Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-17
From the Washington Union)
OF CAPT. FREMONT IN
Upper CALIFORNIA.
Letter from Senator Bs,ltOn 10 he President.


deem il my duty to lay before you the private
letters which have received from that officer,
showing you his actual position al The latest dates;
the unwilling manner in which he became IN
volved in hosliliies with the Mexican aulhor-
ties OF that province before he had heard oil the
war with Mexco and especially 10 disprove the
accusation officially made against him by Co.
vernon Castro VI having come into California
with body of United States troops, under The
prelext Of scientific expedition, but in reality
10 excite the Americans settled IN that province
10 an Instruction against The Mexican govern
ment. This accusation is OF The srayesl char
acer, most seriously duplicating the good
faith and honor Of our government, and officially
made by Governor Castro, in despatch 10 the
minister OF war and marine under date OF the
first OF April last, and published in I'll Monitor
Repubicano, in the city VI Mexico, bY the order
OF the Mexican government, on the l0lh oil May
last. A copy OF this paper was sent 10 Mrs. Ere
mont, my daughter, by The Hon. Mr.. Slidel, and
an English translation OF il is herewith presented
When Capt Fremont lett the q. States lo COM
plele his scientific lab0s beyond The Rocky noun
iains, il was with full knowledge otIhe political
as we'll as personal difficulties Of The enterprise
lie knew that the relations OF The United States
we're critical bolh with Mexico and Great Britain
that he WIS going through the territories oil The
one. and among the settlements oil the other-iha
jealousy would attach 10 his movements, and all
his acts be referred 10 his government land he
WAS perlectly determined 10 use The utmost cir
cumspeclion in all his conduct, conflning himself
wholly 10 his scientific pursuits, and carefully
avoiding as well the appearance as The reality oil
either a political or military mission. With This
view. and afier having raversed The desert, and
crossed The Great Basin which lies between The
Rocky mountains and the Sierra NevadG oil the
Alta California, he letl men upon Inc ronller, an
hundred miles from Monterey, and went alone 10
that city 10 explain his objects and wishes in per-
son TO Gov. Castro. He did this in the most for
ma and olfca manner, in company with the u.
States consul, Mr.. OLarkin Cat whose house
ne stopped,) and conforming 10 The whole detail
! of Spanish ceremonial, he not only called on The
governor but also on the project and the aicatde.
The interview was entirely satisfactory. 10 the
GOVERNORS remark hat lie was bringing cons.
derable body Of United States troops with him,
Capt.. +. answered that it was MOI so-thal he had
no troops al all-only few hired men for secu-
rity against Indians, and killing game-tha he
was moi even an officer of The line but OF Topo-
GRAPHICAL Engineers and that he was seeking a
new route (among the objects OF scence) TO The
mouth Of the Columbia, upon line further South
than the present travelling route and which had
brought him through the unsettled paris OF the
Upper California; and that ne now wished 10 WIN
Ter in the VALLEY Of the San Joaquin, where there
was game for his men, and grass Tor his horses
To this the governor agreed, and Capt. Fremont
lrt Monterey to bring his men 10 the beautiful
valley which he had explored in his previous ex-
nedition. and 10 which both himself and his men
looked forward as 10 paradise OF repose and re-
eshmenr, after their toilscme and peTilous march
OF three thousand miles among savage tribes and
through wilderness ard desert countries.
Scarcely had he arrived in this valley, when
information began 10 reach him from al! quarieIs,
that the Governor was raising The province
against him, and coming upon him with troops OF
ali arms, cavalry, artillery and infantry; and that
his situation was most critical and dangerous
hs 'Rs s da ssgs iRfffH Sellers
offered TO join him; but he utterly refused their
assistance, because he would not compromise
them. But he did what honor and sel-preserya-
ton required, and what the courage and hdeli'y
of his men enthusiastically seconded; he took
position, and waited the approach OF the assail-
ants and that position was nearer 10 them, on The
summit Of the Sierra, overlooking Monterey, al
thirty miles distance, and whence, with their
glasses, they could plainly see the troops, with
their artillery, which had crossed the bay (ol
Monterey to San Juan, on their way 10 attack
him. The Governor, with these troops, and with
all his threats, after coming towards The camp on
the Sierra did not come TO II; and Captain Ere
mont, faithful 10 his design 10 avoid collision, u
possible, finding himself not attacked, determined
10 retire, and proceed 10 Oregon on his intended
route OF The valley OF the Sacramento, the Tia
malh lake, and the valley OF the Wahlamalh RI
yer. Accordingly, about The leth OF March, he
left his position on the Sierra descended into The
valley OF San Joaquin, and commenced hi, march
by slow and easy stages, OF four and SIX miles
dav, towards Oregon.
