The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-03
Buchanan Under Oath, His opinion of
John c. Fremont, Important Testi-
mony, Border Ruffian Electioneering
Lies Refuted by DIR. Buchanan Him

John c. Fremont, Important Testi-
mony, Border Ruffian Electioneering
Lies Refuted by Mr. Buchanan Him
self.
Col. Jony c. FREMONT was arrested in
London in 1852 by certain parties who held
drafts drawn by him, in an official capacity.
upon the Treasury of the United States,
when he was organizing battalion in Cali
fornia for the conquest of that Mexican
province. In consequence Of that arrest,
the Court of Exchequcr in England institu-
ted commission to take testimony in the
case in the United States. The Commits
sioners named were Henry ID. GILpN, liuGu
CAMPBELL and PETER MCCALL, responsible
and well known citizens of this country
all, we believe, residents of Pennsylvania.
The frs. witness examined before them was
JAMES BUCHANAN, then as now a resident of
Wheatland. lie had just vacated the chair
of Secretary Of State, which place he filled
during Mr.. PoLE's Administration, and he
was, perhaps, us well informed as any man
in tho United States, of Col. FREuoNT's SER
vices in California, and tho circumstances
under which the Indebtedness in question
was contracted, and for that reason his tes-
timony was deemed of special Importance.
We have not space to print all the interro-
cations and answers indeed, most OF them
are mmaterial to our purpose, which is to
show that the lies which Col. FREyoSr's
enemies have invented, to prejudice him in
the minds of the American people, are fully
and triumphantly refuted by Mr.. BUCHANAN
himself, under oath. The Commissioners
ask Mr.. BrcnASAN
q. Do you know who was the person in
actual command of the land forces of the
Government of the United States in Cali
fornia, in the year one thousand eight hmm
dred and fortyseyen, and IN tho month of
March in that year?
To this he answers:
A. Col. Fremont, the defendant, was in
California ut the commencement OF HOSTILE
ties between the United States and the Re-
public of Mexico he there raised and CON-
manded battalion of California volunteers,
consisting of about four hundred men; his
services were very valuable he bore a con-
spiuow part an The conquest of California,
and IN my opinion is better entitled TO be
called The "COnqusror Of California" than
any other man.
Here is sufficient relutatiOn of the infa-
nous stories which Mr.. BucuANAN's friends
have circulated to prove that our candidate
had little or no share IN the important
events which led to the annexation of Cali
fornia to the United States. In their opin-
ion he is an adyenturer-a nobody but Mr..
Buchanan calls him the "Conqueror Of
California"
q. Do YOU know whether any, and if any,
what forage or other necessarics were sup
piled TO or for the said forces Of the United
States 50 engaged in hostilitics with the said
Republic OF Mexico' And, particularly,
do You know whether any such supplies
We're necessary for the forces under the COM
mand of the defendant!
\. know not whether any, and if any
what, forage or other neceSaries were sup
piled to or for the said forces of the United
States so engaged in hos.ili.ies with the Re-
public of Mexico, but do not know that
such supplies were necessary for the forces
under the command of the defendant, and
that no appropriation had been made by
Congress TO pay for these supplies. Con.
grcss could not have anticipated that Colo
mel Fremont would raise California bat
talon by his own personal exertions, and
without previous instructions.
OF course Mr.. Buchanan knows that the
military. supplies purchased with the bills,
for the non-paymen. Of which Col. Fremont
was under arrest and in prison IN foreign
country, were necessary and that without
them the conquered country to-day would
have been in the hands OF the Mexicans,
from whom our candidates skill and cour-
age wrcstcd it. But to the next;
q. Do you know who was the Secretary
Of State of the aid United States in and
during the year one thousand eight hun
drcd and iorty-scyen, or in any part Of that
year?
A. | know that was Secretary of State
of the United States during the whole of the
year 1877.
Q. Do you know whether or not the do.
PENDANT himself individually, and for his
own private use or benefit, ever received any
consideration for the said bills or any of
them. or was there any consideration what.
ever for the drawing or the accepting Of the
same bills or any or either OF them, other
than the SAID supplies to ar for the said
forces of the said GOysrameat Of the United
States?
A. Inc'thcr know nor believe that the do.
fendant individually, or for his own privat.
usc or benefit, ever received any considcra-
ton for said bills, or any Of them, and do
not believe there was any consideration
whatever for the drawing or accepting Of
the same bills, or any or either Of them,