Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-09-19
Col. FRENToNTs ACCOUNTS.
Extract from a speech of Hon. Henry
Wilson, of Massachusetts.
IN THE SENATE, AUGUST II, 1856.

Senator Bigler, of Pennsylvania, the near
neighbor and confidential agent of Mr..
Buchanan, had moved an inquiry into the
accounts of Col J. c. Fremont with the
Government, doubtless with the contempti-
bic view of exciting suspicious of that off
GERS honesty and promptitude. The move
ment was as much the act of Mr.. Buchanan,
as if he had made it in person. In COM
menting upon it with eloquent scorn, the
Massachusetts Senator introduced the fol-
lowing language:
"Col. Fremont was intrusted by his Gov
ernment with high and responsible duties
Those duties were far distant from the seat
Of Goverument-beyound the borders of the
State-in the Territories beyond the Faith
er Of Waters-in the Rocky Mountains-in
California.
Those high and responsible duties were
performed in manner that won the COM
mendation of the Government, the approx
al Of honorable Senators upon this floor,
and the applause and admiration of
grateful people.
"His name forever associated with the
pathways to the golden shores of the Pa
cifc, through the gorges of the Rocky
Mountains, with the conquest and acqusit-
ion of California.
"Money was intrusted in his hands. In
the performance of duties assigned him
men, property, money, were all for months
years, intrusted to his keeping. The peo-
pie will demand why John c. Fremont is
arraigned now, eight or ten years after his
duties to his Government were performed.
If his accounts were unsetted-if he had
failed to account for money placed in his
hands, if he was in any sense defaulter,
why, the people will demand, was he not
reported as the laws require, by the proper
officers? Why was his name left out of the
list of public officers whose accounts were re-
ported as unsettled.
"On the 10th of January, 1854, Hon.
Elisha Whittlesey, Comptroller of the
Treasury, made report to the House of
Representatives, in which he says:
aIn conformity with the provisions of the
Act of Congress, approved March 8, 1909,
entitled an act further to amend the several
acts for the establishment and regulation Of
the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments,
and of the act passed March 8, 1917, enti-
tied AN act to provide for the prompt set
tlement of the public accounts 1 transmit
herewith, statements of the accounts which
remained due moro than three years prior
to the 1st day of July, 1853, on the books
of the Register of the Treasury, and on the
books of the Second, Third, and Fourth
Auditors of the Treasury
''This report Mr.. President, contains
ninety-six pages of names, reported in ODE
dience to the requirements of the laws, by
Mr.. Bigger, Register of the Treasury, Mr..
Clayton, Second Auditor, Mr.. Burt, Third
Auditor, and Mr. Dayton, Fourth Auditor.
These reports of the Auditors of the Treas
ury Department contain the names of per-
sons whose accounts have remained unset
tied or on which balances appear to have
been due more than three years prior to
July l, 1858, furnished in pursuance Of the
I'd section of the Act of Congress approved
March 8, 1906, entitled IAN act further to
amend the several acts for the establish
ment and regulation of the Treasury, War,
and Navy Departments and the names of
officers whose accounts for advances made
or balances unaccounted for, one year prior
to July l, 1853, have not been settled
within the year; prepared in pursuance of
the 18th section of the act of March 8, 49,
II"
"In this long list of names find the
names of some of the noblest sons of the
Republic. The names of Generals Gaines,
Worth, Harney, are in this list but the
name of John G. Fremont is not in this list
if his accounts were unsettled, If a balance
were against him, why was not his name
This name is not in the list of
persons whose accounts were unsettled du
ring the year preceding the 1st day Of July,
1853, or in the years preceding that date.
"On the lst day of July, 1853, no mon
eys were in his hBnds unaecounted for. He
owed the Government nothing, At that
very time he had claim for supplies fur
nished the Government as earl y as July,
1851. That claim was examined and re-
ported upon by a committee of the House
of Representatives, at the head of which
was Col. Orr, one of the leaders of the Ad-
miniStration in the House.
'That Committee reported bill allow
ing Col. Fremont $183,625, and that bill
received the unanimous vote of the House
and Senate, and the approval of President
Pierce, on the 29th of July, 1854. If his
accounts were unsettled, if money was in
his hands unaeeounted for, if the Govern
ment had any balance against him, why,
Sir, why did not your Administration CON-
pei settlement and secure any claims of
the Government when it held S1S3,825 Of
John G. Fremonts in its Golfers? Will the
Senator from Pennsylvania, will any Sena-
tor answer this question.
''Some mousing politician in the depart
ments, or who has access to the depart
ments, some little soulless creature, ever
ready to blast the reputation of honorable
men, has doubtless found bearing upon Col. !
Fremont's connections with the Govern
ment out of which he thinks extracts can
be quoted, if published, by which venal DO