The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-14

Our revolutionary period, which occurs once
In four or eight years, is approaching 1t Is not
to be like the revolutions in France, Austria, or
Prussia, but calm, quiet one, at the ballot
boxes. Ballots and not bayonels are our means
of changing rulers.
The California Claims-How are they to be
Sstsled3
We call the particular attention of members of
both houses oil Congress to the following bill,
reported from the Military Committee of the
Senate, aud now under consideration in that
body. We insert it at length, as without the
document bodily before their eyes, our readers
might well be incredulous that paper 80 extra
ordinary could be attempted by any man in the
possession of his proper senses
BILL
FOR AscERTAsiNo AND PAVING THE CALIFORNIA CLAIMS.
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
ives Of the United States Of America in Congress
sembled That the sum Of seven hundred thousand dol
propriatd BIO, and the same hereby is appropriated to
deay the Of tho late military operations IN
of Brevet Captain, Afterwards Lieut. Co el Fremont
and slso to cefsy the expenses Of the civil government
established by Commodore Stockton, In California, and
to pay all ds claims arising out Of said military opera
tions and civil government
SEQ 2 And belt further enacted That the said claims
and demands so far heretofore ascertaned, and the
amount svdsneed by any written instrument, signed by
Commodore Stockton Or Lieut. Colonel fremont or by
muster rolls proper discharges shall be paid with the
least practicable delay And for the purpose Of ascer
tanning the justice and amount Of such part of said
claims have not been allowed or authenticated by
either OF said officers the President be- and he hereby IT,
authorised to appoint board consisting Of John Charles
Fremont and two officer: Of said battalion while in
nis TO examine and adjudge said claims aud to give
certificates for the found dus which oertihcste.
ehA DO forfhwi paid In California, by proper Of
fcer duly appointed or designated for that purpose
SEQ. And be sit further enacted, That said board
Ill tv4 81 AzE<
ings and return duplicate thereof to tho War Depart
ent and shall take testimony oath for against any
allow the same in whole or in part according to thejus
tice of the care.
Sec 4 And be Il farther sn,cted, That tho Califor
nis battalion shalt be paid rs volunteer mounted iDfan
try finding their hcrses and forage, and shall have
ali the benefit Of tie acts Of Congress in favor Of sucb
troops
SEQ Ard be It further enacted, That the said
bosrd shall give public notice Of the times and places
claims to be presented before them and any claim.
whether for damages, euppes services which shall
within twelve months IRON the time Of it's nrst sitting
shall be deemed and held to be unfounded and unjust
end shall be forever barred.
Of the majority Of the board shall be final. and eha
thorzs certificate to be issued to the original claimant
for the immediate payment Of the amount allowed,
cept in cases whore the first described member Of the
board shs disagree to the for reasons stated
until the claim is examined and allowed By the War
Department
SeC. ana Do IL Iurtner enacted, That the COmpeu.
eaton and expenses of the said board shall be paid out
Of the sum OF seven hundred thousand dollars appro
piated by the first section Of this act tho amount Of
the compensation the members of the board to be
the rate Of three thousand dollars year inclusive
other compensation receivable BY them and ct the
rate OF two thousand dollars year for tho clerk and
two dollars day to Witnesses summoned on the part Of
the United States and ten cents mile for travelling to
clerk and the members Of til. board, any, who may
not be entitled to army transportation.
1t will be remembered that MIR. Benton's SON.
in-law, Mr.. John c. Fremont, from a simple
lieutenant, was promoted by Mr. Polk, for the
purpose of gratifying Mr. Benton, to a lieu,e-
nant colonelcy, and his promotion would have
been eminently proper, if it had been conferred
from proper motives; for Lieut. Fremont was an
officer OF commanding attanments. Mr. Benton
was not satisfied, however, and when Lieute-
nant Colonel Fremont was arrested by General
Kearny, a court martial was demanded, and,
again to crafty Mr.. Benton, was ordered by the
President. The public has seen what an eyre
glous farce wes that whole Transaction After
costing he government one hundred and fifty
thous md dollars, it ended in sentence of dis
mi-sal from the service, which everybody knew
would never be carried into execution and,
accordingly, the President, as was foreseen, re-
mtted the sentence.
Doe VIC VIII suppose tHat MT. benton mao
o'her views than quietly to have Lieutenant
Colonel Fremont sent back to his duty =
The Witnesses who attended the court martial
were summoned before a committee of the
Senate; and a. great expense to the government,
large mass of testimony was taken relative to
the claims against the government in California
The result of this was probable understand.
ing between Mr.. Polk and Mr. Benton Mr.
Fremont's resignation was accepted, and tie bill
we have presented above was prepared Mr.
Polk was determined TO make another bid for
Mr. Benton's support in the next campaign. This
time he resolved not 10 stick at trfes, and his
few friends in the Senate received it is said, pri
vate instructions to support the bill.
To Judge from appearances, Mr.. Benton, how
yer. determined not to expose himself to the
dopger of being deceived. He knew Mr.. Polk
to he tricky, and there was, there fore, inserted
in the bill positive instruction from Congress
to the President to appoint John Charles Free
mont chief commissioner. Such instruction
was, to be sure, direct attack on the constitu-
tionnl power OF the President. One would sup
pose that so strict a constructIonist of the con-
stitutlon as Mr.. Polk, would grow indignant al
this attack his preroga.ve, involving, also, as
it did. gross personal affront. Quite the con-
trary. Who knows but that all the instruments
Of the Presidents wili-Hannegan, Moor, Tur-
ney, and others-received positive instructions
to swallow the measure without even grimace
twill be seen that the bill approprlates the
enormous sum OF seven hundred thousand dol
lars to liquida,o claims, aod to d fray the ex-
penses Of military operations in California. The
whole OF 'hla dcos, or d .arge proportion of 1t,
was contracted b. az Fremont and he it is
whom this bill ovps, sole Judge Of the jus
ice OF these claia.s, with absolute power to