Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-02
SPEECH OF MR.. CLARKE,
OF RHODE ISLAND,
ONT CALF ORNIA LAIMS.
In SENATE, ApnIL IS, 1913.

Senators to the constitutional power Congress appoint
the to adnot them In the whole Of the dis
doubt has been expressed either 10 their validity
or the popety of their and speedy liquidation In
the opening of the debate the honorable Senator from Virginia.
(Mr MAsos, took much wider range, and after brief and
lucid exposition Of the events that ansplred IN California, he
to conclusions entirely different from those to which
have arrived onn examination of the facts and the
whole evidence reported by the Committee on Military Affairs
In differing from the honorable Senator in his conclusions, SO
distinctly stated by himself shall do It with Difference be-
coming myself, and courtesy unacceptable to him.
will read from his reported speech the positions to which re-
fer presume the report Is correct The Senator, after
speaking these claims wholly authorized by law,
They expenditures military operations, rcch
conducted iloia the auth0ryofthe Government ltbecomes
Important then, to the character OF country that these
CLAIMS which we propose by this bill to recognise and pay
should properly distinctly understood their proper
place assigned them hthe Legislative history of the country
Ii this be done, future history refer TO them also IN
evidence the general charge that the zyar, originating
Spirit of rabine and conquest, Surecon corefy TO-
naensd in the remete province OF California, as part 81 the
generalscheme Of extended dominion"
Sir the foregoing shows forth of the deductions OF the
honorable Senator from the report upon these claims, from
which totally dissent.
Again, the Senator says
ssMy object is sconnect the authorities home from this
obreakn California, and TO prove by testimony which can
not erted that tie Government hoae had part
tesurrecion thar the probability Of such an occurrence
unno u the Government, and IN truth, that HsSas no
party 10 IL, either directly o. Indirectly"
have read, sir, with much attention., the published evil
dence in relation to these Claims and will endeavor to show
only that the instruction in California directed by
the 'Govcnmcn at home but that the events which trans
pired there subugaon, originated with the Exc
cutive department of the Government and consequent
upon its orders conveyed to COL Fremont and also TO the
commanding officer OF the naval forces upon that station
Mr. President, after the eloquent and graphic description
given by the distinguished Senator from Missouri MR. Ben
TOW OF the explorations of Colonel Fremont from the Uni
ted States the shores Of the Pacific, in California and his
subsequent departure from that country into the territory Of
Oregon Of his to the valley of the Sacramento, and
the stirring which followed that return unto the
entire conquest and occupation Of that whole province Of Up
per California; it is unnecessary for attempt TO give
further deneaton add nothing to the narrative and
would not mutate its beauty will only briefly recte
them far is necessary ucda,e the occurrences
and show the facts from which my differences and conclusions
drawn.
this Government TO him officer OF the corps Of topo
graphical engineers Colonel Fremont Then brevet captan)
left the United States, with small but welapponted body
of men, his third scientific exploration Of the west aim
ing to seek the shortest and practicable route from this
country the Pacific His led him through
portion Of Upper California, then State Of the Mexican
public and with which the United States at peace. He
ayersed the arid plains and the lofty mountains OF that
hitherto unirodden by the foot Of civilized man. and after
great toll and excessive pvaton the 9th of January,
1916, he reached the neghbohood Of Monterey port
the Pacific, in the State Of California We get this from
letter from Thomas o. Lakin consul Of the United States
at Monterey, to the Secretary of State dated
"MoSTEREY March %, 1876.
SIR Captain J. c. Fremont, of the United States army
OF January, 1876 He remained but two days. in
which time with myself he y,ed the commandment (pre-
fecto acade, and Col Ayarado, informing them that he
surveying the from the United States to the Pa
cihc This information and that his men not
United States soldiers was also by myself OFFICIALLY given
turned to his camp being well known Monterey that he
wa, to return when he collected his
On the Sd OF March he encamped on the rancho OF W. T.
p Hartwe where he received letters from the General and
Preieeto ordering him out Of the country &c This not
responding WIN assurances received at Monterey ne gave or
the mo
only protection his men were to look to-"
"he General informed the Alcade the night Of the oh
that Captain Fremont had left his encampment &c.
In offering the foregoing, and other letters from Mr. Lan
to the committee, Col. Fremont says
Showing the great which he took avoid giving of
fence to the said authorities when he entered California the
winter OF 1S45 and 1885, and the necessity Of the defensive
which he then took aud his departure from the
try to avoid compromising either his Government the Anne.
rican settlers"
Thus sir seems that in pursuance Of his researches in
science and topography and with motives Of hostility, open
concealed, he entered California in January 1885, and
obedience TO the comfy due the civil and military ahhor
ties reported himself to them and asked their permission to
remain TO recruit his and animals fl them for the fur
her progress Of his journey Of peace and exploration The
Mexican authorities jealous Of these ncursions AMI melted
by the increasing difficulties between them and the United
States in March, 1885, in consequence Of directions from the
General Government IN Mexico, ordered Captain Fremont
from the country, which they had undoubtcd right IL
just6abe cause for doing The order sudden and
expected He obeycd IT, but in fear for he wrapped him.
sell IN the fos oil the nag OF MS country and cautiously
IDENTIFY, and udcousy took his good time for his depart
from the country, whose hospitality had been withdrawn
He left the country Of California by slow but cautious marches
avoiding all collision with its authorities and after tedious
and hazardous journey, amidst hostile and excited savages
we find him. early in the succeeding month Of May encamp
ed in Oregon, the border Of the Tamath lake. His posi-
ton there beautifully described by the Senator from Mis-
souri, (Mr BENroS) that he will for reading and
adopting 1t. He says:
was in the midst Of such dangers these that science
was pursued by Mr. Fremontat the telescope carried
10 read the hcayenshe measure elevations
OF the eartthe thermometer the Temperature o
the arhe pencil TO sketch the grandeur mountains and
TO pencil the beauty OF howers-he pen 10
or strange useful in the Nature IL
the midst OF such dangers these and in the widest
regions the rthest West that Mr. Fremont was pursung
pie turned him back into California and engaged him in the
Operations which gave rise the bill which now claims the
attention of the Senate"
Thus sir this gallant and accomplished young Off
GER with discretion far beyond his years, and prudence
which has never left hmuninormed Of the stirring events
which day by day Transporting between his country and
mexcocamly, but without lea yielding up the hospitality
that had been accorded him in Notwithstanding every
co's'on with her authorities" stunning war; seeking the
upu,ed territory Of Oregon, and resting himself and his
men amidst its wild and almost UNEMPLOYED regions
Wnat s turned Colonel Fremont back from his peaceful
,u'o me country he had recently left to lend himself
puPcs 70 different from those he had steadily entertain
urned him from pursuing science to seeking war!
- ~. meeting on the 9th Of May with Lieut. Gillespie,
s ~ charged TO him with dispatches and instructions
~ 49,. csnse OF the United States which turned him