The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-12-02

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vide employment for the masses,
who not only become producers, but
consumers. Manufactures are what
we want
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
The meeting last week was even more large
ly attended than on any previous occasion,
and was marked by the good feeling which
prevailed. Early on Thursday morning, the
city was decked with flags in honor OF the oc-
cason. At eleven O'Clock, a pocession was
formed in front of the Kennard Hotel. and
marched to Case Hall, where the time was
pleasantly spent until about o'clock, in social
converse, and in listening to impromtu address
ses tafter the welcoming speech of Capt.
Bunts,) from "Old Rosey," Gems. Sherman,
Hooker, Palmer, Davis, Wood, Noyes, Kim
ball, Garfield, Ammon and Opdyke.
In the afternoon, the regular business of
hearing reports, &c, and the adoption of reso-
lutions took up the time. The evening session
was the event of the day, Gen. Garfield de-
liveriDg enlogy upon the late lamented Gen.
Geo. II. Thomas The immense hall was
crowded, and the orator pronouced a most
eloquent and mastery ocation upon the char
acter Of the deceased, which was listened to
with marked attention. We would be pleased
to give it entire, but our space will not per-
nit We give, however, that portion of it
having reference to the charge mude by the
rebels that Gen. Thomas would have taken
service with the cause of rebellion, could he
have obtained the rank he desired The
rofutation is irrefragible:
Before leaving this period In the life of
General Thomas, it is due to his memory and
| to the truth Of history that 1 should notice an
attempt which was first made in the South,
amidst the passions Of war, to throw shadow
on his good name, by declaring that he sought
service on the rebel side, and only determined
to stand by the Union when he failed to re-
ceive such rank as he desired among his enc
mics.
When peace re-opened intercourse between
the North and South, these voices of calumny
were silent, and remained so as long as Thomas
was alive TO anWer. But when he was dead,
spectacle of a grateful nation standing in grief
around his honored grave, awakened to new
energy and envy the malice of those who had
staked all, and lost all, in the mad attempt to
destroy the Republic which Thomas had so
powerfully aided to save l should dishonor
his memory were even to notice the whicKed
assaults made upon him in rebel journals, by
writers who Withheld their names, or shielded
themselves behind the impersonality of news
paper editorial.
One attack, however-and, so far as / know,
only one-had tho Endorsement of a RESPONSE
bic name. The Richmond (Va.) Dispatch, Of
April %, 1870, contains a letter from Fitzhugh
Lee, late general in the rebel army, and before
the war a lieutenant in the regiment of which
Thomas was major.
In this letter Lee asserts, chat Just before
the war Thomas feelings were strongly
Southern; that in 1861 he expressed his inten-
ton to resign; and, about the same time, sent
a letter to Governor Letcher, offering his ses-
vices to Virginia "
To this statement invite the most search
ing scrutiny. That prior to the war the senti-
ments of Thomas were generally in accord
with those which prevailed in Virginia, and
that he strongly reprobated many of the opin-
ions and much Of the conduct of Northern
politicians, were facts we'll known to his friends
and always frankly ayowed by himself. That
resignation of his commission, we have ne
proof except the declarationSof Fitzhugh Lee.
But it would not be in the least surprising or
inconsistent; if, at that time, it seemed to him
more than probable that disu1lion would be
accomplished, and the army dissolved by DO
litical action and without war. Should that
happen he must perforce abandon his profess
sion and seek some other employment. If it
should appear that at that time he made in
lr,1lrSU de
ment as professor In some college, the fact
would only indicate his fear that the politi-
clans would so ruin both lis country and the
army that the commission of q soldier would
be less honorable than the Office of school
master.
The charge that he ever offered or proposed
TO offer his sword to Virginia, or to any rebel
authority, except point foremost and at the
head of his troops, is utterly and UNANIMOUSLY
false. Not a shadow of proof has ever been
offered, nor can it be. When Fitzhugh Lees
letter was published, he was challenged on all |
sides to produce the letter which he alleged |
that Thomas had written, rendering his Ser |
vices to the rebellion. His utter failure to |
produce any such letter, or any proof that such |
a letter was ever written, is a most complete |
refutation of the charge.
A few weeks after his first assault, Lee did |
indeed publish what purports to be a letter |
written by General Thomas, dated New York |
city, January Is, 1851,
Whether this letter is genuine or not, and if |
genuine, whether printed as it was written, |
we have no other evidence than our faith in 1
those who received and published it. But |
waving the question of Its genuineness, and /
Of the correctness Of the printed text, l appeal /
to the letter itself 1t is not addressed to Gov |
ernor Letcher, nor to any rebel authority; nor |
does the writer tender his services to Virginia |
or to any government or person. It is letter |
addressed to gentleman who had advertised /
in the newspapers for some person to I'LL a |
professorship in military college in Virginia,
The letter inquiries what salary pertains to the
situation. It expresses no intention OF
Willingness to resign; and states ss the writer's
reason for making the inquiry, that from pres
ent appearances he fears It will soon be neces-
sary for him to be looking up some mean for
support This letter strongly confirms the
views 1 have taken Of General Thomass CHAR
acted and feelings.
Since the publication of Lees letters, testi-
mony has come from all quarters which ami
hilates forever all ground for this charge; and
now, while the witnesses are living, l desire
put on record at least a small portion of their
testimony. General Hartsuff, now and for
many years soldier Of whom the nation is
proud, writes that he saw Thomas many times
near the close of 1860, in the city Of New
York, and heard him discuss the state Of the
country, in company with many officers who
afterwards vent into the rebel army.
He SAYS: "General Thomas was strong and
bitter in his denunciations against all parties
North and South that seemed to him respons:-
BILE for condition of affairs. But
while he reprobated, sometimes very strongly,
certain men and parties North, in that respect
going rs far as any of those who afterwards
Joined the rebels, he never, in my hearing,
agreed with them respecting the necessity Of
going with their States; and he denounced the
idea, and denied the necessity OF dividing the
country or destroying the government. This
was before the actual secession of any of the
States, when the prospect of war was not
strong"
These statements Of General Hartsuff are
ibundantly corroborated by other testimony. {
Let it be remembered thatthe question is not,
What were General Thomas opinions of the .
political causes that Led TO the war, nor who
vas at fault in bringing on the ag;tation but
t is this: Did he give any countenance, sym
,athy, or support TO the idea Of disunson of
var egainst the government?
Listen TO the testimony OF General Il. W. ,
Johnson, fer many years gallant soldier of |
ur army, and now an honored member Of this
ociety. He says;
HAfter the surrender III Texas, my regiment Z
Of which Thomas was Rsjor) concentrated at
]arlisle Barracks, was intimately associated 4
nth General Thomas from that time until the [
lose Of the war. During the Patterson cam
aign VIC messed together, and frequently con. 4
ersed freely together in regard to the war I
remember 10 have asked him what he should
. if Virginia seeded. His reply was charac-
.ristice Of tie man: i viii help to whip her 4
ack again General Ghonae aeyer finched.
or faltered, nor wavered in his deyot on tc
is country