Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-29
IN sENATE-TH THURSDAY, JANUARY 81, ls4s.
CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA.


Among the petitions presented to-day the following
By Mr.. BENTON From John Charles Fremont, praying
investigations by committee, into claims the Govern
men originating in California partly in the establishment of
the Independence of California before the with Mexico
known, and partly since carrying military operations
under the authority of the United States and afterwards in
supporting the civil government there For part of these
claims the drafts drawn by the petitioner had been Protested
and for these and other claims Secretary War had
swered that Especial Legislation For this
special legislation the present petition presented, and
asked the speedy action of Congress that the far distant claim
might wait long for tardy justice The claims
merorous they fer personal services rendered IN war
for supplies furnished-for sacrifices made, and all in spirit
of patriotism and honor They bad given California to the
United States and the gift worth infinitely than the
when all just claims paid and all justice done
the settlers The and amount Of the claims required
careful investigation the good should be paid at the
bad should be enced foreve and Is the time to do IT.
The petition asked the establishments commission in Cali
nis audit and allow the claims, the amounts to be paid
there the claimants by the proper officers OF the pay the
quaermasler, and the commissay departments Auditing
the there and payment there, the great points
security both the Government and the claimants Moth
ing should be paid Washington agents specuaors
but claimants in their own persons should be paid at
Washington.
To 90 TO paying claims here would open the door
bounded fraud which would be closed in ten twenty
fifty years. he (Mr. 3D. believed he might say seventy
years Congress paying revolutionary claims
of that age and the California claims allowed 10 fall into
the hands agents and SPECTATORS would be rich nine TO
be explored for long time, and the longer the richer espe
eiaiy death Of Mr. Fremont The establishment Of
commissions 10 act the spot, was the proper TO do
Justice and prevent frauds in future. The petition avowed
that the petitioner knew almost every transaction which
liability Of the Ured States could arise. Where he did not
know the transaction himself he knew the that did, and
they could be equally prompt and correct before commission,
in verifying an honest claim and detecting false
1 What the petition specially asked was that the
mtee charged with the question should take evidence
upon the spot ascertain the general nature and the general
amount Of the claims, with view to Judge the necessity Of
commission and the Of The appropriation necessary
he the ed that
OF persons in the city might be taken oath, and
ported Congress- guide to its action Evidence enough
in tho city to enighten Congress on these points
Military and naval officers in the city who knew the
general character and the probable aggregate of these
claims Citizens Of California, OF character and not inter-
ested in the claims also present Their testimony could
easily be obtained and the petition prayed that they should
be summoned and examined
Mr. b. then presented three why the in set
Ting the claims should be adopted which the petition recon-
mends First Justice the claimants, who, unless they
were paid at home would become the prey Of agents
specuators Secondly Justice the United States which,
unless settled face 10 face with the claimants and closed up
the business at would have TO pay false claims for indie
finite time. False claims would cost less to the Speculation
than the true would be got at half price
less but the false much aEd, when dependant upon
vouchers here the false sp would be about
equal footing JfrSH, Justice h Mr., Fremont himself
This justice 6 ofold charncone to bis purse, the
otherto his reputation He already under protest for
large sums and expected moreS40 600 s5O 900 in the
whole. He also liable for what got from the in
habtans for the troops under his commsnd both under the
revolutionary for independence, and afterwards
when the carried for the direct benefit OF the Un-
ted Saes having also got the benefit Of the revolutionary
Justice TO his reputation required the course he
recommended In other way could false claims be pre-
vented from rising up be charged to his operations ln no
other way could his reputation be shielded from sse accounts
founded ON false charges Of his having ten property
rcby from the people Either Of these reasons ought to
be sufficient the commission established and the bus
closed up tho three put togetherusce to the
claimants 10 the public Treasury, and TO the reputation Of
Mr. Frcmont-he (Mr b. hoped would be sufficient, not
merely TO secure reference OF the petition TO the proper
ilce he Mtay,) but also to authorize the establishment
of the commission which prayed Tor.