Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-27

| Ex-senator BENTON publishes the following card
in the ST. Louis Union of the 18th May. 1t explains
itself, and puts down certain Infamous charges
Gently made by lying wing letter writer
The public mind has been misled in relation to Gen
kearny and Col Fremont, IN California; and letter
written in Washington, assuming to speak semi-oi-
ciaiiy, and from knowledge of the contents of
published dispatches, RPues the supposed difference
TO an intrigue Of mine 10 place Col. Fremont in com.
mand over Gen. Kearny, and of which Gen. Kearny
had got wind. He says: IN is supposed that Gen.
Kedrny kas TO beliere that, through the iqfa.
eRce Of COL Benton, Col. Fremont IS to be, has
been, put an command him." To put end to
the anxiety Of the friends Of the two absent officers
account OF such reports will here publish extract
from private letter from Gen. Kearny 10 myself,
dated Ciudad de los Angeles January Ia, lS47, and
brought in by the same messenger who brought his
official dispatches. OF course | limit myself in the
extract TO what concerns Col. Fremont and myself.
Gen. Kearny says II hare not rritten line to you
for three months because opportunity presented H.
se Of sending a letter to you; one is nop offered By
icay Of Panama, and felc moments, and mast
icrite though hRrried7y. ssafter
the revolt against Capt Gillespie at the city of An
gels, in September last Com. Stockton sent COL FIRE.
mont TO the Sacramento, to raise volunteers put
down what be termed the rebels. On my arrival on
the 18th of Dec. at San Diego, found the Cornmo-
dOre there and prevailed him by the close of the
month to send what force he could spare from there in
this direction for the puopose of uniting with COL
Fremont in an attack upon the Californians, or TO
make diversion in his fasor.
On the 9Th and 9th we encountered the whole force
of the Californians, about 500 mounted under
Governor Flores and defeated them each day but as
all our men, except about fifty volunteers, were on
foot, and all the enemy were well mounted, we could
not catch them. The enemy finding that the struggle
against US was useless, and unwilling 10 submit to
Ill I'll IsD.L
pituated to him at San Fernando twenty-five miles
from here, agreeing to submit and to acknowledge
the American authorities, and again TO rise
against them. This day Col. Fremont at the head
of 400 volunteers, entered the city. He is here
and perfectly WELL and Las gained great credit for
the in which he has raised his volunteers and
conducted the expedition from the Sacramento.
Will you please, in
my name, congratulate Mrs. Fremont upon the honor
and credit gained by the Colonel with my best wishe.
for herself and all your family"
So wrote Gen. Keany of Col. Fremont, on tae
18th of January last, and the praise he bestows on
the raising of the volunteers and on the capituation
are well merited. Col. Fremont had gone six hun
dred miles to the American settlements on the Sacra
mento TO raise troops 20 reconquer the southern hall
of California, and lad raised 200 men and brought
them back in incredibly short space of time He
had done this without MEANS and without legal au.
thority (for he did not then know of his appoint
4 HleHl as OOiOuel) anu Dy his peTSOnd
influence, and the weight of his personal character
The defeated Mexcans marched two days TO surren-
der to him, from their confidence in him and the ca
pitulation 10 which he admitted them wise, just
and conformable TO the law of nations. He exacted
no oath of allegiance from conquered men, deferrng
that until definite treaty of peace should make them
citizens of the United States He treated no one as
rebel. He only exacted what the Law of Nations au
thorized, namely promise of submission the con-
querors receiving in RETURN protection for fe liber
ty and property. The capitulaton pacifed the coun
try and prevented the war from becoming guerilla.
publish this card to relieve the anxeties of the
friends of the two absent officers and of all we'll dis
posed persons. who would be sorry see Col. Ere
mont dshonor himself l do not publish it contra
dict the Washington letter-writer, DO object to
his including my two sons-in-law in his old and daily
work against me- but think that writer who as
sumes to be semi-oficial and to have knowledge oil
unpublished dispatches, and who is certainly cornO
rant, couchdnt and leudnt* about the departments
ought to have respect for the President than t.
make ham my instrument, and subject to my influence
in an intrigue put Brigadier General Kearny unde
the command of Lieutenant Colonel Fremont.
THOMAS ii. BENTON.
! st. Louis, Nay Ia, 1917.
SEATING lying down, aud getting up.