The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-09


had been Withdrawn. He left the country of Caiiion'a
by slow but cautious marches avoiding all collision win
lis authorities and. after tedious and hazardous
amidst hostile and excited savages, we ma MN, eay III
the succeeding month of May, eneampea III o ~
the border OF the Klamath lake HIS pos,uon eie M 10
beautifully described BY the senator from nissoui', i
BrsTos thai he will excuse for reading and adopt
ing II. He says
an md,, Of such danger as Tues ma, ,.enoe
red "a read te hea barometer TO measure the ee
va o. ~ 1 hs ar-,he pencil sketch the grandeur
,nonntsin. and pencil the beauty Of ho~ers-he pen
no a9ks Of Nature. in midst OF such dangers
a. hs.e in the widest regions o. the farthest West
thai M Fremont pursuing science, and stunning
when arrival of Lieutenant Gillespie turned him back
ino California, and engaged aim in the operations which
sse ena ,t'' y ''' '''' ~ ~ $50 N'''''''' . VIC
Thus, sir. we this gallant and accomplished young
officer with discretion far beyond his years. and pru-
dence which has left hm-uninformed of the stir
ring events which day by day uansprng between
his country and Mexco-camly but without fear, yield
Calorna-avoding every collision with her authorities
:" stunning war;" seeking the undisputed territory Of
Oregon, and resting himself and his amidst lis wild
and almost UNEMPLOYED regions.
What, sir turned Colonel Fremont back from his peace
fu track into the country he had recently left to lend
himself to purposes so different from these he had steadily
entertained What turned him from pursuing science to
seeking war; II was the meeting the 9th OF May with
Lieut. Gillespie, who charged TO him with dispatches
and instructions from the Executive OF the United States
which turned him back California, and induced the
instruction and revolution in that country which ended
in its subjugaton.
In Lieut. Glllespies deposition, reported by the
mittee al page 80, he says:
In reply to the inquiry of the honorable committee
whether wa, charged with any message or mission from
the Klamath lake in May, 1886 beg leave to that
and Of The Ssxy Mr. Banc ne
10 California by OF Vera Cruz and the shortest
duplicate the despatch TO the United States consul al
Monterey, as also packet for c. Fremont esq, and
James Buchanan The former (he letter Larkin) de-
sroyed before entering the port Of Vera Cruz having com
ton delivered to Captain fremont on the OH of May, in
the mountains of Oregon"
Mr. President, the letter from the Secretary OF State,
duplicate OF which, from memory given to Capt Ere
mont is hidden from and the public view. copy
called for by the Senate, and received and marked
archives it would have done if ii had remained
called for in the archives of the Department of State.
can only speak OF it as comes TO MS in this repO and
to infer ITS character and import from the fact that
deemed unsafe to take II into Mexico and hazard its dis
covery by the authorities of that country, and that Lieut.
Gillespie after committing it to memory, tore up and
buried it in the deep waters of the Gulf Its substance
was made known to Captain Fremont and it bore date in
October, lsl5 Again. sir, he had package for Mr.
the contents of this package is business
10 inquire But will venture the assertion, that the
wisdom and prudence of the father urged the
IRON the pursuit OF science to OF Instruction and
revoluton nor did the fond affection OF the wife turn the
husband of her love from the path of peace hazard
and dangers of bloodshed and strife There was also
letter from Mr. Buchanan, which, as new and singular
specimen OF diplomacy, beg leave to read 1t is fol-
lows
"WAsHIsoros, November 3, Isa5
Mr. The bearer hereof, Mr.. Archibald III
Gillespie, is about to visit the northwest of America
on business and has Iequesed me give him letter of
Is gentleman OF worth and responsibility and worthy
OF yonr regard do not deem il probable that he will fall
hnnyoar friendly attention. He will be able to communi.
cate :, you information Of the health of Mrs Fremont and
Col Benton and his family.
FROM your friend, very respectfully,
81 c. Fremont, Esq, Oregon"
What means this cautious and guarded letter from the
Secretary of State! II forwarded by Mr. Gillespie,
who passed through Mexico in the guse of merchant
yon 40 1 %,. deem yy9Sab PIE that he will fall in with
accredited to him By this letter. no matter how ne eou iS
oca, as authorized agent of the government and
was not the letter TO Larkin an exposition of the
wishes, not the command of the government. Sir the
wishes of the President commands to the military
officers OF the government and these wishes, so con-
yeyed, authorized all the acts which were performed by
COL Fremont and his men prior to the knowledge that
war existed between this country and Mexico To be
sure General Tay had then passed the Rio Grande
with orders to maintain himself there, being the
ern boundary Of Texas; but the events in California
took date from November 1885, and all subsequent oc
cnrences were unknown to Col. Fremont, and he was
governed alone by the communications of GILLESPIE
How them be said that he acted upon his own re.
sponsibiy in aiding the revolution in California and
That no portion OF the responsibility rests upon the gov
subsequently, developed by the expressed orders or
wc OF that government, and the whole has been sane
TONED and approved Glllespies mission produced it
and IN all the successive acts he aiding and assisting
Col Fremont
From such evidence, Swallowed forth in these pages
deny that Col Fremont acted without orders and DENY
that these claims, antecedent the knowledge of war
IN any different from those which succeeded
that event
Mr. President, in confirmation of a predetermined in
enon to take possession of California refer the Sem
ate to the letter of instruction from the Secretary of the
navy dated June %, 1915, to Com SlOat, conveying TO
nun Inc same directions which given to Col FIRE.
mont throush Lieut. Gillespie, at subsequent date and
the existence, OF a with Mexico We find in the re-
port OF the committee letter of apology from Com Sloat
dei the 9th OF june 1885, to the Secretary of the Navy
IN which he says:
81 have, upon reflection come to the con
cslon that instructions OF the Oath June last and
every snbse ORDER will Justify taking posses
son OF any part OF California any hostile mea ures
against Mexico as neither party have declared war"
ms was the construction put upon those orders by the
100 cautious commander of the United States forces in
inc racine and Tor this caution he was subsequently, re-
proved ana dismissed from the command AMI charged by
the department with unwarrantable inactivity
peg ieave 10 submit letter from the Secretary of the
navy 10 Commodore Soa dated the 18th of August
1885, which fully explains the views of the government
and severely epoves the Commodore for his cautious
delay ~ '"1''o''
~ s. Navy DEPARTMENT
49, Washington, August h. 1876
"CoMMoDoRE: The department has received vonr ,.,,a-
No OIL oil June o, rom which II appears that while vn,,
United States aud Mexico. you remained in state o. n ,e
fipfy, and did carry the instructions of ne