The Empire County argus., 1856-03-15
Parker II. French.

We have been frequently asked for specific infor.
nation concerning the facts in the previous history
of this individual, which render it utterly imposs
that he can under any circumstances be received
by the Government of the United States in capac.
ity in which he would be placed officially on a
footing with the many gentlemen of character who
represent foreign governments in this city. In an
swer to all such inquiries, and that the country may
understand definitely and distinctly the reasons
why we have characterized him as we have done
in what we have published concerning him, since
his acts came to be of Importance affecting the
character and integrity f government, we
hereto append the following brief Senate (report)
document:
''In the Senate, January 3O 1855, Mr.. Shields
made the following report:
The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom
were referred the petitions of Lieutenant James G
Benton, Brevet Majors E. B. Babbitt and James
Longstreet Of the United States army having had
them under consideration, report:
''It appears that while these officers were station
ed at San Antonio, Texas in July, 1850, appca-
ton was made to them, respectively for ordinance
stores quartermaser stores and subsistence stores,
by Parker H. French, the chief of body of emil
grants, on their journey to California
"The said French bore and exhibited to the petit
TONERS what purported to be letter of credit from
Rowland & Aspnwall, of New York, and he pos
sessed the confidence of numerous citizens and MGR
chants of Texas, to some of whom he was person
ally known He was the acknowledged chief of
an emgrating party and was to all appearances,
reliable and responsible man.
''By existing regulations of the War Department,
officers in these departments are allowed to sell to
persons emigrating to California such stores the
state of the public supplies will permit, and with
the concurrence of Brevet Major General Brooke,
they sold to the said French as follows: Ordnance
stores 81 02l 04 quartermasters stores S549 90 D.,
subsistence stores $40 9S for which said French
gave them separate drafts upon Rowland Aspn-
wall of New York, which drafts having been for
warded for collection were protested for MONACO
ceptance. 1t then discovered that the letter of
credit exhibited by French was forgery and all
his representations false. Several of the best
merchants of San Antonio were at the same time,
and in the same manner imposed upon for large
amounts of money, &C., and the imposter has fled
beyond the reach of law. 1t is apparent that these
petitioners in all these transactions exercised due
diligence, acted under the instruction of their COM
manding General and that the money was lost
without any fault of theirs The committee, there
fore, recommend bill for their relief authorizing
and directing the proper accounting officers of the
Treasury to credit their accounts the several
amounts of which they were respectively defraud-
edn
We need hardly add that grosser impropriety
could not be committed, that an act on the part of
the Government of the United States, whereby an
standing French does on the records
of Congress, should be received as foreign Minis
ter at Washington; thus officially placing all the
many worthy gentlemen who represent foreign
powers here on social footing or level with him.
We therefore feel assured that even though
Walkers government, by maintaining itself in
power in Nicaragua, may eventually be 'recogniz-
ed by that Of the United States it is utterly impos
sible that this Mr. French can be received here as
its diplomatic representative. The moral percep-
tons and sensibilities of public opinion have, of
late years, we know been becoming blunter and
more obtuse day by day But American public
opinion has not yet arrived at that condition of
moral obfustication that would justify Frenchs re-
cepton by the authorities here, even If they were
so inclined; which latter contingency, matter
of course, is among things that are impossible."-
Washington paper.