The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-06
SUBSTANCE OF MR.. BENTON'S SPEECH

fact IL would be something history of remote
ght feel h,eIf Invested with proconsuiar authority
and protested by distance from the supervision of his
hs public agent. Of the United states in ha, remote prov
ince. The public believes there has been misc onduct
aud the changes filed against me by Brgadies General
kesmy-the subsidiary publications made against me
whist was not IN this coan,ryy arrest the frontier
and the premoniory Tumors o that event-the
my being brought home for trial. not in irons,
newspapers suppose, bur in chains stronger than iron
with circumstances OF ostcnaiious and calling degrade.
tlon-have all combined 10 present the great
factor, and the sole one"
SO wrote Col. fremont on the nth day of September
last, addressing the Adutant General, and asking for
copy OF the charges against him. To these acquainted
with fremontawho knew anything Of his character
this intmaton that there might have been misbehavor
IN the agents of the government, at great distance
from Its supervision, perfectly equivalent alb
souie declaration that such the fact He no
TO make an insinuaiion, without fact to support ino
man to intimate official misconduct in others, without
having the instances and the prsof forthcoming He
asked Tor noreports; and he made He asked
Tor no specifications under his general intmaon; and he
gave He alone was brought to trial which was
equivalent to public declaration that he alone was cu
pabe. Nearly all the rest OF the officers who went to
California have been brevetted-some OF them double
breveted others bonoably distinguished by high en-
ymen-equivaent TO another declaration that all the
resi- of the officers were not only free from blame, but
highly meritorous. Col Fremont alone remains marked
out for dshonor-doubly marked out by his sole Sc
lection for prosecution, and the honors bestowed on
others And now the seal is to be put upon his dis
honor by granting the highest honor of the army to
the officer who the prosecutor and the leading
witness against him; with recital that this high
honor is gianted (among other tbngs) for merorious
conduct in Calfonia-that conduct consisting almost
entirely OF crimes against Fremont have said nothing
about the trial | have mentioned it in the Sen
ate but now | am forced to speak | am attacked in my
seat. ! am struck where sit and now | return the
blow. shall take up this case and go through with it
patty at this session, but hereafter. shall carry the
question 10 the tribunal which never erTs in sentiment,
and but selon in fact or Justice shall carry it to the
whole body OF the American people, and have their
opinion upon the justice of The proceeding which selects
Fremont alone for punishment-the rest Tor honors
tauo tho
son TIL he got 10 the conclusion of his Vaccinations
against Commodore Stockholm to be continuously culpa
Tered Tor want OF force have shown his conduct 10
Fremont opening with portentous crimnality, and wi
denny the circle OF the misunderstanding to others be-
sides kvarny; and of these, Governor Mason the most
prominent The subsidiary publications against Ere.
mont in The United States, while yet in California, gno
rant OF the intended arrest threw great blame upon him for
10 General kearny for his humanity in suppressng it :;
with how much truth every one can now Judge, both
70 the blame due to Fremont and the applause due TO
keany, The paper filed in the Adutan Generals office
specified this duel of the points which Colonel
fremont asked trial. 1t was not granted and the
courlmartia took good to exclude it from nvestga-
ton, though clearly relevant and material under that
branch OF the defence which impeached the prosecutor
and leading witness Gen Kearnyl for malice The
quest Tor trial this point, and the for it, were
thus stated:
BESIDES the publications communicated there Others
injurious To Lieut. Col Fremont in relation challenge
TO- Col Mason fight duel the month April last at
Pueblo dc los dngeies, and afterwards following him
The honor Of Lieut. COL Fremon @ this aa 10 sb be
investigated, which easily be done upon the
Tough the two best witnesses in the Captain Smith,
otte LIST dragons and Major Reading of the late Cao
MIA bnttalon) are in California"
The facts of this affair are now before the Senate and
will go before the country; for mean to print what
speak and with fnness OF proof and illustration which
time does not admit of here The country will then
Judge OF this matter; and whether the public service
does not require somebody else besides Mr. Fremont TO
be called to account for California operations The good
n thofx xyhop
an officer goes to his superior business and conducts
himself with decorum, he shall receive respectful hear
lng-not he outraged to the point of resgning his COM
mission, and then pursued to be killed with doubebar
relied guns and buckshot cartridges | have higher
purpose than the pursuit of individuals have the truth
OF history 10 vndcate and the public interest TO subserve
IN bringing out the true character of the transactions in
California. Such was Fremonfs own view in his trial
He looked far beyond the narrow horizon of his own
vndcaton. He looked to his country, and her honor
and sought trial CO extensive in its seacbng inquiries
with all the operations, civil and military of which that
distant province, during the time ef his xion with
them, had been the theatre This fully expressed
by him in that letter to the adutant general, from
which have read one extract, and of which this
other:
"The charges against me by Brgadier General Kear
ny, and the subsidiary accusations made against in
newspapers, when was p this country, impeach
cal and moraD while in California; and, If true would
cles OF war, and to infamy in the public opinion 1t is
my ntention to meet these charges and all
Their extent and for tna purpose to ask trial upon every
point OF allegation insinuaion against me- waving all
oDecuons 10 forms techncalities and allowing
widest range TO all possible testimony These charges
accusations are SO general and extensive the
whole field of my operations IN California; both civil and
military from the beginning the end Of hostilities; and
as my operations, and those of which the subject
OBJECT extend to almost every act and event which oc
Cured in the country during the evenIlu period
hostliiies the testimony my trial will be the his
tory Of the conquest of California, and the exposition of
the policy which has been heretofore pursued there,
and The calculation of that which should be followed
hereafter. 1t VIII be The means of giving valuable in
formation TO the government, which might otherwise
be able obtain, and thus enlighten both with resp, ct
a IN tarys ubo innre
make no report, not even OF my operations;
trial become report and bring kno Wedge
p The what ought know only with
policy Observed 10 be Observed with regard
three-uld population sl-Americans, Anglo.
Amer and aboriginal Anercans which that
province contains Viewed under these of public
hcis ntly graveacqures additional and public import
nnce aud for these high Objects well vindcae my
own character hon accusations both capitaand Infamous,
II Is my Intention 10 require and promote the most
searching exam nation into everything that has been done
in that quarter"
Conforming to this high purpose Fremont brought out
as lar as he could, full account Of his own conduct
and that OF others in California Public objects, still
more than private vlndcaion his aim His own, |
and his countrys honor, far above lieutenant col
onels commission. Sill conforming to the slme hi rh
purpose, proceed TO develop the character of the opera
uons IN CAT )rnla, SO perinently in under this
nomination OF General Kearny for brevet nomination
and il The circle wdens and embraces Others or if Kear-
ny's guilt deepens as co. the fault is not nine but
theirs and his shall go where the evidence carries
mg-iha, ar-and no further: and if chance say any,
hing not sustained by evidence, let it stand for nothing
an be obliierated from every senator's memory have
.t--