The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-14
& New Secretary Of War.

The real causes OF the resignation OF Secreta-
ry Cameron, and the appointment of Mr.. Stan
ton as his successor, have not yet come to the
surface. There is one reason, however, that
can hardly be missed in searching for the causes
Of this apparently sudden change, and that is
'tat Secretary Cameron has not been in accord
with the President on various important ques-
lions for some time, and particularly on the
policy to be employed in treating the property
Of rebels, including their Slaves. The modi6-
cation that President Lincoln caused to be
made in the report of the Secretary of War to
Congress ut its present session is fresh in the
recollection Of every one. 1t is surprising that
an op rupture did not occur at that time, as
the self respect of one OF the parties must have
been very much compromised by Cameron's re-
naming longer in the Cabinet The Secrott-
rvs independence since that nom }nt has been
at times very conspicuous, Only few days
since he refused to send IN The name Of son of
Gen. Patterson, for Il Brigadier's commss on,
untll Il positive order from the President, issued
at the urgent request of Gen Mcclellan, left
him no choice.
Our readers will not forget, either, how some
OF the semi-ioyal men and papers of Kentucky
clamored for Secretary Cameron's remova! as
soon as they learned that he had freely and fear
lessly discussed the policy OF making all pos
sible use of Slaves in the progress Of the war
for the Union, in his annual report, and when
1t is remembered how the advice of the timd
men OF the border States has been followed by
me Administration in the prosecution and pol
icy OF the war against rebels, it isn't difficult
to divine from what source the influence cane
which has rendered the resignation of the Sec
rotary OF War necessity. His transfer to the
Court OF St. Pctersburgh is only for the pur-
pose Of giving decent covering and appear
anee t. diSagreeable necessity, and IN unfor-
tunate rapture in the Cabinet at Washington.
This change in the Cabinet is another indics.-
ton of the settled purpose of thc administration,
unfortunately the only thing about which it
seems to have any well defined policy or pur.
pose,-to put out of the way and push aside
from the conduct Of the war every person who
has sharply defined opinion hostile TO slavery.
fremont was recalled for that reason. though
the Government attempted to disguise it by
sending out AdjutAnt, General Thomas, and at.
t4rward publishing his abusive, inaccurate and
mallciously siandorous report, the only iustif
cation which they have yet offered for the act.
All other Generals who have been suspected of
any decided hostility to slavery, or whose pas.
p)liticll course has warranted the belief that
tacy would strike fatal blows at the institution
II they had the opportunity, have been kept in
subordinate and unlmportant positions, while
those whose past political life furnished a guar
aaty of their soundness on the constitutional
rights OF rebels to hold their slaves, have been
put in command and given, practically, the con-
trjl OF the war. What has been gained b., this
cours' isn't apparent yet, though some of the
young psop.e of this generation may live to see
some good fruits of it. 1t certainly hasn't vet
hurried up the war very rapidly
We have no purpose Of praising Mr.. Gamer
on, though we believe he has been IN favor of a
vigorous prosecution of the war, sparing no
material interests of the rebels, but striking
home at the very heart OF the treason that Is
now wasting this country. We now believe
that it is this very disposition Of his coming in
conflict with the views Of Gen. Mcclellan, and
MIR. Lincoln, and Mr.. Seward, that has causod