Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-17
COL. FREMoNr's BEEF SUPPLIES.

The Democratic papers are Yaporlng consld-
.erably in relation to certain contracts made by
GEORGE W. BARBOUR, United States Indian
Commissioner, with Col. Fremont, with regard
TO supplies of beef, which the New York Ere
,ling Post explains to the satisfaction of the
most prejudiced caviler. These supplies were
to conquer the Indians with in California, food
being found by the Commissioners both cheap
er and better ammunition for fighting red men
than powder and ball. Fremont's proposals
were lower than any others received and were
accepted. He could afford to offer better terms
than any of his competitors, because he had
greater powers of endurance than most men;
he had more experience in fighting or manag-
ing Indians, through whose territory, for dis
tance of some three hundred miles, the ami
mails had to be driven, and he was withal much
more ready to expose his life to the perils of
such an enterprise than any one else in that re-
gion. He fulfilled the contract agreeably to
its stipulations, and went to Washington for
his money. The auditing department said Mr..
Commissioner Barbour had no right to make
contracts, in the name of the Government, to
feed the Indians. He only had power to make
to Congress, and asked them to order his bills
TO be paid. The subject was referred to aCom-
mittee of the 33d Congress, in 1851, composed
OF the following gentlemen James L. Orr, of
South Carolina, Chairman; BeHjar1in c. East
man, of Wisconsin, GaIustr g. Gror, OF Penn
sylvania, Ed,cGrd Ball, of Ohio, .fagustus z.
MarscelI, Of Florida, Daniel B. TTright, OF Mis-
sissippi, Alfred B. Greenwood, of Arkansas,
Benjamfn PringIe and Milton S. Latham, of
California. All of these gentlemen were De-
mocrats, except Ball, now Fillmore man ,and
Pringle now Fremont man; they were Wings.
All arc now Buchanan Representatives, except
the two mentioned, and Grow and Eastman the
latter now dead. Latham is the present Col
lector of San Francisco.
On the 14th day of July, this committee
made their report, in which they state that the
contract was conceived in a wise and humane
spirit that the prices were reasonable; that
its terms were fairly and fully complied with.
ssColoncl Fremont they say, purchased a
large number of beef cattle in the southern
part of the State, and hired drivers, at a heavy
cost, to drive them to the designated place
The cattle were driven upwards of three hun
dred miles, in the heat of summer, in the dry
season, at great labor and exposure, and some
four hundred were lost or died on the route
He delivered to agent Barbour, and took his
receipt therefor, one million two hundred and
twenty five thousand five hundred pounds of
beef on the hoef, Il ,225 500 lbs, and accept
ed in payment drafts drawn by agent Barbour
on the Secretary of the Interior, amounting to
one hundred and eghty-three thousand eight
hundred and twenty-five dollars (Slo3. $3.50
These drafts were protested on presentation,
no appropriation having been made by Con-
gress from which they could be paid. Subse-
quenty, the treaties were rejected by the Sen
ate. for reasons which have not yet been made
public, and the Indians of California have been
driven from their lands and homes, and have
received compensation from the Govern
ment, save the beef furnished them by Colonel
Fremont, and Which he now asks the Govern
ment to pay him for. The beef went into the
hands of the agents of the Government: whe-
ther it was all faithfully distributed among the
Indians by the sub-agents, is not question
that is to affect the justice and equity of the
claim of Colonel Fremont. He furnished the
agents of the Government with a large guam
.,ity of beef. Most, if not all of ii, was used
in feeding the Indians it was furnished to
comply with treaty stipulations it stopped the
war, and restored peace to the country. And
pill the Government now shield itself from