Though Lincoln hated to appear
anything but a friend to a fallen political rival, he was at last
forced to act. Frauds in government contracts at St. Louis were
a public scandal, and the reputation of the government had to be
saved by the removal of Fremont in November, 1861. As an
immediate consequence of this action the overstrained nerves of
great numbers of people snapped. Fremont's personal followers,
as well as the abolitionists whom he had actively supported while
in command in Missouri, and all that vast crowd of excitable
people who are unable to stand silent under strain, clamored
against Lincoln in the wildest and most absurd vein. He was
accused of being a "dictator"; he was called an "imbecile"; he
ought to be impeached, and a new party, with Fremont as its
leader, should be formed to prosecute the war. But through all
this clamor Lincoln kept his peace and let the heathen rage.
Toward the end of the year, popular rage turned suddenly on
Cameron, who, as Secretary of War, had taken an active but proper
part in the investigation of Fremont's conduct. It was one of
those tremulous moments when people are desperately eager to have
something done and are ready to believe anything. Though
McClellan, now in chief command of the Union forces, had an
immense army which was fast getting properly equipped, month
faded into month without his advancing against the enemy.
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