Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-08
COL. ]. C. FREMONT.
James Buchanan testityipg in his favor.
From the Nelc York Trt5uus

| FROM me lNelc 0rk Tribune
We have caught The old rat at last We
have him secured in the square jaws of a steel
trap, with firm, safe. stiff spring, so that he
cannot get away. He would gladly pull off his
tail, or gnaw of a paw even, as many of his
race have done, to escape, if that was all that
held him. But, fortunately, the jaws are clos
ed fixedly around his neck, and the old rat
cannot get away.
In the Tribune of to-day our readers will
find JAMES BUCHANAN squarely out in favor of
JOHN c. Fremont! They will read with deep
interest what the hoary-headed libeiler of to-
day said about the gallant and dashing young
hero who is now his antagonist, four years ago,
when he had no motive to speak anything but
the bare, simple, naked truth.
In 1852, Col. Fremont was arrested in Lon
don for debts which he had contracted in his
official capacity as Governor of California in
the service of the United States. The Court
OF Exchequer appointed Commission in the
United States to take testimony in this case
The first witness before that Commission was
James Buchanan.
Mr.. Buchanan, at the time the services which
he testifies to Were rendered to the country by
Col. Fremont, was Secretary of State. Of
course he occupied the very best position TO
judge accurately of the value of Col Fremont's
services, and of the nature and character of
all his official transactions.
AT the period when Mr.. Buchanan's aeposi-
ton was taken he had withdrawn from office,
and was living in retirement at Wheatland.
spending his time in a manner particularly ap-
propria.e to his advanced years in meditation
upon his past sins, and in solemn reflection
upon his accountability to the higher tribunal.
He had no occupation, and his whole time was
given to repentance and self examination;
with the aid of the Presbyterian and Quaker
lights by which he was surrounded Under
these circumstances, with the oath of God up
on his lips, James Buchanan then testified.
rerbGtim as follows:
of Mekic6; kNic6;niRHt iHtt the defendant, in Cali
&c battalion of California Volunteers, consis-
- ting of about four hundred men; his servi-
g ces were valuable; he bore conspicuous part
50 IN The conquest Of California, and, in ny opin-
SO ion, is better entitled 10 be called the sCoRquer-
g or Of California Than any other man.
1t is we'll known and understood that Sena-
tor Bigler of Pennsylvania has recently given
extensive circulation to low and grovelling
sianders about the forage and other nccessaries
furnished to his troops in California, by Col.
Fremont and it is believed that in this dirty
work he has been prompted by James Buchan-
an himself. Now see what Mr.. Buchanan, in
his deposition, swore to:
''l do knoT that such supplies lcere necessary
50 for the forces under the command of the de-
g Jendeht, and That no appropriation had been
- made by Congress 10 pay for these supplies
" Congress could not have anticipated thatCol
&c Fremont would raise California battalion
So by his own personal exertions. and without
:. previous Instructions
Furthermore, such was his confidence inCol
Fremont, and SO thorough was his knowledge
of the transactions in California, that he
would have paid the drafts himself had he had
any funds, Notwithstanding they might more
properly have been drawn upon the Secretary
of War! These are his own words:
s'I should hare accepted and paid these bills,
g from my general knoptedge Of the transactions
80 in California, had Congress appropriated anu
:" money, and placed ii at my disposal, ,rhich |
SO could be applied 10 their payment, though ii |
'' 1oouid hare been more correct 10 hare draun |
90 these bills on the Secretary Of War;
All, therefore, which for electionaering pur- |
poses has been charged as wrong on the part
of Col. Fremont, was sanctioned by Mr. Bu-
chanan ! Thus it is, in the mysterious order
lnss OF Providence, and with the exercise of
]udicious enterprise, that we are enabled to
blister with his own previous words, the tongue
Of the sland rer.