Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-04-05


g. Os no. United States 5.2os 10 MONEY less active
with good supply al 6per cent.
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A BlbulOus Major General.
Water at the West, and especially on the Mis-.
tis'lppl, Is supposed to be not only unpleasant to
the taste, but also to possess properties that reD.
der it deetsrious to the human s,stem when ia.
ken in large quantities as a beverage. This i, es-
pecAlIy true as one descends the Mississippi
river, water there being reckoned as valuable
only for navigation, bathing, and irrigation This
accounts for the fact lhot, in the regions named,
water IS seldom used in It's unadullepted state as
drink, but Is only taken after its unhealthy pop.
critics have been destroyed or neutraizei by
large admxturs Of whisky, which, with lager beer
has come o be the staple beverage Of that com.
Try. Oar readers ought therefore not to be sur
prsed to learn that Frank Blair formerly a Ma.
Jor General in the Western army, and now a
member Of Congress from Missouri, and a bitter
enemy Of Secretary Chase, should have become
addicted to the fee uso of liquors other than
water. As member Of the Blair family, and
even as member Of Congress, this is doubtless
not out Of Character and the habit should perhaps
be mildly criticised as one OF the necessities Of bis
ofmer life for thirst mus, be quenched in some
way, and where it is contrary to the laws Of hy-
gene to imbIbe the aqueous huld Of the country,
spimuous connections nay perhaps be lawfully
rcsored to.
Frank Blair, as we have said has been Major
General and served 10 the Western armies, and IS
this service did not take m into regions blessed
Win pure water, he was, OF course still obliged 10
AXE With him the more harmless had'. In the ycin-
ty OF Vcks0urgh he found his stock exhausted, and
sent for more, and this order, strange as it may
seem, has been made the subject Of Congress.
sioaa' Investigation, Of which Ptriey writes to
the Boston Journal as follows:
THE BLAIR INVESTIGATION.
Il appears from the evidence before the special
committee Of the House Of Representatives ap.
pointed TO examine into the genupeness Of an or
der for liquors, &c, pronounced by Gen Blair a
forgery, that the paper 10 question was written
in June, S63. Gen. Blair was then at Vick,.
burg, and sent man named Michael Powers, in
his employ, to ST. Louis with a written order for
twenty five gallons Of brandy, twenty five gallon,
OF whl'key twenty-five half barrels OF ale, and
citiwba, caret cigars and canned fruits in pro
water there is not healthy beverage, and the
General and his staff desired to extend their hos.
plnlltes 10 the other officers thereaJou,s There
were eight members Of the It II, aud il appears
that the word " each was inserted in the order,
50 that tach item WIS multiplied by nine, ard the
total amount purchased C'me to $S65l From
th' arose the charge that the General had been
I purchasing liquors to smuggle into the rebel ter.
rltory, aud he pronources the statement "a base
and miserable laisehood" OF Mr.. Met urg, the
member from Missouri who introduced the mat.
Tor into the House, the General said lie has
taken the place the forger and the fal,ifer and
| pronounce him an infamous liar and scoundre."
I 1t is rumored that Gen. Blair will have to va
cate his seat before long as the horse appears dis.
posed TO admit the contestant. Should they do
20, the President will at once re-appoint him to
the rank OF NJ General, and he will take the
/ field.
MeCurg was, f course, entirely ignorant Of
the dry ii may be called parched, condition of the
BAR throat, or he would never for moment
have suspected that $4,000 invested in fluids wa.
too large quantity for tie private use Of Major
General Blair and his staff This vonld he onl,
on allowance of quart Of brandy, a quart Of
whisky, and four gallons Of ale per day. for each
mao for siege of one hundred days, leaving the
claTet and catasba for hospitality" and any one
who knew Frank Bair's great aud burning thirst
would understand that in his case at least tn,
amount Was not excessive. We can also under
stand how Major General who has occasion tc
ship from time 10 time, such large invoices o
stimulants, should feel the burdens Of Secretar,
Chase's trade restrictions on the Mississippi.
We trust however, that Perley's rumor
that Frank Blair is again TO have a commission
aud return to The Amy, is without foundation
} M'or Generals who require such extensive sup
plies OF 'piriluous and mat liquors to quenct
their thirst sre safer in Congress than in tn,
army and il there is danger that he will agair
receive commission if he loses bis seat at Wash
'nston' ne pray tie Hogse of Representatives
not to Gust him from his resent position.