Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11
Discrepaucy In ths Dates

Now comes one of the incidents that re-
veal how plans were marred by those who
tried to use their official positions in Wash.
ington for their private ends 1t is evident
from the text that double game was played
by those who had access to the President at
this time, and to whom he had confded his
plans and actions, only to have them be-
trsyed. Apart from the text of the above
letter the following points ought to be con-
sidered:
First-Tbe date is September 2 and the
President states in his note: ST send it By
special messenger in order that it may GER
tainly and speedily reach you" The mes
senger delivered the note to General Fre-
mont In St. Louis, September 8, six days
later, although the journey was only little
over 90 hours duration. He received the
answering letter in the afternoon, left the
same day, September 8, and delivered it to
the President in time for him to write his
answer, as dated, September II. Where,
then, were the note and the messenger dur
ing the six intervening days?
Second-The President asked General
Fremont that he would, "of his own
motion" modify the part of his proclama-
tion relating to emancipation, and in order
that it might be possible to carry out this
request marked his note ftPrivate" thus
making evident his desire, "written in a
spirit of caution" that it be known as
General Fremont's better Judgment, on
second thought, that freedom should not be
given to slaves Yet, at the same time, the
special messenger makes public as he trav-
els that the President had ordered General
Fremont to do this, thereby nullifying the
entire intended effect embodied in the
Presidents request to General Fremont
Someone Must Have Betrayed Lincoln.
Are we to believe that President Lincoln
wrote note directing secret action that
he desired should appear spontaneous,
marked 1t Private, gave it to special
messenger to insure its certain and speedy
delivery" and then told that messenger the
contents of that note and directed an inter-
val of six days before the delivery of his
communication? Such is not President
Llncoln's known character Someone in
his confidence at Washington BETRAYED him.
The only reason that could have caused
Fremont to hesitate in deciding on his
course, that of acceeding to the Presidents
wish, was gone owing to the publicity given
the Presidents private note and he answered
at once:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
ST. LOUIS, September s, 1861.
The President:
MY DEAR SIR-Your letter OF the I'd by
ten before you had received my letter, and
before my telegraphic dispatches and the
rapid development of critical conditions
here had fully informed YOU of affairs in
this quarter. had not written to Won fullv
and frequently-hrst because in the fncess-
ant change OF affairs would be exposed to
give you contradictory accounts: and. sec.
ono, because the account of the subjects to
De LAID before you would demand too much
of your time.
Fremont Stuck to His Views,
Trusting to have your confidence, 1 have
been leaving it to events themselves to
show you whether or not was shaping af-
fairs here according to your ideas. The
shortest communication between Washing
ton and st. Louis generally involves two
days, and, the employment Of two days i'm
time of war goes largely toward success. or
disaster therefore went along accordf ng
to my own Judgment leaving the result Of
nv movements to justify me with you
And so In regard to my proclamation of
the 3Oth. Between the rebel armies the
provisional government and home traitors
felt the position bad, and saw danger In
the night decided upon the proclamation
and the form of IL. / wrote it the next
morning and printed it the same day. I
did ft without consultation or advice with
any one acting solely with my best 1udg-
ment TO serve the country and yourself, and
perfectly willing to receive the amount OF
censure which should be thought due If
made false movement. This Is as much a
movement In the war as g battle, and in