Minnesota weekly times., 1856-10-04
VA. c..e..e.a Calls.r.l..

50 's--.s VA. Conquered Cails.rsis. 2 's''e
James aas Buchanan on he &and-Mander. Of tie
Douglasites ansscsred from Wheatland-Ssn.
ator Bigler's Gun Spiked In the Ercheqssr
Gibbs rs. Frensont-E Examination Of the
Hon. James Buchanan.
1t will be remembered that Col. Fremont was
arrested in London, in 1852, and sent to prison,
for the non-psyment and protest Of four drafts,
amounting in all to $4,000, drawn BY him a.
Governor Of California, upon Mr.. Buchanan as
Secretary Of State, ip favor of F. Huffman, for
forage and supplies furnished to the California
battalion, raised and commanded by the Colonel
during the Bear war. Mr.. Buchanan did not pay
these drafts when they were presented, for rea-
sons Which will appear. As our Government
could not be sued, the holders of them thought
the shortest way of getting the money was to
take the position that Fremont was acting on his
own responsibility in California, and was person
ally responsible for the supplies furnished his
men. Upon the trial, of course, Mr.. Buchanan's
testimony became material . commission was
issued to take it. The results of that commits
sion are submitted to the reader below. He will
there find to whom James Buchanan three years
ago thought the honor Of conquering California
belonged, and they will there find his opinion Of
COL Fremont's financial administration, so far as
it came under his notice. l,g. a9a4..t. aa .y1oi
to be administered to witnesses to
be produced, sworn, and examined at Pennsyl-
yania, in the United States of America. on the
part Of the defendant, in Her Majssty's Court of
Exchequer at Westminster, wherein Willien
Gibbs, Henry Hucks Gibbs, John Hayne, and
George Thomas 'Davy are PLAINTIFF, and John
Charles Fremont is defendant. before Henry S.
Gilpin, Hugh Campbell, and Peter Mccall, Of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America,
Esuuires, or any two or more of them, Com
missioners named and appointed in that be-
half, pursuant to an order of the Right Hon
orable Mr.. Baron Parke, dated the 18th day Of
June, ono thousand eight hundred and fifty
two. and an order of the Honorable Mr.. Baron
Platt, dated the 5th day Of October, one thou
sand eight hundred and ffty-two. lsiiH pI}
Question-What is your name, present resi-
dence and your professions, occupation, business
or employment?
Answer--My name is James Buchanan, my
present residence is Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania, and am not engaged in any particular
occupation or employment.
O.-Do YOU know the defendant in this cause
and how long have you been acquainted with
him? q
Al DO know the defendant in this cause, and
have been acquainted with him at least ten years.
Q.--Where were you residing in the year
AIN the city Of Washington. -17,
Q.-Were you then personally acquainted with
the defendant?
Al was. -,
Odd you see the defendant during that
year? 55. t.'i q
Al did see the defendant during that year,
but not till after his return from California in
the latter end Of Summer or commencement of
Autumn of that year.
Q.-Was the defendant then, or at any other
time, in the service Of the United States Gov
ernment If yea, in what capacity2
A.-The defendant was in the service of the
United States Government as Lieut.. Colonel Of
the Regiment of Mounted Ridemen throughout
the whole of that year; be was appointed to his
Office in the latter end of May, 1916. He had
been for six or more years previously Lieuten-
ant in the corps Of Typographical Engineers, in
which the brevet Of Captain had been conferred
upon him for meritorious services in his exploring
exdedition.
Odd the defendant in tho year l847 hold
any, and if any, what Office or Offices under the
said Government, and did he hold the said Offices,
or any of them, in the month of May, 1847? ~.
A.-During the whole year he held the Office of
Lieut.. Colonel in the regiment of Mounted Rife
men.
Q.-Do you know who was the Military Com
mandant and Governor of California, within the
territory of the United States in ths year l847,
and particularly in the month Of March in that
year? " sa'
Al know that il the hr.t months Of that
year there was q dispute betwesn Col. Fremont,
tbol loeo nd ok tAn TYu:t al
States army, as to which Of them was the isgiti-
mate Military Commandant and Governor Of Call
ifornia, and this dispute existed throughout the
month of March, l847. After this time Gen.
Kearney was the undispnted Military Comman-
dant and Governor of California till the begin
ming of June, when he was suecseded by Col.
Mason, of the United States army, who soptin-
ued in this position until after the end of the
year.
tual command of the land forces Of the Govern
ment of the United States in California in the
year 1847, and in the month Of March in that
year?
-A.-Col. Fremont, the defendant, was in Cali
fornia at the commencement of hostilties between
the United States and the Republic of Mexico;
he there raised and commanded a battalion of
California volunteers, consisting Of about 400
men. HIS services ,oers very valuable; he bore q
conspicuous part in the conquest Of California,
AND in MY OPINION is BETTER ENTITLED
IFORNIA THAN ANY OTHER NAN. He con-
tinued ia the actual command of the battalion
throughout the month Of March, 1S47; but there
were other troops ip California, other troops Of
the United States, under the command Of Gen.
Kearney, who was afterwards the Military Com
mandant and Governor of California, and have
already stated in my answer to the eighth inter
rogatory. cannot undertake 10 decide The dis
Pute to which haze already Yeferred between
Col. Fremont and Gen. KearnSy !; but rs long
as the California battalion existed, they were
under the separate and independent cen,mand of
Col. Fremont, whilst Gen. Kearney commanded
tho other troops of the United States. For the
rest of the year, l refer to my next preceding
answer.
Q.-Do you know whether in any part Of that
year, 1847, hostilities existed between the Gov
ernment of tho said United States and tho Re-
public of Mexico? If yea, when did such hos
tilitieR commence, and how long did they contin-
ne? .-0a 5i
A.-Hostilites existed between the United
States and the Republic of Mexico throughout
the whole Of the year lS47-these .hostilities
commenced on the oath April, 1S46, and the ex-
recognised by Act of Congress on the 18th of
May, 1916. Hostilities continued between them
until the conclusion of the Treaty Of Peace of
Guadaloupe liidalgo on the ID of February,
lS4s. .--rr., tteI,.l ~
Q.-Were such hostilities existing in or pre-
vious to the month Of March, 1S47?
A.-Ihere were, both in and previous to tho
month Of March, lS47.
Q.-Do You know whether any, and, IL any,
what forces Of the said United States were, In
the year 1S47. engaged in hostities With the said
Republic Of Mexico? qev,5
A.-Ali the forces Of the United States were
engaged in hostilties with the Republic of Mex