Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-03
VOL. 3.--N0. 3.

mand why John C. Fremont is arraigned nov
eight or ten wears after his duties TO his goi-
crnment were performed If his accoune
were unsettled-if he had failed to account
for money placed in his hands, if he was il
any sense defauter, why, the people will de
mand. was he not reported as the laws requires
by the proper officers Why was his name
left out of the list of public officers whose ac
counts were reported rs unsettled
On the 10Th of January, 1854, Hon. Elisha
Whittlesey, Controller OF the Treasury, made
Il report TO the House of Representatives, IN
which he says: sin conformity with the pro-
visions OF the act of Congress, approved March
s. 1909. entitled san act further to amend the
several acts for the establishment and regula-
ton OF the Treasury, War, and Navy Depart
ments,' and Of the act passed March 8, 1911,
entitled 'an act to provide for the prompt set
tlcment of the public accounts l transmit
herewith, statements OF the accounts which re-
manned due Dore than three years prior to the
lSt day of July, 1858, on the books of the Re-
gister of the Treasury, and on the books of
the III, Sd and 4th Auditors of the Treasury
This report, Mr.. President, contains ninety
six (96) pages Of names, reported in obedience
to the requirements of the laws, by Mr.. Big
ger, Register of the Treasury; Mr.. Clay ton,
Second Auditor; Mr.. Burt, Third Auditor, and
Mr. DAYTON. Fourth Auditor. These reports
of the Auditors of the Treasury Department,
contain the names of persons whose ''accounts
have remained unsettled, on which balances
appear to have been due more than three years
prior 10 July l, 1858, furnished in pursuance
of the ID section of the act of Congress ap-
proved March 8, 1909, entitled sAn act 70 a.
mend the several acts for the establishment
and regulation of the Treasury, War, and Ma
w Departments and sthe names OF oihcerS
whose accounts for advances made. or balar-
ces unaccounted for, one year prior to July i,
1858, have not been settled within the year
prepared in pursuance OF the 18th section OF
the act of March 3, 1877 %
In this long list of names find the names
of some OF the noblest sons of the Republic.
The names of Generals Gaines. Worth, aud
Harncv are in this list, but the name OF John
C. Fremont is not among them. If his ac-
counts were unsettled-if q balance were a
gainst him why was not his name reported p
This name is not in the list of persons whose
accounts were unsettled, during the years PFC
ceeding that date. On the first day of July,
1858, no moneys were in his hands unaccount-
cd for. He owed the Government nothing
At that very time he had claim for supplies
furnished the Government as early as July,
1851 That claim was examined and reported
upon by a committee of the House of Repre-
| sentativeS at the head of which was Colonel
Orr, one of the leaders of the Administration
in the House.
That committee reported q bin allowing Col.
| Fremont SlS3, ,S25, and that bill received the
unanimous vote Of the House and Senate, and
| the approval OF President Pierce, on the 29th
q u L
! if money was in his hands unaccounted for
| if the Government had any balance against
him. whV, Sir. why did not your AdminiStra-
tion compel settlement and secure any claims
of the Government when 1t held ; lS3, SO of
John C. Fremont's in its cofiersl Will the
Senator from Pennsylvania, wlh any Senator
! answer this question
| Some mousing politician in the departments,
! or one who has access to the departments, some
little, soulless creature ever ready to blast the
4 reputation of honorable men, has doubtless
| found papers bearing upon Col.Fremont's con-
| nections with the Government ont of which be
thinks extracts can be quoted, If published,by
which venal politicians can blacken the repu-
! tation of one they fear and hate, ana the Sen
ator from Pennsylvania comes into this Cham
Der, 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-it abiect bitterness.
/ If it applied TO anybody's candidate but the
| one which / support L would vote against Ii.
| | would never consent to resort to such petty
I warfare. Tire Senator from PennsyIYan as
| suTncs to be Mr.. Buchanan's fugleman here. /
have sometimes thought the Senator, in his
deep anxiety. felt that he carried Mr. Buchan-
an on his shoulders. i hold James Buchanan
responsible for an attempted blow at his rival
| struck by the hand of theSenator fromPenn-
| sylvania-who processes to be his particular
| friend who is ever watchiul OF his interest and
fame. So prompt is the Senator from Penn
| sylYania to rush to the defence of Mr. Buchen-
| an. that | have come to regard him as that gen
! tle1nan's @.Trcmonitary symptom" here. No-
7 thing but that Senator's extreme desire to bet
ter the waning fortunes of his chief, could have
induced him to engage in this political device.
Mr.. Presidents The people will regard this
as persecution. 1t will bring odium-not up
on Col Fremont, but upon the men who orig
isatcd it and move in it. 1t will rather re
| dound. as all such attacks against candidates
for thcPresidency have done, to his advantage.
The issues are made up. They are the grayest
and most transccndent issues ever presented
to the people of the United States. All that
the Senator from Pennsylvania and his caDdi-
, date can make out of this inquiry will not
weigh a feathef>Sp the coming contest, which
is TO decide whether Freedom or Slavery shall
, sway the policy OF the Republic.
Iowa-young Iowa has uttered her voice foi
John c. Fremont by majority of thousands.
Maine viii respond TO Iowa for the East in q
| fe.y weeks in a voice not to be mistaken The
: Senator cannot break the mighty current that
is bearing the friends OF free Kansas on to as
sured triumph by this petty political maneu-
/ | vre which gentlemen should not stoop to en-
, pare in PENNSYLVANIA, on the 14th OF Octo-
fcT may teach her Senator that she is not tc
be won by any attempt to defame the Chief
tajn. around whose banner the LIBERAL progres
sive Democratic masses of the country ar,
railying for the coming fight.
: have not spoken, Mr.. President, of the mo
tiyes that have actuated theSenator fromPenn
: sylvania in introducing this inquiry. / have
: nothing to do with motives. / have spoken o
: the act, and i have spoken Of it as 1 think |
deserves. Perchance the Senator feels tha
he has the good name and fame of Col Ere
: mont, as well as Nh. Buchanan, in his keeping
: Perhaps ought to feel grateful to him fc
@ his zeal for the reputation of our candidate
| but cannot but feel that whatever the effect
Of irnn hs