Year: 1862

ers Tor gain. lie occupied. with his family
and several members Of his staff marble
palace, and lived. amid its Iuxuriant fur
niture and glittering wares. at stipulated
expense Of $4,000 per annum to the Gov
ernment. at time when the homes Of
millions OF our people were darkened by
the horrors oe civil war. Could it be ex
pected that his subordinates would display
any special sympathy with our national
sufferings, or marked solcitude to guard
the public treasury from plunder? Instead
Of going to Cairo, rs he could have done
for few dollars. on one Of the vessels
Transporting the troops which accompanied
him. he chartered magnificent steamer
at COST of s. 900 to the Government. to
convey himself and cortege alone. This
steamer was anchored out in the stream
instead Of lying at the wharf as all others
did and do, and when the general drove
in his carriage and four to the waters edge
yet another steamer. at still further cost to
the Government, as we learn for claim
presentel ! for it. was emplo, ed to put him
self and suite on board. A foreign prince
or potentate, in a season of national mour-
ming. might thus live and thus enter his
pleasure yacht or barge of state. but in
sensibilily amid the calamties of civil war.
and wastefulness. when the public debt is
being increased at the rate Of from one to
two milious daily. when exhibited by a
general Of the American Army. is a spec
tacle from which the patriot may we'll turn
in grief and humiliation"


Sir, there was but one thing more need
ed to complete this wretched picture Of
public debaucherJ and crime. and that,
unhappily. was furnished. The following
extract from the report of the committee
shows that Major General John c.. Fremont
conspired to overthrow the Constitution
of his country, and trample under foot the
liberties OF his Government:


"The statements of these Witnesses
officers of unimpeachable integrity and
Intelligence will. we are sure. be heard
by the Government with equal astonish
mcnt and sorrow General Fremont pro-
CLAIMS, on assuming his command, that
there WAS no longer any civil rights: that
there was no Government except that out
side the Constitution. which had been
suspended; that it WAS his determination
to administer his department wthoui
reference to law or regulations; that the
people Of the United States were in the
field. and that he was at their head, and
that he meant 10 carry out such measures
as they, the people, expected him to carry
out, without regard to the red tape of the
Washington people. that is, the president
and Congress. 1t is singular how per-
fectly these sentiments harmonize with
those held by the usurpers who in this
and other ages Of the world have sought
and established absolute power upon the
ruins of public liberty. Some of these
usurpers, taking yet higher grounds than
that assumed in the interview with Colonel
Andrews, have claimed for themselves
mission to carry out the will of God but
none Of them have sunk their prete"sion1
below special mission to carry out the
will of the people, Cesar, when he stood
upon the banks of the Rubicon and waved
to his veterans to advance. did not make





this The words SO earnestly and so Of
ten spoken, announced a revolution con
ceived, but which. happy. most happily
for the country. the parent had not the
strength to bring forth. No man has
lived in the tide Of times wise and pure
enough TO be iutrusfed with such power
as is here claimed. Military chieflalns
who cut red tape always do it with their
swords, and history proves that the throat
Of their country suffers quite much as
does the tape III the operation. AS free
institutions have their foundations in law
and in the obedience Of the people and
their representatives. civil and military,
to it, this expression OF purpose to cast
aside all political and constitutional re-
slraints, made III the halls Of Legislation
even. would alarm. but when made in the
field bv chieftan at the head ola great
army, it chills and awes the patriots heart
by its parrlcidal spirit. 1t reveals an un
scrupulous ambition, winch awaits but the
prestige and power of victory to sweep the
Government itself, as q cobweb, from ils
path:


MS oau PaSo III thc HiotoiN VI 'ii'
late commander of this department, gath
ers deep shadow from the circumstances
under which these declarations were made
General Fremont had few weeks before IA
ken and subscribed the following military
oath: i. John g. Fremont. do solemnly
swear that | will bear tue faith AMI allie
glance 10 ;he United States, and that will
serve them honestly and faithfully against
their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and
that | will observe and obey the orders OF
the Prssiden. of the United States, and
the orders of the officers over me. accor
ding TO the rules and articles Of war
He thus. in sight Of God and his country.
had plighted faith with his Government
that he would bear 20 it true allegiance
and he stood pledged by the most solemn
of human sanctions to support that Con
siitution which. when the people are in
the field. places AT their head the Presi
dent of the United States, and not any gen
eral holding a commission under him.


With con6ding iondness he had been
summoned from the obscurity of private
life. and, preferred above the vete
IL