The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-18
a oovEaSoR@ JOHN Q. FREMONT IN oALrFoRsIA.


the latter in command in California, aud cogn
can't Of the history of which occurred there An
extract from the letter of Mr. Schenck reads:
al prepared prove that far from his being enti
tied TO any credit for his participation in the conquest OF
California that his having failed cooperate heartily and
efficiently with Commodore Stockton, far from assisting
In the conquest embarrassed him tStockton in bis opera
TONS and rendered the victory less complete than 1t would
have been had received from Fremont that assistance
had right TO expect mounted armed and equipped as
he am further prepared TO prove that in every
gagemen and every rout Of the enemy which took place
In California Fremont invariably late 10 take part
and 10 up ALL assert that during the whole OF his
service In California he within hearing distance
Of the enemys guns The cause Of his inetciency win
not here discuss
After the statement OF what he did not do it would be
but justice the people Of the country to inform
them what the gallant colonel or governor did do Pass
ing by for the time the CORPORATIONS Of Colonel or Gov-
ernor Fremont which have been proven to be false in
their geographical chorogaphca and historical character
we his financial operations in California the state
of which not only unquestonable but on the
other hand are susceptible OF the convincing and
elusive proofs correctness quote from theeores-
pondence OF Gen. r. B. Mason then colonel first Dragons
commanding in California and governor othat Territory
with Bgadier General r. Jones' Adjutant General United
States army, Washington city, D. c.:
HRADQUARTERs TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT
Monterey California, June 81, ls47.
claim has to-day been presented to against the
United States Of extraordinary nature that deem
proper to send it to for the information of the depart
You win perceive it is for money borrowed at
nous OF interest by Lieutenant Colonel Fremont from
one Antonio Jose Cot and too in the official character
az of California; when he knew that General
Kearney his superior and commanding officer was here in
the country. ..sa ..'.a
ders and caused the collector of at San Pedro
receive in Payment Of custom-house dues large amount
say about $70oof deprecated paper signed by ndivd-
uals In no way responsible to the government
The object now have in view is the request that Lieut.
Col Fremont may be required to refund Immediately the
seventeen hundred dollars that the treasury of California
has thus lost by his illegal order
am, &c,
#.4A r. B. MASON, "a
Col LIST Dragons, Commanding.
To Brig General R. JONES,
Adg Gen. U. s. Army, Washington city.
Translation o The original obligation givea by Fremont to
Cot and aoW on file IN The department. sas@
ANGELES February A, ls47 !,
the undersigned, governor Of California for the United
States of North America, acknowledge that have re-
ceiyed Don Antonio Jose Cot merchant OF this city,
thousand dollars in hard cash. which he has furnished
this government for the public service And bind my
turn the said within the term of two months from
this date paying for interest three per cent per month or
hundred and twenty dollars But If at the expiration
of this term the government should fit still to make
Of these thousand dollars Mr. Cot agrees that the
interest shall for four mouths longer at two per cent
per month"; hundred and sixty dollars for the four
months. And for the ulfment of what has been stpu-
lated, bind myself as governor of California
For $4,000. ..r rs & + sa.... y. u. fhEMONI,
ANGELES, February 90, ls47.
have furthermore received from the said Mr. Cot the
sum Of thousand dollars in the terms expressed above
For $1,000 .. y FhEMoNi.
The word governor Is italicized by us and needs not
further comment From the first invasion Of California by
the American troops large portion Of the leading ct
zens Of California among whom may mention Don Pedro
c. Carrilo Don Jose Carrllo Pedrorena Cot and Cels
welcomed troops with open arms, and willingly fur
nshed material aid in establishing the supremacy of
Gag the Edorado of the West In consequence OF their
sympathy in success one processing to be the agent
of coud have obtained the last dollar that
any Of those gentlemen possessed hence the facility by
which sour governor was enabled to borrow this and
other sums from other individuals.
The claim OF Don Cot allowed by the Treasury
Department and IT presented to the army board or
gained under the 9Th section of the appropriation act
passed August 1852, who, the 2eth January, 1864,
recommended the allowance in FULL with hundred and
forty dollars additional for four months interest at per
cent per month Congress having made the necessary APP
propration the claim was allowed by the accounting Of
fcers of the treasury the 3ist October 1854 and was
paid power Of attorney from Got to Corcoran Riggs
into whose hands the claim had passed
The board was induced to allow the claim not on ac-
count Of its legality but from the fact that Don Cot loaned
the money believing II for the Of the govern
ment Of the United States and the board thought ii un-
lust that he should be the victim Of bis own patriotism
though he must doubtless have suffered considerable loss
in having It discounted Colonel Fremont called upon
but being unrng or unable Tor at least negecting TO
dol TO show hoe the money thus borrowed him ras applied
10 the service OF the government 1t was charged to him
upon the books Of the department. and has remained
wholly unaccounted for by him up TO this time On the
both ofJanuary, 1856 claim was allowed Colonel Ere
mont by the Secretary Of the Treasury and it was placed
10 bis credit upon the aforementioned debit against him.
which being deducted leaves balance Of 81 $3.50 81 Of
the $4,000 land interes still unaccounted for and stand
ing against the agalan candidate for President on the
books OF the department II Is more than probable that
the story current in California win account for the dis
5urseenf the money borrowed Of Don Cot which IS
that II went to pay for the celebrated humbug Maposa
claim" Of and about which much has been said and
written within the past four months.
Secosd and bird financial opsrdtions Of Col Gopanor
Fremont IN California
Below we give the letter Of Col Mason governor Of Cali
forna which explains the accompanying documents and
places the gallant colonel" governor in rather
enrable light among all rght-thnking The italics
are ours:
HElpouARTERs TENTH MrirARr DEPARTMENT,
Monterey, California, Oct 0, ls47.
SIN: have the honor herewith TO enclose 70 you The
pspers relating certain contract entered into the Sd
day of March, 1s47, by Lieutenant Colonel Fremont,
mounted rihemen with Don Bulogio de Cells resident
OF Cudad de los Angeles California The paper marked
Is copy OF this contract with Lieutenant Colonel FREE
monts certificate bearing date Apri &C. 1s47, that he
Cells and that be Fremont had executed TO him in pay
mani mote for the ann of thousand nine and