Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-28


act of Congress. approved March 8, 1909,
entitled ian act further to amend the sew
eral acts for the establishment and regula-
tion of the Treasury, War and Navy De-
partments,' and of the act passed March |
8, 1917, entitled ian act to provide tor the |
prompt settlement of the public accounts,
| transmit herewith, statements of the ac-
counts which remained due more than three |
years prior to the lst day of July, 1858,
on the books of the Second, Third and Fourth
Auditors of the Treasury"
This report, Mr.. President, contains nine
ty-six 1869 pages of names, reported in
obedience to the requirements of the laws,
by M,. B igger, Register Of the Treasury,
Mr.. Clayton, Second Auditor, Mr.. Burt,
Third Auditor, and Mr.. Dayton, Fourth Au-
ditor. These reports Of the Auditors of the
Treasury Department, contain the names OF
persons whose s'accounts have remained un-
settled, or on which balance appear to have
been due more than three years prior to
July /, 1858, furnished in pursuance of the
I'd section of the act of Congress approved
March s, 1909, entitled sAn act further to
amend the several acts for the establishment
and regulation of the Treasury, War, and
Navy Departments and the names of Off
GERS whose accounts for advances made, or
balances unacceunted for, one year prior to
July I, 1858, nave not been settled within
the year; prepared in pursuance of the Is
section of the act of March 8, 1917"
In this long list of names ] find the
names of some Of the noblest sons of the
Republic The names of Generals Gaines,
Worth, Harvey are in this list, but the name
of John C.. Fremont is not among them. If
his accounts were unsettled-if a balance
were against him why was not his name re-
portedl This name is not in the list of per-
sons whose accounts were unsettled, during
the years preceding that date.
On the first day of July, 1853, no moneys
were in his hands unaccounted for. He
owed the Government nothing. At that
very time he had a claim for supplies fur
nished the Government ss early as July,
1851. That claim was examined and report
ed upon by committee Of the House of
Representatives, at the head of which was
Colonel Orr, one of the leaders of the Ad-
ministration in the House.
That committee reported bill allowing
Col. Fremont Slss, 1875, and that bill re-
ce we'd the unanimous vote of the House and
Senate, and the approval of President
Pierce, on the 29th of July, 1854. IF his
accounts were unsettled, if money was in
his hands unaccounted for-if the Govern
ment had any balance against him. why,
Sir, why did not your Administration compel
settlement and secure any claims of the
Government when it held SIS3,S25 of Jehn
C. Tremont's in It's coffers1 Will the Sena-
tor from Pennsylvania, will any Senator an
swer this question.
Some mousing politician in the depart
ments, or who has access to the depart
ments, some little, soulless creature, ever
ready to blast the reputation Of honorable
men, has doubtless found papers bearing
upon Col. Fremont's conn ections with the
Government out of which he thinks extracts
can be quoted, if published, by which venal
politicians can blacken the reputation of one
they fear and hate, and the Senator from
Pennsylvania comes into this Chamber,
with this resolution, to carry out this small
game OF political malignity.
| shall vote, Sir, for this inquiry, but
wash my hands of its meanness-its abject
ltteness. If it applied to anybody's can
didate but the one which support, would
vote against it. would never consent to
resort to such petty warfare. The Senator
from Pennsylvania assumes 20 be Mr.. Buch-
anan's fugleman here. | have sometimes
thought the Senator, in his deep anxiety,
| felt that he carried Mr. Buchanan on his
| shoulders.
| hold james Buchanan responsible for an
attempted blow at his riyal-struck by the
hand OF the Senator from Pennsylvania
who processes to be his particular friend,
who is ever watchful of his interest and
fame So prompt is the Senator from Penn
svlvania to rush to the defence of Mr.. Buch-
anan, that have come to regard him as
that gentleman's 'premonitory symptom
here. Nothing but that Senator's extreme
desire to better the waning fortunes of his
chief, could have induced him to engage in
this political device
Mr. President: The people will regard
this as persecution. 1t will bring odium-
not upon Col Fremont, but upon the men
who originated it and move in it.
It Will rather rebound, as all such attacks
against cand idates for the Presidency hav e
done, to his advantage. The issues are
made up. They are the gravest and most
transcendant issues ever presented to the
people of the United States.
All that the Senator from Pennsylvania
and his candidate can make out of his in
quiry will not weigh feather in the coming
contest, which is to decide whether Free
dom or Slavery shall sway the policy Of the
Republic.
Iowa-young Iowa has uttered her voice
for John c. Fremont by a majority of thou
sands. Maine will respond to Iowa for the
East in few weeks in voice not to be
mistaken. The Senator cannot break the
mighty current that is bearing the friends
of free Kansas on to assured triumph by this
petty political maneuvre which gentlemen
should not stoop to engage in. Pennsylva-
mia, on the 18th October, may teach her
Senator that she is not to be won by any at
tempt to defame the Chieftain. around whose
banner the liberal, progressive, Democratic
masses of the country are rallying for the
coming fight.
have not p0ken, Mr.. President, of the
motives that have actuated the Senator
from Pennsylvania in introducing This in
quiry. have nothing TO do with motives,
have spoken of the act, and have spoken
of it as | think it deserves. Perchane the
Senator feels that he has the good name
and fame of Colonel Fremont, as we'll as
Mr.. Buchanan, in his keeping. Perhaps
we ought to feel grateful to him for his zeal
for the reputation of our candidate, but |
cannot but feel that whatever the effects of
this inquiry may be upon Colonel Fremont,
the Senator will win no laurels by it, that
any one will desire to pluck from his brow.