The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-09

I
lions the west Fremont certainly performed
exploits up this time which could influence he Com
m"d"res action for On the sh day Of Juue be refused
cooperate with General lds and others in reEOluoniznp
California and did take any part with them III,
18th Of june after the surprise Of Sonoma the brlian
performances OF Leul Ford and capture OF party with
200 horses had all been achieved
And Then there Is evidence whatever that the British
admiral ever intended bad any instructions which
would have auhorlzdhlm 70 seize California IL is
Imagination.
Mr. Benton, | must repeat says il was hearing Of
FremOnts operations and surcesses and beev ng that
he had orders from his government 10 take Ca forpia
tnat 'nducd Go uudore Sioat TO take possession of
h"n'er Tor st at hts time (Tth Juy) ths commence
nsa ~ the Wlh MsItc0 uaAnO1cH But Comuo-
dore mt hat because be had received ptor.
mat"n 9t The eztsfnce Of 6eeea The United Saes
hexeo, an THAT he considered would justify him CON
henclng r70e operdtoHs the coast and there
fore sal the savannah for the coast Of California 70
carry out the orders Of the department Now Mr. Pres
ident what these orders They Nec sir that Sin
the event OF war with Mtxo he directed employ
the force under his command the best vantage The
Mexican ports on the Pacific said be says the Sec
retary OF the Navy open and detencss II You
with oe tainty that Mexico has eeared against the
United States you viii possess yourself Of the
port OF San Francisco and bloade or occupy such other
ports as our force may permit
Such sir the lnstructio IS which be sailed from
NJ za, on the sh OF June TO execute and yet Mr. Ben
ron in his ye~ ates II the operations Fremont
Heaven The y which led him to commence hos
tties in California and the territory from the grasp
Of Great Briiain
Mr. Benton in this statement does great injustice this
gallant officer in charging that he had commenced bosti
ties against nation other ground than that hear
ing OF the operations and Of Fremont he sup
posed him to be IN OF orders bis
To take California. admit sur il would be difficult If not
Impossible for hIs position position 10 be
levc that officer OF the army the United States would
wage war with the oIces under hts command against an
independent nation cltho orders from his government
Aud the Commodore might we'll he pardoDed for suppos
such to De the But have already shown from his
"icia letters that it that he dad But it,
doubt couhrnrd in his The truth OF the niorma
tion he bad received at nazatan of the
Of hostiliues But, sir the statement OF Mr. Benton in
reference To this matter places Mr. Fremont in
fortunate position It exhibits hiu, sir, Character OF
hllibusT ofa person without hority king pom
friendly power and employ ing the forces placed under h
command ltor different purpose) 10 overthrow its gov
ernmen and establish republic its ruins Ii was in
deed sir tn assumption of fearful responsibility and
which might have yoVed his country war; have
lost his life with the lives of all his followers
the with Lopez his expedition he had BEEN
ceSstu in his operations Bot sir do propose dis
cuss TINS question: ou IN passing merely to remark upon
think that have fully shown thar Mr Fremonts
clums TO he conquest previously the 18TH OF July
irey upon the assertions OF his faher-Inaw and
they appear in Secretary Marcy report OF December ls4C
In thus stating the intervention Of Mr. Benton in claim
ing for Fremont credit for exploits which he
entitled expressly dsclaim any desire mpue him
AM thing further Than pardonable facility in yielding
credtDce, grounds entirely insufficient statements
and nerences calculated 10 do honor TO CONNECTED
with him by close family ties The truth OF history, how
ever requires vndicaon and my duty is expose the
into which he has been betrayed, and in which
through his agency others have participated.
And now, Mr. President propose briefly examine the
claims OF Fremont the merit Of conqueror subssgusny
July l9 1896 That be had claim before has already
been shown.
On the 23d JAY ls46 Commodore Stockton took com
nand Of the squadron Commodore aloat having sailed
for the United STATES Monterey, Sonoma, the head
the bay Of San Francisco, and Yuba Buena called
San Francisco the points in the possession Of the
United States forces But all southern California
arms, and unsubdued Mr.. Fremont was then at Mon
terey.
Commodore Stockton issued h5 proclamation on the
same day and announced bis intention 70 conquer The
country. Col Fremont in bis defence bis trial by
martial in ls4s, thus bis position this
and gives the title OF cUKQUEEoR anotherSee proceed
ings Of court martial Pp 374 aud 375
"He CCom stocktop) determined to prosecute bostes
the full conquest Of The country, and ask cooprrA
ton but service under him he made this proPoaal in vi
ting to Lieut. Gillespie and myself We agreed to it. and
did
under him with pleasure wa. glad relieved
command The naval on that station and il wa
the naval commander flss thar the Presiden bad
TALON OF mounted nf-men then organized Commodore
Stockton appointing all the officers, myse being appoiut
OF the naval forces tor the conquest Of the
oUuntryr
Again Colonel Fremont says
% tb- 18th or August IsIC Commodore Stockton a,
coSaUEnoR took pos-esInn tbe Ctv u the Angels the
The gUvvrnOr general Of California Tn tue l7th Be
issued proclamation ruch nod6cation
and government g the inhabtAnts followed BY many Others
the the better government Of the
conquered country"
TIM Is ths language Colonel Fremont when bis safe
y depended making The truth MANIFEST Under the
peril o lC he concrtrs Commodore Stockton the uo
o. Concurror ~ California
TIE peril over law claims for him the merit
being the couqu-ror and his bographers also
ighl well 70 the upon the aDoye
explicit .dmi sion Of Col Fremont himself But IL be-
longs full statement OF the truth shall ehy relate
what part be aid take in the conquest Of Cafor MIA sub
sequenIy Commodore ,ockton assuming the supreme
command Mr.. Fremont having reosived appOintmrut
major Of battalion Of volunteers from Commodore
Stockton ordered the 23d day OF July, with 100
men, embark the sloopo'war Q, sne, Comm soder
Dupont with directions 10 proceed 20 San Diego Hnd
thence advance the City Of tho Anges 20 cooPrnc
with him the Commodore in the proposed attack the
Caifornians.
Mr. Benton il bis letter to the President or the 9th No
vember s46 says "he sloopO'wRr Cyane pm AZ hS
srptoeuo doubt 70 produce the impression on rhe mod
o. the President hat Fremont acting fdspCndsu'v
But Prrmont himsef In his N. Benton ui % ,
July 1886 SAYS expressly: 1--WE under orders 10
bark Tomorrow morning board the Cynne sloop-Of
war, and dscmbark San Diego, Immediately 10 the rear
Of Gas ro'
from Cty the Angela There he waited week for
Fremont corporate with him. Finally, b. marched
against Castro without him forced him break up b.,
camp abandon his srIsTy and baggage and 1y in the
direction OF Sonora After the dis er-ion and fight OF his
my Fremont arrived the day that Stockton took pns
s.ssOu Of capital Thus ended the first campaign
Stockton Fr-nontF whole service comprised in hli
voyage San Diego and bis march 20 DE Los AngsUs
The second campaign Of Commodore Stockton was stil
more ingOrous for Mr. Fremont An insurrecton brok.
out the lst OF October, and the garrison s ny th
Commodore the capital had been compelled 20 captuats
Stockton ordered Fremont San Diego ain 20 oolle
borses aud cartle this s1prduon. San Diego was
huUGvrr, surrounded by the enemy, and L'sutenhn
- 4 -. II