Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-19
From the Ohio State Journal.
TRIAL OF COL. FREMONT.

The trial Of this distinguished officer is now
progressing at Washington City. The main
charge against him is muiiny, as eyinced in his
refusal to obey the orders ofGcn. KearDey,'a ,'and
to recognize him as Governor of Calilorni.
There are many eminent men attending the trial
which is conducted, on the pau of the defence
by Benton, Col. Fremonl's iaiher-in.law, and
Mr.. w. c. Jones, another Son.in-law of Mr.. B.
now a resident Of New Orleans, but formerly
editor of the ChillicOlhe Gazette. Considerable
feeling is manifested by all parties. and paricu-
lary by Gen. kearney and Col. Benton; and we
should be no way astonished, should the Trial re.
suit in some personal rencountres. The whole
operations in California will be unveiled by this
investigation.
Com Stockton has just arrived from the Pac.
fc. by the overland route, on his way TO Wash.
nglon, where he attends to see that his fame, as
the cenqueror Of California, does not suffer by
the bravado of the other claimants He laid
iuIl statement Of his purposes and plans before
the editor Of the ST. Louis Republican, who re-
marks:
ale claims that this the conquest was ac.
complished before the arrival of Gen. Kearney,
and, this being the case, that the conditional
powers vested in Gen. Kearney, were nopera.
tive, and that he had no authority to act as
'commander-n-chief,' in California. He as
sumes. that Gen. Kearney, on his arrival at San
Diego, did acknowledge him as conmander-n.
chief, and offered his services as Aid. That,
alto" the arrival of Gen. Kearney at San Diego,
Com. Stockton repeatedly profIered him the COM
mand of the expedition against Los Angeles,
which Gen. Kearney decined-preferring to
serve as second to Com. Stockton. That dur
ing the expedition, in the battle of San Pasqual,
and for several days after their arrival in the ci-
ty Of Los Angeles, Gen. keaney continued to
recognize the Commodore as Communicating
chief 1t is even stated, that Gen. Kearney, by
letter, requested the permission of the Commo-
dore, as commander-in-chief, to employ por-
ton Of the troops on particular duty. Some
DAYS following this, Gen. kearnev set up the
claim of being himself the Military and Civil
Commander Of the CALIFORNIA;. In the cores
pondence which followed, the Commodore de-
MED hisaulhorty, and suspended Gen. K carney.
He asserts that the Government at Washington
had sustained his views Of his powers, nasmuch
as he had been recognized as Commodore with
the rank of Major General, and that of General
Kearney was only Brigadier General"
II the government recognizes Commodore
= Stockton as the commandpr-in.chief in Cafor-
MIA, as he claims, this fact must, in a measure,
free Col. Fremont from the main charge against
him. But we pretend not to know what has
been the condition oflhings in California al any
5 time since the invasion. We have not the least
= doubt but that disorder ruled suprem6-as where
has it not since the advent Of The Duckcreek Pre-
sident!-but to settle the question as to who Of
: the numerous agents of the government, has
kicked up the greatest "fuss generally" among
all the row of the last two years, will puz-
zle more astule body than the military concave
B., at Washington.