The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-10-16
Fremont's Accounts:

To give some idea OF the reckless manner
in which John c. Fremont wasted the pub
lie money in California, or attempted to do
SO, probably for bis own benefit, We give the
which is an exuct copy lfom tie
public records at Washington, As COM !,
mander of the battalion in California, Free
mont would purchase the property, Of EN-.
ploy the services of Mexicans, and then let
them make out their accounts, and he would
certify to their correctness, and then the
government Of this country was expected to
pay them. But Congress became satisfied
of their dishonesty, upon examination, and
appointed q committee to examine those
claims; and the result of the labors of that
committee was, that claims amounting 10
$seO,OOo were red6ted to Si53 600, and :
then paid.
The following is an instance Of the kind,
and forms part of those accounts, It will
be seen that Fremont passed a claim Of slo,.
900, which on the testimony of another Oh,
Ger was cut down to FIFTY dollars. Here IL
the whole record: 81 s
(ClaiG No. 1901 H,t .a.,L
The United States g
To William d. Phelps, DR..
For services for himself, crew, and boati
of tho barqne Moscow, of Boston, of which
he was part owner and in command, and
being agent for all other owners, and for
the risk and hazard incident to such service,
in transporting Captain J. C. Fremont and
a detachment Of men under his command to-
a fort on the opposite side OF the bay and en-. :,
trance to the port of San Francisco, in up.
per California, in July, 1916, and aiding him
in capturing aud dismantIing said foft; and,
spiking the guns thereof, consisting OF three
brass and seven iron cannon, of heavy cali.
bre, and part Of which was afterwards ta!
ken on board the United States ship Ports
mouth, by order Of Captain ]. B. Montgom:
cry, United States navy, $4,000.
E. E. WILLIAM PHELPS.
Sworn to by the claimant.
certify that Captain William D. Phelpi
did transport party of men Under my com.
mand to the fort near the Presdia, at the Ell.
trance Of the bay of San francisco, under
the circumstances narrated in the above des-
position; that he aided in dismantling the
fort, and that have always considered his
services on that occasion to have been very
to the United States. thh3
-.' JOHN C. FREMONT.
WASHINGTON Cry, Aug. 5, 1853. 'ia
certify that in July, 1916. Captain w.
D. Phelps did transport party of men un-
der the command of Captain J. G. Fremont
from Sancelito across the bay Of San Fran
cisco (seven miles) to the fort OF Yerba Buel
ma, commanding the entrance ofthe harbor;
for the purpose of spiking the guns OF the
fort, which was ina very dismantled con-
dition, and could not have been occupied
without having been almost entirely rebuilt!
There was no enemy present, and the sole
object Captain Fremont had in view was to.
prevent the Californians from using the.
guns at any future time. There was no risk,
or personal danger incurred, and the service
would be we'll paid for at fifty dollars. rg
-.r -a ARCH. w. GILLESPIE. ,
--.t Bvt. Major t. s. NJ. Corps. ID,
WASHINGTON, Sep. 10, 1853. t.e lud 70
Board for the Examination Of claims conirao-
ted tn California Under It. col.
-., ss John c.. Fremont. a- A.
Opinion on the claim of VIM. D. Phelpss
No. 23o Services of boats crew and use
of boat, $lO,OOo.l g- atIs il9d
The board deems part OF this clsim,'
amounting to fifty dollars, (S5o.) jdst, and
accordingly recommend so much OF il id
amount to the favorable consideration OF
Congress; the balance. nine Thousand nine
hundred and fifty dollars, (Ss,95O,) being
diallowed. 4# as t1.d7gen
Vote unanimous-see Journal, page 3o21
-a q. .@t G. F. SMITH,
Col. U. s. Army, Pres't of the Board,
February 8, 1904. '''.a
Here is claim of ten thousand dollarss
certified by Colonel Fremont to be just,
which competent witness says would be
"wel paid for at $5o." and the board of
sworn commissioners disallow nine hundred
and fifty dollars 7 The claimant, backed
by Col. Fremont's certificate, rccovers just
one.half of one per cent. ofhis demand!-1
The public escapes the payment Of nins
hundred and fifty dollars! Shade Of Ma
thaniel Macon, rise and Protecta Plundered
treasury! raf. as- ,s,i il, est-.;ps,