Washington sentinel., 1856-07-22
From the Washington Union Of the 18th.
'sGovernorn John q. Fremont in Cali


From the Washington Union of the 18th.
Governor John q. Fremont An Cali
fornia.
j. +. Schenck, United States navy, in an arti
Gle published in Dayton, Ohio, paper informs
the public what Colonel Fremont did not do.
Commander Schenck acted on shore as the
aid-de-camp Of Commodore Stockton, whilst
the latter was in command in California, and
was cognizant Of the history of events which
occurred there. An extract from the letter OF
Mr.. Schenck reads:
~ am prepared to prove that, SO far from
his being entitled to any credit Tor his particl-
patton i'm the conquest of California, that his
having failed to cooperate heartily and etfi-
cently with Commodore Stockton, SO far from
assisting in the conquest, embarrassed him
(Stockton) in his ,operations and rendered the
victory less complete than it would have been
had we received from Fremont that assistance
we had right to expect, mounted, armed,
and equipped as he was. l am further pre-
pared to prove that in every engagement, and
every rout Of the enemy which took place in
California Fremont was invariably too late to
take part; and, to sum up all, ! assert that
during the whole of his service in California
he never was within hearing distance OF the
enemy's guns The cause of his inefiiciency
will not here discuss
After the statement of what he did not do, it
would be but an act of justice to the people of
the country to inform them what the gallant
colonel or governor" did do.s Passing by for
the time the explorations" of Colonel or
Governor Fremont which have been proven
to be false in their geographical, chorographi-
cal, and historical character, we come to his
financial operations in California, the state
ments of which are not only unquestionable,
but, on the other hand, are susceptible of the
most convincing and conclusive proofs as to
correctness. quote from the correspondence
of General R. B. Mason, then colonel first
dragons, commanding in California, and
governor of that Territory, with Brigadier
General R. Jones, Adjutant General United
States army, Washington, D. c.:
HEADQUARTERS 10Th MILITARY DEPARTMENT
Monterey, California. June q, ls47.
A claim has to-day been presented to me
against the United States Of SO extraordinary
nature that l deem it proper to send it to
You will perceive it is for money borrowed
at an enormous rate Of interest by Lieutenant
Colonel Fremont from one Antonio Jose Cot
and, too, in the official (character) of "gov
ernor" Of California, when he knew that Gen
eral Kearney, his superior and commanding
officer, wss here in the country.
La the same manner, the Lieutenant Colonel
gave orders and caused the collector of Gus
toms at San Pedro to receive in payment of
custom-house dues large amount-say about
one thousand seven hundred dollars-of depre
ciated paper signed by individuals in no way
responsible to the government.
The object now have in view is the request
that Lieutenant Colonel Fremont may be re-
quired to refund Immediately the seventeen
hundred dollars that the treasury Of California
has thus lost by his illegal order.
] am, &C.,
R. B. MASON,
Col. lst Dragons, Commanding.
To Brig. General R. JONES,
Adg. Gen. U. S. Army, Washington city.
Translation of the original obligation giren By
Fremont to Cot, and nop on file in the De-
pdrtment
ANGELES, February A, lS47.
/, the undersigned, governor of California
for the United States Of North America. ac
knowledge that / have received from Don
Antonio Jose Cot, merchant of this city, two
thousand dollars, in hard cash, which he has
furnished this government for the public SER
vice. And bind myself in the name of the
United States Government, to return the said
sum within the term Of twJ months from this
date, paying for interest three per cent. per
month, or one hundred and twenty dollars.
But if at the expiration of this term, the Gov
ernment should see fit still to make use of
these two thousand dollars, Mr. Cot agrees that
the interest shall run for four months longer at
two per cent per month, or one hundred and
sixty dollars for the four months. And for the
fulflment Of what has been stipulated, ! bind
myself as gope,nor of California.
For $4,000.
I n FREMONT