The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-09
SPEECH OF MIR CLARKE,
OF RHODE ISLAND,
ON THE CALIFORNIA CLAIMS
In SENATE, APRIL 25, 1913.

Mr. PRESIDENT: The course of the debate upon the
California claims has, for the two days past been
srcted by senators to the constitutional power ct Con-
gress 10 appoint the commissioners to adjust them. In
the whole of the discussion, doubt has been expressed
either to their validity the propre,y of their just
and speedy liquidation In the opening OF the debate the
honorable senator from Virginia Mr.. MAsoNl took
much wider range; and after brie and lucid exposition
of the events that ranspired in California, he came TO
conclusions entirely different from those to which have
arrived from examination OF the facts, and the
whole evidence reported by the Committee Military
Affairs. In differing from the honorable senator in his
conclusions, distinctly stated by himself shall do ii
with Difference becoming myself, and courtesy not
unacceptable to him. will read from his reported speech
the positions TO which refe; presume the report is
correct The senator after speaking these claims
wholly authorized by law, says:
"rhey expenditures for military operations, ckicit
conducted WitOnt the authority OF the government 1t
becomes important them the character Of copntry,
that these clans Which we propoe by this bin !, Escog
and their proper place assigned hem in the legislative his
tory Of the County, this be no, done future hs,oY nay
,oar :" spirit 81 ap'ne and conquest an iasn
ona paa 's syr a'ass
Sir, the foregoing shows forth of the deductions of
the honorable from the report upon these claims,
from which totally dissent. .r
Again, the senator says:
My object to disconnct The authorities at home from,
this outbreak IN California, and prove by testl ony,
had part the ins1yeeton; that the probability Of sch
a. occurrence 'oas unk"9'n 70 ns mi ~ r
have read, sir, with much attention, the published
evidence relation TO these claims and will endeavor
10 show not only that the nsurrecon in California
events which ranspred there even to its snbiugation,
originated with the Executive department OF the govern
mcnt and consequent upon its orders conveyed to
Col Fremont and also to the commanding officer OF the
naval forces upon that station AZ sErI
Mr. President, after the eloquent and graphic descrp
ton given by the distinguished senator from Missouri
the United States to the shores of the Pacific, in Calior
MA and his subsequent departure from that country into
the Territory of Oregon of his return to the valley Of the
Sacramento and the stirring events which followed that
return, unto the entire conquest an4 occupation OF
that whole province of Upper California is unnecessa
for me TO attempt to give further delneatlon can
beauty will only briefly recite them. just so ar as is
necessary to eucdae the occurrences, and show the
facts from which my differences and conclusions are
drawn.
In the month of MAJ, 1885, in pursuance OF orders from
this government to him as an officer Of the corps OF opo-
graphical engineers Colonel Fremont (hen brevet cap
ain) left the United States, with small but wellap-
pointed body of men, his third scientific exploration OF
the west aiming to seek the shortest and most practica
bic route from this country to the Pacllc ocean His
course led him through portion OF Upper California
then State of the Mexican republic, and with which
the United States was at peace ne ayeIsed lhe aT
untrodden by the foot OF civilized man. and after great
toll and excessive privatons, on the 21th of january
1916 he reached the neighborhood OF Monterey, port
ON the Pacific, in the State Of California We get this
from letter from Thomas O. Larkin, consul of the Uni
ted States at Monterey, to the Secretary Of STATE dated
, Monterey, March n, 1916.
"SrR Captain Fremont, of the United States army
United States consular house The 9th day
of January, 1916. He remained but days,
which time with myself, he visited the andan, (pre
ecto) alcade, and Col AIvarado, informing them he
surveying the nearest route from the United States
the Pacific ocean. This infonna ton and that his
United States soldiers also by myself,
cIALLy given the peiecto Having obtained funds and
pples he returned to his camp being well known in
Monterey that he return when he collected his
On the 81 March he encamped the rancho of w
b. Hawe, where he received letters from the general
aud preecto ordering him Of the country, DC. This
gave the United States hig the
ng, as the only protection his men to look to-"
'sThe general informed the aIcsde the night of the
10Th that plain Fremont had left his encnrnpnen" &c
In Offering the foregoing. and other letters from Mr.
Larkin to the committee, Col. Fremont says s..- ii
Showing the great which he took avoid giving
,snce said authorities when he California
tue OF l5i5 and 1915, and the necessity
t.n,ive which he then took and his departure
from the county TO avoid compromising eher his govern
nent the American SETTLERS" =, '.-. .hntd3H
Thus, sir it that in pursuance of his researches
science and topography, and with no motives OF hos
uly, open concealed he entered California in Janu-
y, 1916, and, obedience the comfy due to the clv
md military authorities, reported himself to thsin and
asked their permission to recruit ms men and
,nmas iii them for the further progress OF has Jour
icy oil peace and exploration The Mexican authorities,
Jealous of these incnrson- and melted hy the Increasing
difficulties between them anil the United States in March,
Is TO- in consequence Of directions from the general gov
lsruuent in Mexico ordered Captain Fremont from the
country which they had undoubted right, ii not JUS