position that he recommended hio re-
moval. He had acted fron considora-
tions OF public duty. He then spoke
at length Of the disasters at Springfield
and Lexington, TO show that these were
attributable to Fremont's incompetency
Those by whomhe had surrounded him
self had settled themselves down upon us
/ like obscene birds of prey. No men have
as bad characters us those who arc Ere.
mont's fumiliars, or course thoro arc
honorable exceptions. No greater Sian,
der was uttered by any man than that, a
the time Fremont went to ST. Louis, i
was a rebelious city, The declaration o
martial law was, therefore, suporinducet
by his Rpprehensions of imaginary
danger.
Mr, BLAIR also examined Fremont
contracts, aud other transactions. II
spoke for about two hours, the time hay
, ing by unanimous consent been eXtonde1
Mr.. COLFAN OF Indiana, said, Will
he differed with the Administration
which he assisted in suporseding Genera
Fremont, he desired TO have il undorstoo o
, that no matter whom the Administration
put up or pull down he would sustain
with all his heart aud soul and strengt
: of mind against the rebels in arms. IL
| Spprohonlcd that Il would hereafter up
| pear that the gontleman's (Blair's) fee
} ings had perverted his judgment. II
know that all men were lallible. Generl
Fremont was impulsive and impetuoul
, /, and he regretted that Fremont had su
, fered the publication TO which referenc
was made. With all the obloquy heape
, : upon him, with his reheence for 81
= months, he (Collax) regretted the publ
q cation al this time. The future won
have done him justice. lie could say IN
i much FOR Gen. Fremont. He wss Il
only Major-General who had gone out vii
n his troops away from his headquarters
;. pursuit of the enemy over field, valley al
v plain. Nomsn could believe the aspersic
II Of the gentleman form Missouri that Fr
'e mont was timid man. lilo did not a
ID provo General Frement's 81. Louis co
uScts. He paid too much for them; b
such faults were not confined 10 Gcner
Fremont, which he (Colfax) briefly sho'
cd. lie concurrod in the statement
:, Mr.. Blair that ST. Louis was a loyal cit
- for when after General Fremont was I