The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-03-05

Stanton and was appointed Minister to
Russia. On Sunday tie Goth of April,
1861, Secretary Cemeron and the other
heads Of Departments were summoned
by President Lincoln 10 meet him at the
Office of the Navy Department, where a
hasty conference was held. This was
eight days after Sumpter had been BON
bsrded and captured by the rebels, and
when all tie roads and avenues TO
Washington had been obstructed and
the National Capital was put into the
condition of siege. The insurgents had
stopped the mails in every direction,
and cut the lines Of telegraph. The
military and naSal forces which had
been called out by the Government for
the defense OF Washington were pre-
vented reaching the city by organized
and combined reasonable resistance in
the Stste of Maryland. Congress had
adjourned indefinitely. There was no
time TO convene them in extra session.
There was no adequate and effective or
ganization for the public defense. It
lay with the President and his oonstitu-
tional advisers TO choose whether only
the ordinary processes Of government
should he used and the government
be thereby allowed to fall into ruin, or
whether the extraordinary powers con-
ferred 10y the constitution in cases of
insurrection should be rosorted to. The
President chose the latter course, with
the unanimous concurrence Of his Cab
met.
Orders were issued to dispatch nm
armed revenue cutter to convoy the Cal
ifornia treasure ships then on their way
to New York, and to purchase or char
ter, and arm, number Of steamships
for war purposes. Governor Morgan,
of New York, or in his absence, George
ID. Morgan, Wm. r. Everets, II. N. I
Blatchford, and Moses II. Grinnell, were
requested to cooperate with the Secre-
tary Of the Navy in matters pertaining
to the forwarding of troops and supplies.
Secretary Cameron was, directed to au-
thorize Governor Morgan and Alexander
Cummings, ofthe city city of New York,
TO make all necessary arrangements for
rhe transportation of troops and muni-
ions Of war in aid and assistance of the
ofiieers of the army of the United
States, until communications by tele-
graph and mail should be completely
,c-established between Washington and
New York. No security was required
10 be given by them, and either of them
was authorized to act in case of inability
10 consult with the other. The Secreta.
~ Of the Treasury was directed to ad-
vance, without requiring security, two
millions of dollars of public money to
John A. Dix, George Opdyke, and
Richard NJ Blatchford, of New York,
% be used by Them in meeting such re-
luisitions us should be directly conse-
Iuent upon the military and naval meas
Tres for the defense and support of the
Government, requiring them only to act
without compensation, and to report
heir transactions when duly called up
IN. The reasons for this extraordinary
lctiOn was that the several Departments
If the Government at that time con
aimed SO large number of disloyal per
IONS that it would have been impossible ;
o provide safel y through official agents
)nly, for the performance of the duties
hus contidcd to citizens favorably +
,nown for their patriotism, LOYALTY and I
.bility. The orders issued as q conse-
luence of this council were transmitted l.
~ private messengers, who took cir
uitous way to the seabord cities, island
cross Pennsylvania and Ohio and .
round by the Lakes.
On the Both of April, 1862, the House
II Representatives had under considera- ,
ion resolution from the Select com
llttee ON government contracts touch
ng the Fremont purchase of Hall car
'ines, III which the practice of employ !
ng irresponsible parties, having no. Of {
icial connection with the Government :
nd Of purchasing by private contract
bidding would have been
more advantageous, was unquallifiedlyl
On this Holman, of Indi-
ma, Democrat, moved the following
RESOLVED, That Simon Cameron Iate
Secretary of War, by investigating Al.
'xander Cummings with the control of
arge sums of the public money, and
uthority to purchase military supplies
without restriction, without requiring
rom him any guarantee for the faithful
of his duties, when the
ervices of competent public officers
we're available, and by involving the
government in vast number of CON
racts with persons not legitimately en-
saged in the business pertaining to the
ublect matter of such contracts, espec-
ally in tho purchase of arms for future
delivery, hes adopted policy highly in
urious to the public service, and de-
'ervos the censure of the House. Z
No debate on the resolution was per
nitted, and it was adopted by vote of
yeas against forty-fve nays,
Ill the Democrats voting for the censure,
with enough Republicans to carry it.
On the 9th of May, President Lin