The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-05

touched his horse he sprang upon the savage,
the Ratchet of Delaware completed the delverance
Carson.
1t the mdst of such dangers as these that scienc,
was pursued by MIR. Fremont, that the telescope
red read the heavens, the barometer the ee
vatons of the earth, the thermometer measure the
perature Of the air. the pencil sketch the grandeur
mountains and to paint the beauty of flowers the pen
write down whatever strange useful in the
works Of nature il was in the midst Of such dangers as
these, and in the widest regions Of the farhest west thai
Mr.. Fremont pursuing science, and stunning war
when the arrival of Lieutenant Gillespie turned him back
into California and engaged him the operations which
gave 10 the bill which now claims the attention of the
Senate.
Mr.. Fremont turned back to California and arrived in
the valley of the Sacramento at Most critical and exciting
time. Three great operations, fatal to American interests
then going and past remedy if not arrested at
These were the massacre of the Americans and the de-
srucon of their settlements the valley of the Sacramento
the subsection of California British protection, and the
ansfer Of the public domain to British Subjects and all
with view to anticipate the events Of Mexican war,
and to shelter California from the just recamatons of the
United States
The American settlers TO the camp of Mr. Ere
mont the valley of the Sacramento laid all these dangers
before him. and imploed him place himself their head
and them from destruction General Castro then
march upon them the Indians excited to burn their
wheat fields and to attack their families Juntas in
domain passing away in large grants to British sub
Jects British feet expected the the British
viceconsu Forbes and the emssary priest, Mcnamara,
ruling and conducting everything and all their plans far
advanced as to render the delay fatal 1t then the
beginning of June War existed between the United States
and Mexico but that not known in California. Mr..
Fremont had left the two countries peace when he set
out upon his expedition and determined to do nothing
disturb their relations he had left California to
avoid giving offence and to return and take up arms in
short time apparently to decredt his previous
conduct as well as to mplicate his government He felt all
the responsibilities Of his position but the actual approach
of Castro and the immediate danger of the settlers left him
no alternative. He determined to put himself at the head
the people, and the country To repuse Castro
sufficient To overturn the Mexican government
in California and to establish its independence the bold
resolve and the only adequate to the emergency That
resolve aken and executed with celebrity that gave it
romantic The American settlers rushed to his
camp brought their arms horses and ammunition; were
formed into battalion and obeyed with zeal and aacrity
the orders they received In thirty days all the northern
part of California freed from Mexican authority; indie.
pendencc proclaimed the flag of independence he bear
lag) adopted Castro flying to the south the American
settlers saved from destruction and the British party in
California couneracted and broken up all their schemes
The effects OF this decisive and rapid movement only
From them it will be that deepad plans, conducted
by the British ceconsu Forbes, and the emssary priest
Mcnamara, going to shelter California under the
British crown, and to vest its domain in British subjects
that everything vergng to crisis, and British feet
expected upon the coast when this rapid ard successful
movement broke up all these designs And when Admiral
Seymour arrived the 18th of July instead of invita-
ton from the California juna to take the country under
British protection and invitation from the grantees Of
princpaes to take British interests under his protection
he found the American flag flying over Monterey Fremont
and his rehemen encamped the town. the British party
extinct and the Americans triumphant The effect which
the appearance of this daring body Of western remen
duced upon the minds both Of the British and American
naval officers is well stated by Lieutenant Minor in his de-
position and in justice those well the truth
of history, deserves to be read here. He Says
.sThe undersigned was on duty on shore when Captain
Fremont arrived with his force at Monterey from the north
The undersigned believes that the appearance of this body
only made strong impression upon the British admiral
and officers but an equally impressive and more happy one
pom those of the American then In Monterey For
maplf Ia ".
Captain Fremonts command all his doubts regarding the
conquest of California were removed"
This is the testimony of dsnteested witness; who
himself the subsequent operations in California, rendered
good service land there being no chance for him on the
water II shows that the timely and successful
of the California battalion, and its sudden appearance at
Monterey simultaneously with the arrival of the American
and British fleets the turning point in the fate of Cali
forna II showed the country to resist instead
of asking British protection and it encouraged the navy to
believe that the whole country could be conquered for
without land FORCE the naval forces could only have ope-
rated along the coast.
And here great fact presents itse-one which these
dispositions have consecracd history, and which belongs
the chapter Of which determine the fate of
tries 1t the fact that Fremons operations determined
the action of Commodore Sloat and induced him to take
possession of Monterey contrary to his intention when he
anchored before that town and thereby anticipated Adm
raj Seymour frustrated his designs whatever they were,
and induced him to leave Monterey suddenly and
as he had arrived The dispositions establish
this fact and reference to their contents will prove
what say and, rs of the effect of these operations in
deciding the action OF COmmOuOr0 is IN PROOF
he entered the bay of Monterey FRIEND the I'd of
July offering to salute the town. which the authorities
declined, the ground that they had powder
it, but probably because the British admiral expected.
On the h of July the operations of Fremont heard
Of and on the 7h Commodore Sloat took the The
testimony Of the naval officers Mcssrs Minor and WILSON,
and the commodores correspondence ages 10 AMI 7
show Enthusiastically that his action induced by hear
ing of these operations and the testimony of Messrs FIRE.
mont and Gillespie polntedy prove it. Mr. Fremont says
:" down to Monterey with my command, upon the
tn
immediately my arrival waited upon him. in company
with Lieutenant Gillespie, board the frgate Savannah
Commodore Soat appeared uneasy at the great RESPONSE
bility he had assumed. He informed that he had
Piled to Lieutenant Gillespie, whom he knew be IN
agent the government for his authority, but that he had
declined give He then inquired to know under wha
instructions had acted in taking up arms against the
Mexican authorities, | informed him that | had acted
solely my responsibility and without any authority
from the government TO justify hosties. Commodore
Soat appeared greatly disturbed with this information, and
gave distinctly to understand that in raising the flag
Monterey he had acted upon the faith OF our operations in
tho north. Commodore Sloat reinqushed the
mand Commodore Stockton who determined to prose
hoities to the complete conquest OF California"
! Captain Gillespie says
In reply the above question of the honorable commit
tee beg leave state that ut interview between Com
modore Soat, Captain Fremont and myself held boar,
of the United frgate Savannah, lying in the habo
of Monterrey July. 1886 Commodore Sloat manifested
feeling OF dissatisfaction that Captain Fremont and sci
had reported ourselves and the force under
him. and said addressing both, near as recoect
u do know by what authority are acting can d.
nothing Mr. Gillespie has told me nothing he came Il
Mazaan and l sent him to Monterey; but know moth
ing want to know by what authority you are acting
Captain Fremont REPLIED he had acted upon his own
thory, and not from orders of the government Commo
doe Sloat expressed much surprise and distress
said have acted upon the faith of operations in tn