Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-04-16

Democratic Union rarty,
The Western Military Department
More Extraordinary Exposures
Another dark chap cr Of fraud anu in.
competency il revealed IN the report OF
the Western War Claims Commissions,
composed OF Mcssrs David Davis, Of llli-
noir Joseph Holt, vt Kentucky; and
Hugh Campbell Tho names, says the
New York Express, are guarantee that the
commission was faithfully executed. -
Their report ellis Al printed pages, ,'Nnd
/ the testimony Of twelve hundred witTess-
es examined by them will occupy f ON six
: 10 seven thousand manuscript pages. The
fresh charges against Gen. Fremont are
beyond anything in the past, and we give
Them Condensed, as follows Bali Sun.
He contracted according TO this report,
for eight mortar boats, at 500, 600 which
we're appraised at S3S,000 by intelligent
boat and engine builders,
among the claims was one Tor twenty
five hundred tons Of ice, ordered by Gen.
Fremont, ordered and shipped in Ootober,
when the weather vas becoming cool. 1t
was sent to Jefferson city, and most Of i
wasted, because there was no room to store
it at that place, The commission allowed
only one ho!f Of the claim for rent Of
thrcc-stary frame house FOR Gen. Fremon's
headquarters, hired at S., 600 per annum
and they complain that the purchases of
railroad cars, and the large dealings in coal
growing out of tho steam and gunboat SER
vice, are largely tainted with fraud.
G. L.. Reard, a Californian, and }. {.
Woods, figure largely AS specuatcrs IN the
report, they have been peculiarly favored
by the general. Beard received Sl9l 900
in advance for some contracts for forts,
Of the special contracts for arms and
munitions. spec ally made by Gen. Free
mont S6Il 600 remain unpaid, and the
commission deducted from this $4,000
for excess Of price
Beard attacked the treasury in front,
flank and rear. lie brought bills for
forage amounting to Sllj, ,OOD.
If the various fraud, in Gen. FrGmont's
depart ment brought to light by the com.
misSionecs are astounding, his declarations
we:c more 50. lie said to Lieut.. Col. An.
drews, paymaster of the regular army, &C
cording 10 the testimony of that officer,
that
"7Ec pcoplc Of the United SUITES ,crrc in Ms|
FcA; tia, he oas a, their heat, ani ha: he
meant % carry ont "uh measures as they clpect2d
Ihm Il cuIrg out, wihoW rtgarI to tie rel Vps Of
the Washington pcopi3."
Colonel Andrews told him that rod tape
meant system Of government, which, in its
details, might he carried too far by sub.
ordinates. but the general system OF our
government was a wise and good one d' il
he undertook 10 set asl le its principles he
would become cntangled with difficulties
General Fremont replied by repeating his
former remark, and Faying that
1--WE have only extra constitutional gov.
ernment--no civil rights, to speak Of
and all ordinary peaceful rules were TO be
set aside"
Other witnesses, Of un:mpcachable in
tegrity. testified that Gen. Fremont had
made similar remarks in their hearing
In commenting lpon this, the commits
sioners say that
Military cheiftains who cut red tape
always 10 it with their swords, and history
groves that the throa. Of the country suf.
fers as much as the tape does in the oper
alton
The Tribune quotes the fuller testimony
of Col. Andrews as follows
Late in August. or in the early part Of
September. Gen, Fremont came into my
office with Gen. McKinstry, and after Gen. /.
McKinstry left, he commenced tho con-
versation without anything calling for it, .
that am aware of. He spoke pleasantly, |
but said. 'rha people Of the United States .
were in the field, that he was at their head !
that he meant to carry out such measures !
as they (thc people, expected him to car
ry out, without regard In the red tape Of
the Washington Ieople,' My only reply |
was in few general words, that, rs well |
rs could understand the term, red tape !
meant system OF government. which, in .
lis de.ails, might be carried too far by sub |
ordinates, but had always been of the
option that our general system was 4 wise '
and good one, and that he who undertook .
to set its principles or general details aside
would sooner or later become entangled .
in difficulties by disregarding all system. !
He replied by repeating bis general res
mark for think the third time,l That
the people were IN the field aid that he
was at their head, and would have every
thing done according to their expectations
from him; saving, now We have only extra
constitutional government, no civil rights,
so to speak all ordinary peaceful rules
were to be Sc. aside and all this thing Of
red tape must give way very shortly to
what the people required of him bad .
previously disobeyed Gen. Fremont, by .
resisting an order Of his which consider
ed unauthorized by law, and concerning
which gave my testimony before the
committee. Gen. Fremont
had never been before in my Office, nor
has he been there since. He had no bu.
siness to transact with me that morning"