The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-08
ISSUE NUMBER DUPLICATE
COMMUNICATION.



he employed In the service of the United States N
California 1t would be sufficient and no doubt TO the
public an entirely satisfactory, answer to the piece to
state that it is anonymous, and has been withheld I'LL after
IT known that Mr. Fremont too far on his way
back to the western coast for the publication to overtake
him The first notice that he can have that any such
accusation has been published against him will be
months hence, and thousands OF miles distant, when
copy OF the paper containing II may chance TO follow
HIM into the distant province whittier he has gone pre-
csey the bels published against him the spring OF
last year circulated when he far distant and
only came TO his knowledge many months afterward.
1t would. therefore, | say, be sufficient to the
anonymous libel of the Baltimore Clipper, that, in mi-
aton of the dasardy attacks of last year, the time of
Mr. Fremonts absence has been chosen for its pubca
ton But he facts OF the transaction alluded to
are well known to me, and of record oath
therefore think it proper, in Mr.. Fremonts alb
sence, and consequent naOlhty TO answer for himself,
to present statement of the truth of the case; and
address If to you, sir, the editor of the government
Journal because is matter which concerns the govern
ment-the accusation being based official commu
nicalon. Ito wit, from Col Mason, in California, TO the
War DEPARTMENT. and from the fact that had the govern
ment supposed there was any truth in the accusation,
any crmlnaiy IN the transaction, would have been its
duty, when arraignng Lieut. Col Fremont before court
MARTIAL to have presented also this charge against him
This accusation goes to his honor and character and if
were true, would involve fraud upon the government.
1t is not therefore, to be supposed that if the department
looked upon the tIasacton allu6ed to any way I'M
proper ii would have suppressed the information pos
sessed while arraignng Mr. Fremont on other charges,
not in any way affecting his honor, the public interest
or service Moreover, the department. in correspondence
peaed applications that Mr. Fremont should have full
trial. embracing point OF accusation against him.
set out precisely that rule governing Its arrangement
charges for his triamaking its approval or dsapprova
OF his acts the precise test whether charges might or
might not be based upon them
The transaction under consideration, however, is fully
able to vndcae itself There is mystery or conceal
men al all about it, and has been il was not
secret there secret here It's whole extent was brought
by Mr. Fremont himself before the Military Committee of
the Senate long previous to his being informed that Col
Mason had made report concerning It, lis history rs
contained in the testimony OF Capt Hensley taken before
the Senate Military Committee and printed i'll Senate
document No IS of the late session 1t in these words
er the formation of the civil government of Califor
MA by Commodore stockton in January 1877 was up
pointed by Governor Fremont commssary of subsistence
10 the California BATTALION in which capacity made such
troops paving the articles purchased by giving my OH
cal cefncate of the amount due In discharge of this
beet cattle, $40 each Celez also hing part of
the same transaction twenty five hundred dollars in cash to
The whole of the loan and the price OF the cattle
was agreed on our part, to be paid 10 him within six
months thereafter il not to bear interest on that date till
paid Soon after this purchase the California battalion
dsbanded and Gov. Fremont ordered retain pos
session OF these cattle until he could know whether those
succeeding him ia command would become responsible for
the contracts made under his authority When was as
certained mat his successor would not become thus
sibe Gov Fremont directed place the cattle in safe
ez tor the amount due him accordingly placed the cat
tie in charge Of Abel Slenes. responsible man, who
their increase There was also left in that country about
sixteen hundred pounds the possession of John
sosd % sana ha Of Ans and a9
"swom to before me- this 10Th day of FsbEvW1y ISIS
Previous to the arrival of Gen Kearny in California
and afterward during the existence of the civil govern
ment established by Commodore Stockton, Mr. Fremont
procured his personal responsibility large supplies for
the prosecution Of the and the Of the govern
lie gave receipts for these supplies in all instances
where was possible and they are still outstanding
against him TO the amount of several hundred thousand
dolars-the not yet having made provi
sion for their payment When Gen. Keamy assumed the
governorship, and Mr.. Fremont deposed, out of
the supplies that had thus been furnished, MIR |
Fremons responsibility, the cattle contracted for with
Ceez had not been used and there also other
small supplies stated in the testimony above quoted of
Capt Hensiey, still on hand The supplies furnished
and already consumed by the troops far exceeded pay
men out OF any private means; and Mr.. Fremont; not
would not recognise the contracts he had made, consd
cred his duty, in regard to the rights OF the persons
who had furnished the supplies, well as to his own
responsibilities, not TO convert to use what was still on
hand until he could be informed whether it would be
paid for by the ice which would receive its bene
fit 1t was currently reported that the contracts he
had made, and debts he had incurred would be re-
pudiated by the new governments and the least he
could do was to prevent any further loss through his
MEANS to parties who had made advances. He there
fore went TO Monterey from Los Angeles to make
personal and direct inquiry whether his contracts would
be fulfilled by the new governor. General kearny,
in his testimony before the martial, says that he
does recoect this inquiry having been made of him
but adds, what precisely to the purpose, that if it
had been made, he would have answered an The negative
ed trial 107:
"Queston. Did not Lieut. Col Fremont in that interview
make known you that he wished know whether you,
governor would the government sbiutes
accrung during the time that he governor under Gov
Sockton's appointment
"Answer. have recollection OF his having asked me
If he had, 4 should hare ansoered IN the negative"
In this state of facts Mr. Fremont would certainly
have been demented had he turned to Gen Kearnys
use such portion of the supplies this furnished were
still in his control 1t would have been direct fraud
the persons who had furnished the, supplies He
could moi annul the contract and the cate and
he therefore did what every will say precisely
the best thing he could do he placed the cattle in the
keeping of responsible man, and way that no ex-
pense whatever would be incurred for their Keeping there
to await the decision of the government itself upon the
contract There they still remain, for the OF the gov
eminent and subject to its order, at any moment 1t al
firms the contract or for the security of the owner OF the
cattle, the government does not provide the means
Of paying for them. 80
That the officers attached to the subsistence depart
ncn who service in California under Gen
Kearny did not and would not pay the claims accrn'ng
for and supplies under the authority Oh Comno
ore Stockton and Col Fremont is further shown by The
following communication from Gen. Jesup 10 the Secre
lary of War; and the accompanying note OF MAJOR
Swords:
"OUARTERndA TER GFSERAI's OFFICE.
''Washington city, May %, 1913
"SR In reply the of the honorable chairman OF
In, Conm,tlos on Military Affairs dated the 18th instant
nd referred to this Office to-day, requesting information
gad 20 California claims have the honor report that
IN Calitornia but having official Information the
oIbiecr unable to form conjecture the
mount IL is believed, however, be large. Major
swords, who accompanied General Kearliy principal