Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-02


Ia Lieut. Giespes deposition reported by the committee
at page 80, he says
n reply to the inquiry of the honorable committee whe-
Their charged with message mission the Co
Capt Fremont when joined him the Klamath
lake May 1876, beg leave that early in Noyem
ber S45 received orders from the President Secretary
of the Navy, Mr. Bancroft proceed to California, by way
of Vera Cruz and the shortest route through Mexico to Ma
zatlan &c, was the bearer oil duplicate OF the despatch
the United States consul Monterey also packet for
j. C. Fremont Esq, and letter OF introduction the latter
gentleman from the Hon. James Buchanan. The former 1.-THE
letter Larkn destroyed before entering the port of Vera
Cruz having committed il to memory The packet and let
ter OF Introduction delivered TO Capt Fremont on the 9th OF
May, In the mountains OF Oregon"
Mr.. President the letter from the Secretary Of State, du
pcate of which, from memory, given to Capt Fremont
is hidden from and the public view copy called
for by the Senate and received and marked 'conden
a and reposes quietly your Executive archieves
would have done if had remained uncaed for the archives
OF the Department of State. only speak of it tcomes
to us in this report and to infer its character and import from
the fact that it deemed unsafe to take into Mexico and
hazard its discovery by the authorities Of that country and
that Lieut.. Gillespie, after committing it to memory
up and buried il in the deep Of the Gulf Its substance
was made known TO Captain Fremont, and II bore date in
October, ls45 Again. he had package for Mr.. FIRE.
mont, from Senator Bento and his family What the
contents of this package not our business 10 inquire But
will venture the assertion that the wisdom and prudence
Of the father urged the from the pursuit OF science
of insurecon and revolution did the fond at
lection of the wife the husband Of her love from the path
of peace into hazard and Dangers of boodshed and strife
There also letter FROM Mr. Buchanan, which new
and singular specimen of diplomacy beg leave to read 1t
is as follows
CIV sHISGroS, NOVEMBER 3, ls45.
"MY DEAR SIR: The bearer hereof, Mr.. Archibald II.
Gillespie about visit the northwest coast of America
business and has requested give him letter OF intro
ducton you. This do with pleasure, because he is gen.
eman of worth and responsibility and is worthy Of your
gard do not deem il probable that he viii fall in you
but, if he should allow bespeak forhm your friendly
attention. He viii be able to communicate to you ntorma
ton Of the health Of Mrs Fremont and CD Benton and his
family.
| JAMES 3UCHANAS
| 81. c. FREaosT, Esq, Oregon"
What this cautious and guarded litter from the Sc
cetary of State II was forwarded by NJ Gillespie, who
passed through Mexico the guise Of merchant and
credited him for all official purposes. II says do not
deem probable that he will fall in with you" Was it so
Was he not with direct purpose Of finding Capt Ere
mont And he not accredited to him by this letter,
matter how equvoca authorized agent of the Govern
ment and the letter Larkin exposition Of the
Wishes if the command of the Government Sir The
wishes Of the President commands to the military officers
of the government and these wishes, conveyed auho
ized all the acts which performed by OIL Fremont and
his prior the knowledge that existed between this
country and Mexico To be sure, General Taylor had then
passed TO the Rio Grande, with orders maintain himself
there being the western boundary Of Texas but the
in California took date from November ls4 and all SUISSE
guent unknown COL Fremont, and he
governed alone by the communications Of Gillespie
How, them be said that he acted upon his espon
sblty in aiding the revolution California and that por
ton Of the responsibility rests upon the Government al
home when his for the very purposes subsequently
developed by the expressed orders tcShe Of that Gov
ernmen and the whole has been sanctioned and approved
Glespes mission produced it and all the successive
he aiding and assisting Co. Fremont
From such evidence Swallowed forth in these pages. |
deny that Col Fremont acted without ORDERS and deny
that these claims aniecedent 10 the knowledge OF
in any different from those which succeeded that
event.
Mr. President in confirmation predetermined intention
to take possession Of California refer the Senate the
OF instruction from the Secretary Of the Navy, dated June 3D.
Sf5 to Com. sloa conveying TO him the same directions
which given TO Col Fremont through Lieut.. Gillespie,
subsequent date, and all before the existence reason
able expectation of the existence Of with Mexico We
find in the report OF the committee letter Of apology from
Com. Sloa dated the 9th Of June 1896 the Secretary
| the Navy, in which he says
"Ihsve upon reflection come the conclusion
that your instructions OF the Gath OF June last and every sub
sequen ORDER will not Justify taking oil part
Of California any hostile against Mexico ne
Their party have declared war;"
This the construction put upon those orders by The too
commander of the United States forces the Pacific
and for this caution he subsequently eproved and dismiss
ed from the command, and charged by the Department with
unwarrantable inactivity.
beg leave submit letter from the Secretary of the
Navy Com Soa dated the l3,h Of August 1885, which
fully explains the views of the Government and severely re
proves the Commodore for bis cautious delay
"u. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT,
/ g " ShiHyf0H august 49, 1916.
"CoNMoDoRE The Department has received your letter.
No. 81 OF June from which appears that while you
OF the existence Of actual between the United
States and Mexico, you remained in nac,it and
did not out the instructions Of June 2i IS4j framed
be executed IN the OF the declaration OF
much in the of actual hostes Those insruc-
tons you we're ordered 10 carry at once"
In letter of August s. 1885, the receipt Of which you
acknowledged on the 2Slh January 1916, referring them
said IN the eteHf Of will obey the
Gently addressed TO you Panama In my letter Of October
IL lSl5 OF which you acknowledge the receipt the 18th
March, $780, referring 20 these instructions more said
further In the of actual hotes between the Next
Government and own you will so dispose of your
fed in the instructions forwarded you from the Department
in view Of such contingency Aud surely amb-
guilty in this language.
And in my letter Of the esd Of February last sent through
Mexico remarked: This letter you overland
enclosed you suggest, to Messrs Mott Talbot Co., Ma
zatan and you will readily understand the with which
| IL is written
"The Department. August 1sl5 had also told YOU that
your force should be weakened while
ened in Mexico Your particularly approved
OBTAINING the lrigate Constitution.
"The Department will hope that more urgent necessity
than yet appears existed for the otherwise return
| OF that vessel.
The Department willingly believes in the purity Of your
iaentions. Bnf anxiety 10 no has led
a most unfortunate and HnsrdfTdHtabie nacitaty.
';GEoRGE BANCROFT
/ " Commodore JoHS ID. SLolT,
commanding u. s. Nav,l Forces in the Pacific Ocean
most striking coincidence also demands attention This
letter Of and recall Commodore Soa bears date on
the day that Commodore Stockton and Colonel Fremont
had completed the conquest of Upper California Ciudad de
los Angeles In this connection there another singular CO.
incidence showing how the wishes Of the Government had