New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-20

We have caught the old rat at last We have
him secured in the square jaws of steel trap, with
firm, safe, stiff spring, so that he cannot get
away. He would gladly pull off his TAIL or gnaw
off paw even, az many of HIS race have done, to
escape if that was all that held him. But, fortu-
nately, the jaws are closed fxedly 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 hosry- headed lbeler Of to-day said about
the gallant and dashng 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 London
for debts which he had contracted in his official
pacty as Governor of California in the service of
the United States. The Court of Exchequer ap.
pointed Commission in the United States to take
testimony in this case The first witness before
that Commission was James Buchanan. We lay
his deposition before our readers this morning.
Mr.. Buchanan ut the time the services which he
testfes 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 deposition
WAS taken he had withdrawn from Office, and was
living in retirement at Wheatland, spending his
time in a manner particularly appropriate to his
advanced years, in meditation upon his past sins,
and in solemn reflections upon his accountability to
hicEer tribunal. He had no occupation, and his
whole time was given to repentance and self
examinations with the aid of the Presbyterian and
Quaker lights by which he was surrounded. Under
these circumstances, with the oath of God upon his
lips. James Buchanan then testified. We commend
this bit of testimony to gallant friend, Comma
dore Stockton, as piece of genuine fig leaf tobac-
CO, for him to chew-rerbatim as follows:
"Co Fremont, the defendant, was in California at
the commencement of hostilities between the United
States and the Republic of Mexico; he there raised and
commanded battalion Of California Volunteers, con-
sstng of about four hundred men his services were
very valuable; he bore a conspicuous part IN ne con-
guest of California; and, in my opinion, as better en-
Titled 10 be called the ConquerOr Of California than
any other man."
1t is well known and understood that Senator
Bigler of Pennsylvania has recently given extern
sve circulation to low and groyelng SANDERS about
the forage and other necessaries furnished to his
troops in California, by Col. Fremont; and it is
believed that in this dirty work he has been prompt
ed by Mr.. Buchanan himself Now see what Mr..
Buchanan, i'll his deposition, swore to:
II do kno~ that such supplies rere necessary for The
forces under The command Of The detcHdeRf and that
no appropriation had been male By Congress 10 pay
for these supplies Congress could not have antci-
pated that Col Fremont would raise California bat
talon by his own personal eAertons and without pre-
yious instructions"
Furthermore, such was his confidence In Col.
Fremont, and so thorough was his knowledge of
the transactions in California that he would have
paid these drafts himself had be had any funds,
notwithstanding they might more properly have
been drawn upon the Secretary Of War These
are bis own words:
81 should hare accepted and Paid these bills from
mn general knoledge of The transactions in Califor.
MA had Congress appropriated any money, and
Dloced al nv disposal rhch could be applied 10 their
naunenf though II rouid hare been more correct 10
hare drarn these bills on the Secretary Of War
All, therefore, which for electioneering purposes
has been charged as wrong on the part of Col.
Fremont, was sanctioned by Mr.. Buchanan Thus
it is, in the mysterious orderings OF Providence,
and with the exercise Of udicious enterprise that
we are enabled to blister with his own previous
words the tongue Of the slanderer Read the
deposition of Mr.. Buchanan. Read and weigh the
words If the retired old gentleman and statesman,
when passing his days in bordering the past be-
hind him aud the solemn future before him, and