The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-21

mont has deemed IL necessary suspend the payment OF
The President having Thought proper 70 appoint Mr j.
fremont The commissioner the part Of the United Sta
uadaupe Hdago yon will transfer 10 him all The papers
and other puole property in your custody relating 20 the
' JOHN M CLAYTON.
Here is the date OF the removal when no actual
point was established, the junction OF the Gila or
Colorado ascertaned-long before was known Colonel
Weller had arrived IN California or wha' ne was
doing.
Now. Mr. President, ! must ask the indulgence OF the
Senate while presents few comments upon this extra
ordinary letter 10 Colonel Weller, dismissng him from
the public service. Is written 10 reply to letter from
Colonel Weller. dated Panama. March 20. is49; The
first complaint is that he had failed 10 furnish ist o
the persons employed on the commission. Colonel We'll
ers letter Of the Goth Of March explains this most salts
factorly. These employees had not reached Panama
left hs e United States IN Mr. Gray the S surveyor and
several Of the employees left New Orleans the 2st
OF March. and arrived al Panama about the lstof April
Colonel Weller states the fact in his letter. and know il
to be true for accompanied them from New Orleans to
Panama ss
Again. he is charged with not rendering his accounts
for the quarter ending the 3ls OF March, and this IN
reply to letter dared the 2oth of March, the last received
from Colonel Weller and the only oce up TO that date lac
had an opportunity OF transmitting TO the department
Was there more Infamous attempt To trump up
reason for premeda,ed political prescription! II 10
the most barefaced attempt at imposition have ever
seen u the Secretary OF State had not exhibited such
been deprived OF all excuse or apology for, by ltte
delay, the very day alter the letter OF removal
was wrea, June 81, ne received despatch from Co'.
Weller making the very return OF The names OF his EN-.
ploy which the Secretary had the day before com.
planned OF not having received. accompanied no doubt,
by his account and vouchers which he had availe hm
self OF the rst opportunity OF forwarding to the depart
ment.
Did the Secretary Withdraw the letter OF removal when
by this despatch OF the 18th oil May lS49 and received
at the department the 27th of June Oh no but i
caused him indle another letter to Colonel Fremont,
which will read TO the Senate:
DEPARTMENT STATE,
Washington, June d, 1919.
sIRi In letter from this department. under date OF the
conn y1u Of ss Unsd snes under The h ace
the treaty Of Guadalupe Hldago With that lcuer, one
however, it Is deemed advisable you should deliver
forward TO him until you are about 10 enter upon tue dn
tran med YOU viii consider as addressed 10 yourself,
yon shall have communicated to him that above re-
terred
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
J. G. FREMONT, esq.
Here is beautiful specimen OF political honesty and
fair dealing public officer is dismissed from an ln
poriant and responsible station and letter addressed to
him, notifying him OF the fact not sent to him. but to bis
successor with express instructions not 10 deliver II un-
i'll the appontee had kicked his predecessor out OF
Office Such act OF unmanly insult no public object
before guilty OF 10 another n the history OF
this country Well what became OF bis letter OF dis
missal! Col Fremont first accepted the appointment OF
commissioner, but afterwards declined it, and
tered upon the duties OF the oice According to lnsruc,
tons, he kept the letter. and Col Weller never received
it, What has become OF III should like to know.
Certain is went into the hands OF him 10 whom
il addressed, and whom il was intended 10 dismiss
ANONYMOUSLY from the public service.
Now, SIR, let me remark Tor moment upon the anon
alous position in which Colonel Weller was placed by
the Withholding Of this letter from him. The news OF
his removal few on the wings of the wind II reached
him at San Francisco the OF his departure for
Monterey General Riley, and get from him. if pos
sibe, sufficient amount oil what called tbs "clv
fund" OF California to enable him progress with his
work on the boundary survey The news went with
him TO Monerey-in TACT preceded him Tor the steamship
containing the agent with Colonel Fremont commission
touched there on its way San Francisco, and the OBJ
ject OF this mission was known al Monterey when
Colonel Weller landed What was the result! General
Rey refused 10 cash his drafts upon the department
and he left totally without 10 prosecute his
work the boundary. He remained at Monterey until
bis arrived, 10 whom he gave full account OF
bis embara ing TO the neglect OF the govern
ment To supply him with funds He was requested by
Colonel Fremont 10 repair TO San Diego, and continue IN
discharge OF the duties OF commissioner until he Ere
monty could assume his duties, which would be in
short time In the mean time, Colonel Fie mont agreed
10 negotiate Colonel Wees drafts San Francisco for
which he das but the drafts protested. Colonel
Fremont never went to San Diego Weller was forced
to remain and discharge the duties OF commissioner to
prevent The dissolution OF the commission, which would
have resulted in great lost TO the government; his
S0 900 draft went back protested the bankers who had
negotiated il seized upon his private funds TO indemnity
tnemselVees property CfcuN uc-
stroyed. He lnded by faithful friends, who,
relying his honor had followed him 10 that distant land
and remained with him in the faithful discharge OF their
duty amidst temptations that others resisted and
pryations that few encountered 10 whom the govern
largely indebted, and they were suffering for
want OF their pay in that land OF adventure.
Amidst these difficulties he faithful TO his govern.
ment, although abandoned by those who had charge OF
lis administration While every effort made 10 dis
grace him dismissed from office, but not relieved VII
lied in the administration presses as deaults and every
species Of caumnly circulated against him, he went on
without money, and almost without bread, and closed
the important work OF establishing the boundary IRON
the Pacific TO the Colorado river Sir, in the his.
portant surveys with such limited means, and sur
rounde BY many difficulties, all Of which are 10 be
attributed to the athessness oil those who had charge
OF the government
Now, sir, come to another chapter in the history OF
this business that quite unique as those have been
commenting upon.
Col Fremont irst accepted and then declined the sp
pontment of commissioner, without informing Col Wei.
Ter officially that he was appointed, or delivering TO hun
the letter addressed TO him, notifying him OF his disnis
sal The knowledge of these facts reached here about
year ago, when Congress was 10 session The admin:
slraon, in dismay, found Col Weller still inofice and
Congfess in session. What was be done According
my understanding of duty, there but one course 10
pursue him; and that 10 nominate his sue
cessor and lei the Senate act upon IT, But that was
dangerous experiment Col Weller had friends in this
body, who not likely TO acQuiesce in his removal
without asking for the reasons and the administration
knew IL could give which would satisfy the
Senate that the removal OF able and faithful officer
was proper The administration could anticipate nothing
but defeat II il before the Senate What was TO be