Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21

plains this most satisfactorily. These employees had nc
reached Panama. Some Ut Gorgona and Others he
not at that date e the United States Mr. Gray, the sur
veyor and several of the employees left New Orleans h
2Is of March, and arrived at Panama about the LIST of April
Col Weer states the fact in his letter. and know it to
true for accompanied them from New Orleans Panama.
Again. he is charged with not rendering bis for th
quarter ending on the 3st of March, and this in reply
letter dated the Goth of March, the last received from Col
Weller aad the only up to that date he had an opporu
nifty Of transmitting to the Department. Was there
more infamous attempt to trump up for premedi
taed political prescription II is the barefaced attemp
at imposition have the Secretary of State hac
not exhibited such hot haste apply the political guons
he would have been deprived Of all apology for
little delay the very next day after the letter Of remova
written, June 9th, he received despatch from Col
Weller making the very return of the Of his employees
which the Secretary had the day before complained of
having received accompanied doubt by his account and
vouchers which be had avaIed himself of the first opporu-
nifty Of forwarding to the Department.
Did the Secretary withdraw the letter of removal when the
assigned for that removal had been by this
despatch Of the 18th Of May ls49 and received the De-
parment on the 9th of June Oh but it caused him
to nde another letter COL Fremont which will read to
the Serate:
VII DEPARTMENT OF STATE !.
sa WASHINGTON, JUNE Is, 18i9.
SIR letter from this Department under date othe Goth
Instant you informed OF your appointment commits
soner the United States under the fifth article of the treaty
Of Guadalupe Hdalgo With that letter. addressed to
your predecessor also transmitted which, however, is
deemed advisable you should deliver forward him
until you about upon the duties Of the Office The
letter for him which is herewith transmitted you will consider
addressed yourself when you shall have communicated
TO him that above referred to.
am sir respectfully,
t." Your obedien servant
j. C. FREMONT, Esq. JOHN M. CLAYTON K
Here beautiful specimen Of political honesty and fair
dealing public officer dismissed from important and
responsible station and letter addressed him notifying him
Of the fact him but to his successor with
instructions not to deliver it unit, the new appoinee had
kicked his predecessor out Of office Such an act Of unman
insult public officer before guilty Of to another in
the history Of this country Well sir what became of his
letter Of dismissal Col Fremont first accepted the appoint
ment Of commissioner but afterwards declined il, and
entered upon the duties Of the office. According nsruc-
TONS he kept the letter. and COL Weller received it,
What has become of il should like to know certain it
is it went into the hands of him to whom it ad-
dressed and whom intended to dismiss ANONYMOUSLY
from the public service
Now, sir, let me remark for moment upon the anoma-
ous position in which Col Weller was placed by the with
holding of this letter from him. The of his removal
few the wings Of the wind It reached him San Fran
cisco the Of his departure for Monterey General
Riley, and get from him. if possible, sufficient amount Of
what called the civil fund" of California enable him
to progress with his work on the boundary survey The
vent with him to Monterey, in fact preceded him. for
the steamship containing the agent with Col Femons
mission touched there its way to San Francisco and the
object of this mission known at Monterey when Col.
Weller landed. What the result General Riley re-
fused to cash his drafts upon the Department. and be left
totally without means to prosecute his work the boundary
He remained at Monterey until his successor arrived, to
whom he full account Of bis embarrasments owing
the neglect of the Government to supply him with funds.
He requested by COL Fremont to repair San Diego,
and continue in discharge of the duties of commissioner until
he Fremon could assume his duties, which would be in
short time 10 the tme COL Fremont agreed nego-
tate COL Welers drafts San Francisco for OOO to
meet the pressing Of the commission which he did
but the drafts protested Col. Fremont went
San Diego; Weller forced to remain and discharge the
duties Of commissioner to prevent the dissolution of the
mission, which would have resulted in great loss the Gov
ernmen his draft back protested the bankers
who had negotiated it seized upon his private funds inem
nifty themselves his property sacrificed, his credit de-
stroyed He surrounded by faithful friends, who rely
ing his honor, had followed him that distant land and
remained with him in the faithful discharge Of their duty
amidst temptations that others resisted and pvations
that few encountered to whom the Government largely
indebted and they suffering for Of their pay,
In that land Of adventure. Amidst these difficulties be
faithful to his Government although abandoned by those who
had charge of its administration. While every effort WIS
made to disgrace him dismissed from office but not relieved
vfed in the administration presses defaulter and every
species Of caumDy circulated against him. he went with
out money and almost without Bread and closed the important
work Of establishing the boundary from the Pacific ocean to
the Colorado river. Sir, in the history Of this Govern
ment no performed more important surveys with
such limited means, and surrounded by many difficulties
all Of which to be attributed TO the fahessness of those
who had charge Of the Government.
Now, sir come to another chapter in the history of this
business that is quite unique those have been
msnting upon.
Col Fremont first accepted and then declined the appoint
ment OF commissioner without informing Col Weller officially
that he appointed, delivering to him the letter adj
dressed to him. notifying him Of his dismissal The know
ledge Of these facts reached here about year ago. when
Congress in session. The Administration, in dismay
found COL Weller still in Office and Congress in session.
What was to be done? According my understanding of
duty there but to pursue to him. and
that to nominate his and let the Senate upon
it. But that dangerous experiment. Col. Weller had
friends in this body, who not likely to acquesce in his
removal without asking for the reasons and the Admnistra
ton knew could give which would satisfy the
Senate that the removal Of able and faithful officer
defeat it before the Senate. What be done
Mordeca still sat at the kings gate. and his ministers
miserable until he could be got rid Of A gentleman
found to undertake the task the Secretary of the In
terror The Secretary State sick and tired Of his vain
attempts to butcher this official incumbent. He banded
over to more skul and experienced hands, who had
mind enough TO conceive plan and vigor enough 10
cute it. He made short work Of the Job, the following
letter will show
r. G. here read the letter from Senate doc umen No.
81, but, not having copy hand, unable pub
lish it.
his was a summary proceeding Here officer ap
pointed by the President by and with the advice and
OF the Senate, dismissed from the public service during the
session Of the Senate not only without consulting that body
but IN my opinion in violation Of its rights portion of the
appointing power If there has ever been similar exercise Of
by the head oan Executive Department in the history
OF this Government not aware of it. But the object
was accomplished Prosecuted with unelentng fury from
the time the Administration power his drafts pro-
tested although drawn strict accordance with bis
TONS and to enable him to discharge his duty to his Govern
ment surrounded by friends who had faithfully discharged