The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-10-31
Commanders for ,bat Department.

Commanders for that Department.
To restrain contraband intelligence
and trade, system Of searches, seizures
permits aud passes, had been introduced
/ think. By General Fremont. When
General Halleck came. he found and
continued this system, and added az
order applicable to some parts Of the
State, to levy and collect contributions
from noted rebels, TO compensate losses
and relieve destitution caused by the
Ivsb~llion. The action of General Ere.
mont and General Hslleck. as stated
cpns,iluteds sort of system. which Gen
esal Curtis found in full operation when
lie took command of the Department
That there was necessity for some.
thing of the sort was clear; but that Il
conld only be justified by stern neces-
siiy .and that j, was liable to great abuse
in administration, was equally clear
Agents to execute il, contrary to the
great Prayer. we're led into temptation.
Some might. while others would not
resist that temptation. 1t vas not pos
sible to hold any TO very strict ac-
countability; and those yielding TO tie
temptation would sell permits and pass
es to those who would pay most. and
most readily. for them; and would seize
property and collect levies in the ap,est
way to fill their own pockets. None '
being the object, the man having mon
ey. whether loyal or aaisloyal. would BE-
a victim. This practice douS:less ex-
listed to some extent, and it was real
additional evil, that it could be. and was
plausibly charged to exist in greater
extent than i, did.
When General Curtis took command
Of the Department. Mr.. Dick. against
whom never knew anything to allege.
had general charge of this system. A
controversy in regard TO it rapidly grew
into almost unmanageable proportions.
One side ignored the necessity. and mag
nitied the evils Of the system; while the
other ignored the evils and magni6eJ
the necessity; and each bitterly assailed
the motives of the other. ! could not
fail 10 see that the controversy enlarged
in The same proportion rs the professed
Union men there distinctly took sides
in too opposing political parties. lex
hausted my wits. and very nearly my
patience also, in efforts to convince both
that the evils they Charged IN each
other were inherent in the case. and
could not be cured BY giving either
party a victory ov-r tho other.
Plainly the irritating system was no,
to be perpetual; and it was p!aus.bly
urged tina, it could be modified at once
with advantage. The case could scarce.
'ly be worse. and whether it could be
made better could only be determined
by Trial. In this view, and not TO ban.
or brand General Curtis. or to give vic.
tory to any party. | made the change Of
Commander for the Department. L
now learn that soon after this change
Mr.. Dick was removed, and that Mr..
Brosdhead. a gentleman Of no less good
character, was put in the place. The
mere tact Of this change is more dis.
,inctly complained Of than is any con-
duct Of the new officer. Or other conse-
nnffnHGssv Hsva or Ia I,,s' Ts,srps Tsw pSsomm.,1.,
struc,ious as 10 the administration OF
the system mentioned. beyond what is
contained in the private letter, afterwards
surreptitiously published. in wbch di.
rec,ed him to act solely for the public
good .and independently of both pn,ies.
Neither anything You have presented
me. nor any thing have otherwise
learned. has convinced NE that he LA,
been unfaitbful 10 this charge.
lmbecility is urged as one cause for
removing General Scho6e!d, and the
late massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, j.
pressed as evidence of that imbecili,v
10 my mind. that fact scarcely tend,
10 prove the proposition. That massa-
ere Is only an example of what Grier-
son, John Morgan. and many others.
night have repeatedly done on their
respective raids. bad they chose to incur
he personal hazard. and possessed the
lending hearts to do it.
The charge is made that General
'choheld. on purpose to protect the ,
lawrence murderers, would no, allow
hem TO be pursued into Missouri
y hiie no punishment could BE- too sud-
len. or too sewers for these murderers.
am well satisfied that the preventing /
4 the threatened remedial raid into I;
dlssouri. was the only safe way to avoid !
n 'ndIscriminate massacre there, ,includ. +,
ng probably more innocent than gully. /;
instead of condemning. therefore ap-
rove what l understand General Scho.
eld did in that respect. .
The charge that General Schofeld 2
ad ,pnrposely withheld p. election from \
'yai people, and purposeIy facilitated y
ne objects Of the disloyal. are altoge,h !,
! beyond my power Of belief. / do g
OF arraign the veraci,y Of gentlemen h
10 the facts complained oil. but l do $,
ore than question the Judgment which
ould infer that these lfact occurred In >,
'cordanee with the purposes of Gener. l.
SchOGeld. slu.l ..i14 .aa .l,as-.1.. 4.
With my present views, l must de- =
Inc to remove General Scho6eld. In n,
Is l decide nothing against General 3,
atlsr. sincerely wish i, we're con- "a
n;sns to assign him suitable com. "