The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-30

THE MISSOURI IMBRoGLro.

communication IN the columns OF the Ms
souri, Republican, gives the public an inside
view of that famous Missouri lmbroglio which
resulted in the frequent change of the Gene
rails in command, and the general embroil.
ment of political as we'll as military affairs in
the State of Missouri during the war. 1t
seems from his own showing that GIBSON was
an officer of the Government, receiving SAL
airy from its Treasury, and yet that he at
the same time SO thoroughly devoted TO the
interests of the Southwest Branch Pacific
Railroad Company that his time and energies
were devoted for months to the advancement
of its interests
From the shameless and unblushing devel-
opments made by GIBSON in this transaction,
the public may be justified in the suspicion
that many persons in the Government service
have been subsidized by one means and an
other to pay more attention to the interests of
some pet Railroad scheme than to their Off
cial duties as sworn officers of the Government
Of the United States.
According to the exposition of this ex-
Government officer, published in the Repub-
licdn of the oath inst. it seems that the Rail
road officers, aided by BLAIR, BATES and
others. had fully concocted their plans to OBJ
tain three or four millions of dollars from the
United States Government to aid the Compa-
ny in building their road, and this Mr.. Cir
son, who held position in the Government
service, in Mr.. BATES employment, seems to
have been the operating and travelling partner
of the concern.
After the scheme had been fully manipula
ted and perfected, President LINCOLN was in
duced. on the 18th of October, 1862, to tele-
graph as follows:
MAJ. Gen. Curtis. st. Louis. No:
Would the completion of the Railroad
some distance further in the direction of
Springfield Mo-, be of any military advantage
to you? Please answer. A. LINCOLN.
The reply Of Gen. Curtis, of same day,
was as follows
HEADQuARrERs. ST. LOUIS, .
" Oct l2th--1P. NJ.
&" President Lincoln
"Some convenience hardly commensurate
with cost. :. X. CrRTts,
Major General"
The writer says: 1.-The above satisfied
me that the General administering the af-
fairs of the Department, was governed
in his administration by interests inimical to
the State, and l returned to Washington
and insisted violently and per,inaciousy on
his removal
After long and angry controversy he was
removed, and Gen. SUMNER was appointed TO
his command
What an exposition of outrageous inter
meddling. This man GIBsoS, while, as be
says, he Twas connected with the Govern
ment of the United Ststes,'' used his time
and influence for this railroad corporation
and. according to his own showing, spent
months in efforts to procure its success. See
retary STANTON seems to have been in his
way. but he thinks he ''plowed round him.
CURTs, however. was an insurmountable OBJ
stacle. He did not yield to the arguments
of the Railroad officers, SO Mr.. GIBSON g re-
turned to Washington, and insisted violently
and pertinacously on his removal.
What commentary on the Missouri i'm
broglio! Because the Commanding General
did not think the building of the Southwest
Branch military necessity violent and
pertinacious effort for his removal was made
which, " after long and angry controversy,
secured bis removal
Aud this is boasted of as though State and
national advantages were promoted
Moreover the writer goes on to show how
he started from Washington with Gen
SUMNER who died how Gen. ScHoriEII
succeeded, but failed of his purposes; and
how he afterwards got Gen. RosEcRANs into
the matter, but finally, the war closing, the
Federal Government did not conclude his
plans and purposes, much to his grief and
modification.
All this may seem, in BLAIR, BATES and
GIBSON stand point, as very good morals, but
outsiders will regard it as infamous. How
are Generals to act fearlessly and faithfully
when such Federal officers as BLAIR, BATES
and GIBSON, not belonging to the Military
Department, thus endeavor TO countervail tn.
efforts of officers in their economical admin
istration of their affairs? Who would have
justified the outrageous use OF Government
funds so near the end of the war by com
mencing three years job of four millions
railroad construction, from Rolla to Spring
ZELDA road already heavily endowed by the
Federal Government
We hope Congress will ventilate this, and
like matters, and let US see what work has
been thus wrung out of Government by Rail
road corporations. And especially what Fed
eral officers have thus engaged in efforts to
swindle Government and ruin Generals who
could not be induced to carry out their infam
Gus schemes.
HENRY J. RAYMOND, in the New York
Times, does not anticipate any division in the
Union party in Congress on the question of
reconstruction Regarding the admission of
Southern Representatives, the Times says
at is perfectly natural and proper that
those who have given their money to the pro-
secution of this war should hesitate about
putting in rebel hands the power TO torepudiate
the debts thus incurred; and it is equally
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