Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-17
Correspondence of the Journal.
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Correspondence Of the Journal
LETTER FROM THE s2d O. v. vi
MExrHIs, TKsS June T. 1864.
This, as a military centre has ceased to pos
sess any interest. Now and then an expedition
is sent out but generally without definite OBJ
iect, and without result of consequence. An.
expedition of considerable magnitude left here
ON the lst inst. for the interior. suppose its
object to be the destruction of the Mobile and
Ohio RailrOad from Corinth southwark to Tu-
peIlo, Miss. and probably to try and get fight
with Forest. But Forest is sly,-exceedingly
sly,-and was never known to fight unless he
had much in his favor. A weak post he is very
apt to fall upon; a strong column sent against
he carefully avoids. His force is not large, nor,
forminable, but it certainly is moved with skill
and celerity Now thatour 'scatteration' pol
icy is pretty fully abandoned, this willy rebel
chieftain will hardly achieve further success.
Gen. G. c. Washburn now commands the
District of West Tennessee Just what his
command embraces, cannot tell. think the
limits of the District have not been exactly de-
fined. The 18th army corps seems to be de-
funct body,-in one sense at least,-for it has
no head-no commanding officer. The corps is
scattered from Atlanta to Nicksburg-twO di-
visions being with Sherman, portions of two at
Vcksburg, and the balance of the corps in this
District.
Gen. Washburn appears disposed to inaugu-
rate new order of affairs here. De has pretty
effectuaily prohibited all trade with the coun-
try and all passage by citizens through the lines.
He has also taken stringent measures to stop the
contraband and illegal trade heretofore carried
on along the river. Sofar very good. Similar
though not quite 80 stringent orders have been
several times before published. They have
never failed to give way to the pressure for
trade. They have always been too weak to re-
sist the lust of lucre-the inordinate greed of
gain-which trade with the country feeds so
freely.
It may be that there is to be no more of this
indulgence-nO more of this moral weakness
1t will be severe loss to the rebel partisans
who have infested this region, if this trade is
effectually prohibited. The senseless and mis-
chievous clamor that ''trade shall follow the
flag" has been quite long enough needed. -
Now let reason prevail. There is neiher rea-
son nor policy in this cry of ''trade follow the
flag" And wherever trade has been allowed,
it has simply opened cOmmissariat and depot
for the enemy, and been the means of enrich
ing crowd of sOulless, schemeing, greedy, un-
patriotic spectators and traders, who care no.
thing for laws, orders, or ''trade regulations,
and who willingly supply and aid the enemy,
10 accumulate gain for themselves.
Cut off their means of supplies render the
rebel soldiery and people utterly dependent
upon themselves, and their own productions
and they will soon be vastly more submissive.
So far it has been really relief TO the rebel
population, to be near or within the national
lines. They caused the war; let them feel its
pressure.
Yesterday was the second anniversary of the
capture of this city by the national forces. In
commemoration of the event, the loyal inhabit-
ants of Memphis, is to say, the colOred
people, s'niggers, y TO be plain, had grand
picnic. The affair was quite creditable to them,
and passed off very pleasantly. The blacks
turned out in great numbers-men, women and
children-dressed in gay attire, and as they
moved along Main street made an imposing ap-
pearance,
The Cleveland farce hardly excites comment
here The nomination of Fremont is looked
upon as-the work of class of rabid factionists,
political impracticables, too few in numbers TO
merit respect, vet bitter and reckless enough to
work much evil 1t certainly is piece of pO-
litical effrontry, unparalleled, to behold fac
ton. however soreheaded, which cries out
against the corruption and usurpatiOns of the
present executive incumbent, put in nomina-
ton before an enlightened people the very en-
bodiment of corruption and usurpatiOn, John
G. Fremont No man in the nation, of any
note, is SO completely unscrupulously corrupt
as he no man so manifestly usurper. Wit
ness his proAigacy, his endless corrupt dealings
at ST. Louis. Witness his disregard Of superb
Ors there, his unscrupulOus assumptions offunc-
tiOns pertaining to the executive solely. Look
but at his motley train of hangers on and ar
dent supporters Fremont has many friends
(I) and advocates, who have become rich thro'
his aid and they will shout for the gallant
Pathfinder -(whom old Kit Carson piloted
safely through the mountains and over the plains
of the West, )-until they are very hoarse.
few fanatics, meagre indeed the number,
will support this man, simply because he courts
their support Because nine tenths of the
American people think and believe differently
from them, and because they cannot rule and
dictate, they set up radical platform, and
put in nomination this political demagogue; a
Major General who never won victory,
Statesman who never made speech, a man
whose corruptions in oae hundred days cost the
government many millions.
john C. Fremonti is dangerous man. He
knows no Constitutional barriers. Law has no
restraints ON him. He isrevolutionary in prac
tice, visionary in doctrine, and puerile in judg
playing into the hands of the copperheads. The
only effect it can have is to distract and weaken
the loyal element, and to elect the candidate of
the Peace Democracy.
think do not mistake the temper and iudg-
ment of the loyal people at this time; and have
faith that they will treat this factional, revolu-
tionary element with the contempt and denun-
citation it merits. SEVENTY SIX.