Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-26
GENERAL FREMONT.

Ing that 1t does not know who are best qualified
to guide the military counsels and lead the armies
of the Union" (Which is strange confession to
come from source that is always flowing with
military outgivings ventures the bold remark that
it " does know that the President and his advisers
should give command to these and to no Others"
1t adds, by way of general moraism, that " to
award or continue command, large or small, with
any regard to the feelings Of this that person,
were frghtiul dereliction. The fate of our coun
try, the lives Of her brave defenders, must not be
thus trifed with"
Our contemporary then Immediately proceeds 10
make its application Of these sound principles in
the following terms:
ave have been anxious that command should be
awarded 10 Gen. Fremont and abandon the hope
that one will be-"
The particular considerations on which the
Tribune bases It's plea IN behalf Of Gen. FIRE.
mont, and which it fears the authorities in Wash
ington have failed dolly to consider, are thus
stated
1T is currently alleged that Volunteering ia at an end
that whatever soldiers enlist heuceforth draft
ed. We believe that The appointment of Gen Fremont to
an important command with authority to ,ept compa
nts and regm # volunteers FOR the campagn, would
prove this mistake. lu operating ,inst any region
Astounding In slaves, Gen Ffemonts name would be
OF strength. Lit would be proclamation of free
dom which would BE- read in midnight darkness and by
those who do not Know letter of the alphabet from
smother No slave il the South would need urihr
that he would neither be abused betrayed by
army command d by Fremont.
We make these because they do not seem
to have as yet been c0Dsl 81 at Wash ngto1 and be-
cause We unieguedy anxious only for ultimate
for pres mt success We know hat many thousands Of
hapr lao 49,
once more at the lead IT army advancing upon the
heart Of the rebo Let ech Of Generals BE- placed
where he can be most eff Give aud let any who shall be
adJudged superDuu inefficient be quietly mustered
ut of the errice Let Mpjor Generals be assigned to
the command of trgades and Brgaoiers to that of reg
ment IT, II they there be servceabe but let
DO retaited in ideness througl the critical
opening Letus nave every sword rs well every
ket IN Use the Union hosts advance IL deadly grappe
with the cohorts of rebellion"
As the "proclamation of freedom" for some
reason, does not work all the miracles which were
promised BY its original friends, it may be worth
the Presidents while to consider whether the in
efficacy of this measure is not due to the want
of faith which the "loyal blacks" have in any de-
cree signed by Mr. Lincoln, who at one time was
charged by twenty millions" (speaking through
Mr.. Greeley with "a criminal Difference to rebel
slavery" The blacks have, it seems, proved apa-
thetic 10 the call Of the President, notwithstanding
told that it would spread like electric light
and fire from plantation TO plantation, and now the
Tribune wants to have proclamation of freedom
embodied in the form Of Major General Fremont
one which, 1t says, (ualike that of President Lin
coln's,) "would he read in midnight darkness and
by those who do not know one letter of the alpha
kn4f Al, ~ =.
Wendell Phillips (who3e views on the art of war
have been 30 much matured by the habit of lectur-
ing before New England audiences on Toussaint
IOuyerture and other military themes) fully con-
ours with the Tribune IN the opinion that General
Fremont is the only man who can put life into the
proclamation He says the "loyal blacks" are
waiting IN eager expectation of his coming for
they have faith in him which dates from the year
1856, when some Of them, after his defeat for the
Presidency made a rising in Tennessee, hoping
that he would come To their aid. As the Presi-
dent has heretofore found such judicious counsel
lors and such cousiderate friends in both Mr. Gree
ley and Mr.. Phillips he will doubtless give to
their predictions aud promises, as to the temper
and disposition Of the loyal blacks" that conf
dence which they merit az coming from political
prophets OF such long standing and such approved
sagacty.
We do not know that wo can concur with the
Tribune 10 It's suggestion that major generals
should be assigned to TIE command Of brigades if
they can there DC most scryiceablc." We fear that
the application of this rule to Major General FIRE.
mont, should j. be judged that he would be more
serviceable a Urig5digr than major general,
would give offence 10 him if not to the Tribune
We have not forgotten how he formerly resented an
order of the President which placed him on level
with Major Generals like Backs, Mcdowell, and
o hers of high character. Is cur contemporary in
making this suggestion has doubtless lost sight Of
the circumstances under which Gen. Fremont was
relieved from active service in the presence of the
enemy, We may quote the following order issued
by Mr.. Secretary Stanton on the 9Th of last June
"WAR DEPARTMENT.,
Washington, June u, 1862
Major General John G. FIR mont, having asked tn be
relieved from commacd Of III First Army Corps Of the
Army OF Virginia because says the position assign
ed IN by III app0in men of Maj General Pope com
maudernchef of the Army of Vrguia is subordit ale
and inferior tho,e heretofore he'd by HIM and to remain
he ssys largely reduce rank and cpnsdera in the
service
Ii is ordered by the President that Major General John
e.. Fremont BIS rel eve ron comm nd