The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-11

packet ana letter OF introduction L delivered Il
Captain Fremont on tie 9th of May, in the
mountains of Oregon" App. Il
Cong. Globe, 30M Cong, LIST session, page $40
WASHINGTON, November 3, 1916.
My DEAR SIR: The bearer hereof, Mr.. Arch
ibald II. Gillespie, is about to visit the north
west coast of America on business, and has re
quested me to give him letter of introduction
to you. This do with pleasure, because he il
gentleman of worth and responsibility, anc
| is worthy of your regard, l do not deem il
probable that he will fall in with you but if he
| should, allow me to bespeak for him your friend
| to you information of the health of Mrs. Ere
mont, and of Col. Benton and family.
| From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
J. c. Fremont, Esq, Oregon.
App. to Cong. Globe, 3OM Cong, LIST session
p, SO.
| March 5, 1913.
Mr. CAss, from the Committee on Military AT
| fairs, to whom the subject was referred reported
a bill for ascertaining and paying the California
claims; which was read, and passed to a second
| reading.
THE bill appropriating 100000 to defray
the expenses of the military operations under
the orders of Capt. Stockton and Lieut.. Col. Ere
mont, and to defray the expenses of the civil
| government established there by Capt. Stockton
| and all Just claims arising out of civil aid
military operations. Also, for board to ascer
tain the claims, to consist of the commanding
officer of the California battalion and two oil
GERS of said battalion while in service. The
board to sit in different places, and to give GER
| ti6cates for the amount found due, the same to
| be paid forthwith in California by some proper
officer duly appointed allows the board to ap-
| point clerk to keep record the board is to
be allowed to take testimony for or against any
claim, and allow or disallow, according to the
justice of the case it gives the California
battalion all the benefits of the acts of Congress
in favor of mounted volunteer troops; all claims
held to be unfounded or unjust are to be for
ever barred; the decision of the majority of the
board to be final; the amount allowed the Off
GERS of the board as compensation $4,000, and
81, 900 for the clerk witnesses on the part of
the United States are allowed ten cents mile,
and the same to members of the board not en-.
tilted to army transportation. Gong. Globe,
3OM Cong, LIST session, p. 423.
March %, ls48.
THE CALIFORNIA CLAIMS.
Mr.. CAss said the object of the bill was ex:
planned by its title. The evidence which had
been brought before the Military Committee
showed the necessity for the measure proposed
by this bill, for the purpose of settling claims
connected with the occupation of California.
The only mode of accomplishing this was to
send out commission, and ascertain and pay
the claims. He briefly touched on the part that
Col. Fremont had taken in the occupation OF
California, and the consummate skill and cour
age which he had evinced in an expedition
teeming with extraordinary and romantic in.
terest.-Gong. Globe, 30M Cong, lst session, p
$40.
March 20, lS49.
Mr.. DIX. The pecuniary obliga
tons, for the discharge of which it provides.
referring to the bill offered by Mr.. Cass, as
chairman of the Committee on Military A fairs, J
were contracted i'll good faith, for the purpose OF
subduing the country, and of expelling from tthe
military forces of Mexico. In the execution OF
these objects, the young and accomplished Off
Ger at the head of our troops, Col. Fremont, ex
hibited combination of energy, promptitude
sagacity, and prudence, ohich indicates til.
| highest capacity for ciUI and military com
mani; and, in connection with what he has done
for the cause of science, it has given him a rep
utation, at home and abroad, of which men much
Older and more experienced than himself might
well be proud. That the country sciU do justice
10 ms Uatud6te and distinguished services, I en-
terrain not the slightest Doubt
The objects accomplished by Col. Fremont
as subsequent developments have shown, were
far more Important than thoeo have referred
to. There is no doubt that his rapid and de-
cisive movements kept California ont of the
hands of British subjects, and perhaps GU,
of the hands of the British Government: and
1t Is In this point Of view that desire to presen,
the subject to the Senate. If these transactions
If toG Il
case, might not deem it necessary to call at
| tention to them. But as a part of a system to all
| appearances deliberately entered upon and
steadily pursued, it seems to me that they NAV
| Justly claim a more extensive consideration
| than would otherwise be due to them
| Cong. Globe, 30M Cong, LIST session, ID. 55S.
Thus shut out from the Pacific our
own people would have been met at the Sierra
| Madre. or perhaps still further east, and the
| tide Of emigration and settlement would have
been turned back upon the Atlantic coast. II
! is in this point of view that these transactions
| possess the greatest interest and Importance
and that the sagacity, promptitude, and deci
| sion, of our youthful commander in California
at the time the disturbances broke out have
given him the strongest claims on his country.
men. Any .Jdnering on has part-ony Aesitoa.
| CT an acting, and IN acting prompay-mi0Ht
hare cost as millions Of dollars and thousands
| Of Tires; and II might also hare cost as a CON.
test, Of 'chich the end is not reality f,yeseen.-
Cong Globe, 3OM Cong, Isl session, p. SCI.
Mr.. ATcnIsON, of Missouri, said he felt it his
| duty to say something on this bill, because
| some of the claimants were citizens of Missouri
and personal friends with whom he had been
long acquainted. He gaze IL as has ouinion,
not only that the conquest Of Cdlit6ynia ,eas
| Effected By Colonel Fremont, but that the Uni.
ted States had derived the advantage of this
conquest at comparatively little cost He Jus.
| tilted Colonel Fremont in all that he had done
If he had done less, he would have deserved
and would have received the execration of the
whole country. He made some reference To
the course which Colonel Fremont pursued-a
course in some instances rendered indspensa.
BILE tor his own preservation, and always char.
acterized by skill and promptitude. War had
EXISTED before Colonel Fremont struck blow
so that the United States Government is proper.
| ly liable for the claims which are provided for
| by this bill. The emigrants left their families
in the mountains, and Joined the battalion for
the defence of Colonel Fremont, and had re.
celved not cent of pay during nine months
In which they served. The witnesses were all
persons OF strict veracity. lie presumed there
,coutd ne no cote against the 6iu. The onlv oh.
| lection in his mind related to the appointment
of the commissioners by the bill, which might
perhaps, be transcending our constitutional
power, as this was properly the province of the
President-Cong. Globe, 3OM Cong, Ist ses
SION, p. SCI.
april Ii, lS48.
MIR. RUsK. What, sir, would ask
are the nature and character of these claims
What are they2 In the early part of the wear
1910, we ma Colonel Fremont in California,
engaged on business totally unconnected with
the army, and pursuing his Typographical re.
searches. After having obtained authority. from