Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-03
Tho Persecution of Colonel Fremont.
WILSON'S SPEECH

MIA, calling upon the Treasury Department for
copies of the papers concerning the accounts
of John C. Fremont with the Government came
up for consideration. Hon. Henry Wilson, OF
Massachusetts,, rose and said
Mr. President-I'he days of this session are
rapidly passing Business of the highest I'M
portance presses upon our consideration
Chairman oflcading Committees, charged with
measures of great public concern, crowd for
ward to obtain the ear Of the Senate.
While the Senate is thus engaged in the per-
| formancc of its high duties to the country, the
Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bgler) thrusts
before us this little, petty proposItien-si prop
| osition unworthy moments attention oi nom
orable men, in or out OF the Senate. The Sen
ator from Pennsylvania, not content with laun-
ching into the Senate rGis scheme--which
must have originated with some mousing poll
tician, engaged in the pursuit of petty ends
| by petty meanS-bnt he presses Its consldera-
| tion now, in spite of the earnest remonstran-
| ces of the Chairman of the Committee on FL
nance (Mr. Hunter,) who is charged with the
care of the Civil and Diplomatic bill, and the
Chairman OF fle Committee on the Pacihc
Railroad (Mr. .Weller.) who wishes to call the
Senate TO the consideration OF that great nea-
sure, to unite the Atlantic and Pacific shores
| of the Republic. But the Civil and Diploma
tic bill, and the Pacific Railroad bill, must be
| thrust aside, other measures must be thrust a.
| side, by the Senator from Pennsylvania, that
| the Senate may consider this proposition by
which certain political schemerS hope to elicit
something ont of which they can manufacture
ISLANDERS against brave man, who has served
his country with eminent ability in peace anu
| in war. The Senator from Pennsylvania can
not suppose that this proposition Will pass tins
| body without at least passing notice lie
| takes the responsibility, he chooses TO press
| it, and shall take at least few moments OF
the time of the Senate to characterize the pro-
position as think it deserves.
Does the Senator from Pennsylvania expect
| to win laurels by thrusting this proposition in
to the Senate Does he think the generous
people of this country will applaud this at
tempt to wound the sensibilities and defamc
the character of one who has won brilliant
name in the history of the Repubhc-one
whose explorations and scientific iaools mas
conferred upon our country honor and fenown
among all civilized nations Does he expect
to win support for his fayoritc candidate for
the Presidency by thrusting into the Senate
this wretched proposition? This is small game
IF that Senator hopes to win popular conf
dencc and applause, if he hopes to turn back
the tide of popular favor that is bearing John
G.. Fremont TO the Executive Chair. by this
resolution, which here pronounce, which hon
orable men in and out Of the Senate Will pro
nounce and which the country viii pronounce,
small and mean, he viii find himself sadly mis-
taken. Wherever this proposition goes, high
minded men will treat it with derison, ScoTn
and contempt; and no little of derision, scorn
and contempt, will be visited upon the men
who resort to such devices to effect political
results. | would not stoop to such warfare
as this. If it was aimed at James Buchanan
i, l would Spurn it from me.
| This is not the first time. Mr.President, that
the shafts of political malignity have been
hurled at men who have served the Republic.
and it is not the first time that the Senate has
been called upon to grope among the archives
, of the Government to discover some accounts,
or the records of some account, between the
Government and men who have been intruSted
with public funds, out of which something
would be distorted for partisan ends.
| In 1928, Andrew Jackson was aSSailed for
his military deeds. The people, unmindfUi OF
these assaults, bore him proudly to the Presi-
denti al Chair over of the purest, abiest
and most incorruptible patriots that ever Srac-
ed the councils of the Republic.
In 1910, Gen. Harrison was aSsailed by the
envenomed tongue of SANDER. branded n cow
ard and denounced as bad man, and the peo-
pie took him in their arms and bore him TO
the Executive Chair over his experienced and
accomplished competitor.
In 1913, Zachary Taylor, was denounced in
t the same manner-hs accounts with the GoV-
ernment through long years of public service,
: overhauled and audited over again by the po-
litical accountants and auditors
n In 1852, General Scott a soldier who has
: served the Republic for more than forty years
in peace and war. with unsurpassed ability
was arraigned in the same manner and Tor Z
similar object What was gained by these as
r saults upon Jackson, Harrison, Taylo Scott !
S | venture to say here to-day, that all these as
saults upon these distinguished men, concern
| ing their monetary transactions with the gov
: ernment, never lost them the confidence ol
S support of any portion of the American peo'
o pie. Let the American people believe these
a assaults to be unjust, mean, contemptlOie.-
Pass this resolution, drag out of the depart
: ments the bills, vouchers, letters and papers
C betwecnCol.F Fremont and the government, gar
: BILE them, scatter them over the land, bias
g their contents into the unwilling ear of th'
. country, and the people, with that sense o
"a justice, that the practical judgment which dis
q tinguisheS them, viii pronounce it all politi
: cal persecution.
q Yes, sir, this partisan scheme viii bring up
on its authors-upon the men engaged in it
. executon-no public confidence or regard
/ but public censure and contempt, and it vii
J. bring to Col. Fremont the sympathy whc
N honest men ever give to the prosecuted.
Col. Fremont was entrusted by his govern
III ment with high and responsible duties. Thes
N duties were far distant from the seat of gov
d ernment-beyond the borders of the States
AZ in the Territory beyond the Father of Water
: in the Rocky Meuntains-in California
> Those high and responsible duties were per
lie formed in a manner that won the commenda
,e tion of the government, the approval OF non
, orable Senators upon this foor-and the ap
plause and admiration of grateful people.
a His name is forever associated with the path
WAYS to the golden shores of the Pacific, thro
the porgcs of the Rocky Mountains-with tn
CONQUEST and acquisition of California.
IN Money was entrusted in his hands. In th
of performance OF duties assigned him, men, pre-
] perty, money, were all for months-years er