Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-15

country 10 Great Britain the public domain was passing away
in large grants to British subjects British feet expect
ed the coast The British Vice Consul Forbes, and ths
emissary priest Macnamara ruling and conducting every
thing and oil their plans far advanced to render the least
delay fatal 1t then the beginning Of June War exist
ed between the United States and Mexico but that not
known in California. Mr. Fremont had left the two
tries at peace when he upon his expedition and
determined to do nothing disturb their relations he had even
left California TO avoid giving offence and to return and take
up arms in so short time apparently discedt his own
previous conduct well to impcate his Government He
felt all the responsibilities of his positions but the actual ap
proach OF Castro and The immediate danger Of the settlers left
him alternative He determined TO put himself at the head
OF the people, and 10 the country To repulse Castro
sufficient To the Mexican Government in
California, and establish its ISDEpESDgScE, the bold
resove and The only adequate the emergency That
resolve taken, and executed with ceery that gave it
romantic The American settlers rushed to his camp
brought their arms, horses and ammunition formed into
battalion and obyed with zeal and alacry the orders they
received In thirty days all the northern part of California
freed from Mexican authority Independence proclaimed
the flag Of independence he bear fag) adopted Castro fly
ing the south the American settlers saved from destruction
and the British party in California counteracted and broken
in all their schemes
The effects Of this decisive and rapid only be
conceived from careful perusal OF the deposons From
them it will be that deep laid pans conducted by the
British Vice Consul Forbes and the emssary priest Macna
mara, going to shelter California under the British
CROWN and TO vest its domain in British subjects that every
thing vegng to crisis, and British fleet expected upon
the coast when this rapid and successful movement broke up
all these designs And when Admiral Seymour arrived the
10th Of July, instead of invitation from California Jun
ia to take the country under British projections and invita-
ton from the grantees Of princpaes take British interests
under his protection, he found the American flag flying
Monterey Fremont and his emen encamped the town
the British party extinct and the Americans triumphant The
effect which the appearance of this daring body Of Western
emen produced upon the minds both Of TIE British and Ame
rican naval officers is well stated by Lieut. Minor in his de-
position and in justice to those well to the truth of
history deserves TO be read here He says
tf L. \ <y.--
Fremont arrived with his force Monterey from
The undersigned believes that the of this body Of
and the welknown character of its commander only
made strong impression upon the British admiral and Off
but equally impressive and happy upon those
Of the American navy then in Monterey For himself the
dersgned say that after he had Captain Fremonts
command all his doubts regarding conquest of California
were remoyed.'
This the testimony of disnterested wness-one who
himself in the subsequent operations in California rendered
good service land there being chance for him the
water In shows that the timely and successful of
the California battalion and its sudden appearance Monte
rey simultaneously with the arrival Of the American and British
fleets, the turning point in the fate of California. 1t
showed the country resist instead of askDg
British protection and encouraged the navy believe that
the whole country could be conquered for without land
force the naval forces could only have operated along hecoa
And here great fact presents itselfone which these de-
positions have consecraed to history and which belongs TO
the chapter of which determine the fate of countries
is6he feet that Fremons operations determined the action
of Commodore Sloa and induced him to take possession of
Monterey contrary his intention when he anchored before
that town and thereby anticipated Admiral Seymour, u
trated his designs whatever they were, and induced him
leave Monterey suddenly and myserousy he had
arrived The deposiions establish this fact and refer
ence to their contents will prove what say and FIRST of the
effect OF these operations deciding the action of Commodore
Soa II In proof that he entered the bay of Monterey
friend, the I'd Of July, offering salute the town, which
the authorities declined the ground that they had pow
der TO return it but probably because the British admiral
expected On the fifth day Of July the operations Of Fremont
heard of and the seventh Commodore Soat took the
town The testimony of the naval officers (Mess. Minor
WILSON, and the commodores correspondence pages
~ and 73 show crcumsaniay that bis action induced
by hearing of these operations and the testimony Of Messs
Fremont d Gillespie pontedy prove it. Mr. Fremont says
81 came down to Monterey with my command, upon tie
quest OF Commodore Sloa cooperate with him and inn
medaely my arrival waited upon him, in company with
Lieut. Gillespie, board the fgate Savannah Commodore
sloa appeared uneasy at the great responsibility he had
sumed. He informed that he had applied Lieutenant
Gillespie whom he knew to be agent OF the Government
for his authority but that he had declined give it He then
inquired to know under what 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 justify hoslites Commo
dore Sloa appeared greatly disturbed with this normaon
and gave distinctly understand that raising the flag
Monterey he had acted upon the faith Of operations in the
north Commodore Sloat renquished the command
Commodore Stockton who determined prosecute hotes
to the complete conquest Of California" /"
Captain Gillespie says:
"n reply to the above question of the honorable committee
beg an interview between Commodore
Sloa Captain Fremont and myself held on the Uni
ted States gate Savannah lying in the harbor of Monterey
in July, 1S46 Commodore Soat manifested feeling of dis
satisfaction that Capt Fremont and myself had reported
ourselves and the force under command him. and sad
addressing both recoect IL do not know by
what authority you acting. do nothing. Mr.. Gil
lepie has told nothing he Mazaan, and sent
him to Monterey but know nothing want to know by
what authority you are acting Capt Fremont replied, lie
had acted upon his authority and from orders OF the
Government Commodore Sloa then expressed much surprise
and Distress and said II have acted upon the faith of your
operations in the north.'"
Coincdent with these statements is the letter Of Commodore
Sloa Of the 9th Of July Commander Montgomery of the
Portsmouth, then in the Bay Of San Francisco who had sent
down launch with the Of Fremonts The
letter dated from the ship Savannah Bay Of Monterey,
July 8, 1s47
Since wrote You last evening have determined to hoist
the flag OF the United States this place Tomorrow, As
would prefer being sacrificed for doing much than liz
tie. II you consider that you have sufficient force IL
Fremont will join you you will hoist the flag Of the United
States Yerba Buena any other proper place. and take
possession in the Of the United States OF the fort and
that portion of the country"
This settles the great fact that Mr. Fremons operations de-
termned the action Of Commodore Sloai-nduced him to
change bis mind after he had been four days at Monterey
encouraged him to take the town. and to send out orders TO
hoist the United States flag at other places On the 10th Ad
mra Seymour in the Coingwood, Of so guns, arrived the
gae Juno previously the coast the largest squadron
that the British Government had had in the Pacific
then there and all the evidence combines show that the
object Of this squadron watch Commodore Sloat to fol-
low him wherever he went anticipate him in getting to
Monterey, and to be in readiness take California under the
British ag aud TO do what the protection Of British interests
might require him to do. This is well and fully shown by
fbot TsonfM M.nor