Il is OF this encampment on the Sierra, that
Governor Castro makes particular complaint in
his despatch TO the Minister OF War and Marine,
as an evidence Of hostile intentions, and where
The American flag was raised, ratification
built, and the American settlers called in for its
defence. Unhapply we have no letter from
Captain Fremont, detailing The events of these
days; but the want Of such letter is well sup
piled by the Official communications from The
American Consul al Monterey 10 our Secretary
Of State, and by Captain Fremonl's brief note 10
the Consul (writlen in pencil,) while expecting
The attack OF Governor Castro, and which has
been heretofore published in our papers. Mr.
Buchanan furnished US, as soon as they were re-
ceived, with copies Of these dispatches, which
are herewith laid before you, AMI from which il
will be seen that Governor Casro's accusations
against Captain Fremont arc entirely unfounded;
that so lar from having excited The Americans 10
revolt, he absolutely refused 10 receive those who
offered 10 join him; and more, thai when alter
leaving this position, and granting discharges 10
five or six men, he refused 10 NIL their places
from the men in the country, SO determined was
he to avoid as well in appearance, as IN lacl me
smallest act offensive or injurious to The Mexican
authorities. The same correspondence shows
The entire fa>chood oil all The superlallve gas
conade which Governor Castro put mo MS ON
cial report about the spolS OF The camp-lne uis-
persion OF Fremont and his men-shelf iiShl mo
The bulrushes, and through the deseit-his suiio-
cation in the cradle oil dangerous conspiracy,
&C., with all which imaginary exploits his official
despatch was filled. while Fremont, with six,y-,wo
men and two hurdsed horses were slowly reli-
ring in a body, almost in his view, and utterly
abslanine from any act oil offence 10 The pro-
vince or lis authorities. II was no doubt this
false renort 10 his Government, ana The rldlcue
he incurred by II in California, that led TO his sub
sequent operations in May, 10 exlermlnale FIRE.
mon,'s paily and all the American settlers on the
Sacramento.
On return from The evacuated camp on the
Sierra, The governor also put forth proclama-
lion. in The vein Of his report and even worse,
swing Fremont and his men band of highway
robbers, plunderins the people, &c, which accu-
salion of plundering The consul took The trouble
TO investigate, ard found 10 be very trivial Of
fence OF manners mot of law or morals) which
the injured party valued at FIVE dollars, and ior
which Captain Fremont gave ten. For The rest,
the consul, after all this, declares the inhabitants
Of The country TO be we'll pleased with Captain
Fremont, and that he might walk the suee,, OF
Monterey the next day alone, if ne chose. Inc
only truth in Governor Castre's despatch is, that
Captain Fremont took military position, en-
,renched ii, and raised the American flag; ; but .
these events were The consequence, and mol Inc
eousc Of Gov. Casro's movement against him.
and This is fully shown in that brief, but heroic
note, written in pencil, in answer to The consoIs
warning, in which Capt. Fremont, after refusing
the aid OF the American settlers declared for him
sell and his sixly-lwo men, that they had done
nothing wrong 10 The authorities or 10 the people
OF the country-tha, if attacked they would de-
lend themselves, and die 10 The last man under
the flag of their country and leave il 10 their
country 10 avenge their deaths. All they did
was il sef.defence. The flag was raised, mol as
standard OF instruction, or as sign Of con-
tempt 10 the Mexican government, but as The
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