Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-28

and admiration of grateful people. His name
is forever associated with the pathways to the
golden shores of the Pacific, through the gor-
ges of the Rocky Mountains-with the con-
quest and acquisition of California.
Money was entrusted to his hands. In the
performance of the duties assigned him, men,
property, money were all for months-years-
entrusted to his keeping. The people will de,
mand why John c. Fremont is arraigned now,
eight or ten years after his duties to the GO
vcrnment were performed. If his accounts
were unsettled-if he had failed to account for
money placed in his hands-if he was in any
sense defaulter, "why," the people will de-
mand, was he not reported as the laws re-
quire by the proper officers? Why was his
name left out of the list of public officers whose
accounts were reported unsettled ?"
On the 10th of January, 1854 the Hon.
Elisha Whittesey, Comptroller of the Treasu
ry, made report to the House of Represen-
tatives, in which he says:
In conformity with the provisions of the Act of Con
gress approved March 3d. 1902 entitled An act further
amend the several acts for the establishment and
latOn of the Treasury War and Navy Departments and
of the act passed March 3d. lsl7 entitled An act to
vide for the prompt settlement of the public accounts
transmit herewith statements of the accounts which re-
maned due than three prior to the first day
july 1863 the books of the Register of the Treasury
and the books of the Secoud Third and Fourth Audi
tors OF the Treasury respectively"
This report, Mr. President, contains ninety
six pages of names reported in obedience to the
requirements of the law, by Mr.. Bigger, Reg
lister of the Treasury, Mr. Clayton, Second Au-
diter, Mr. Burt, Third Auditor, and Mr.. Day
ton, Fourth Auditor These reports of the
auditors of the Treasury Department contain
the names of persons whose accounts have re-
mained unsettled, or on which, balances appear
to have been due more than three years prior
to July LIST, 1858, furnished in pursuance of
the second section of the act of Congress, ap-
proved March 3, 1909, entitled An act fur
ther to amend the several acts for the estab-
lishment and regulation of the Treasury, War
and Navy Departments and the names Of
officers whose accounts for advances made, or
balances unaccountcd for, one year prior to Ju
ly |, 1858, and have not been settled within
they are prepared in pursuance of the 18th
section of the act of March Sd, 1917.
In this long list of names find the names
of some of the noblest sons of the republic
The names of General Gaines, Worth and Har-
ney are in this list, but the name of John G.
Fremont is not amoug them. If his accounts
were unsettled, if balances were against him,
why was not his name reported? His name
is not in the list of persons whose accounts
were unsettled during the year preceding the
1st of July, 1853, or the three years preceding
that date.
On the lst of July, 1858, no moneys were
in his hands unaccounted for He owed the gov
ernment nothing At that very time he had
claim for supplies furnished the government as
IL. 4, ,,,l ,,,l
reported upon by a committee Of the House of
Representatives, at the head of which was Col.
Orr, one of the leaders of the Administration
in the House. That committee reported a
bill allowing Col. Fremont $lS3, ,S25, and that
bill received the unanimous vote of the House
and Senate, and the approval of President
Pierce on the 29th of July, 1854.
If his accounts were unsettled-if money
was in his hands unaccounted for-if the 60
vernment had any balance against him-why,
sir, why did not your administration compel
a settlement, and secure any claims of the go
vernment when it held $lS3,S25 of John c.
Fremont's money in the Golfers ? Will the
senator from Pennsylvania-will any senator
answer this question?
Some mousing politicians in the departments,
or who have access to the departments some
little soullcsS creature, ever ready to blast the
reputation of honorable men, has doubtless
found papers bearing upon Col. Fremont's con-
nectiOnS with the government oct of which he
thinks extracts can be quoted, if published, by
which venal politicians can blacken the reputa-
ton of one they fear and hate, and the sena-
tor from Pennsylvania comes into this cham
Der with this resolution to carry out this small
game of political malignity.
| shall vote, sir, for this inquiry, but wash
my hands of its meanness, its abject littleness.
If it applied to anybody's candidate but the
one | support would vote against it. |
would never consent to resort to such petty
warfare.
The senator from Pennsylvania assumes to
be Mr. Buchanans fugleman here. l have
sometimes thought the senator, in his deep
anxiety, felt that he carried Mr.. Buchanan up
on his shoulders. hold James Buchanan re-
sponsibe for this attempted blow at his rival,
struck by the hand of the senator from Penn
sylvania, who processes to be his particular
is ever watchful of his interests
and fame. So prompt is the senator from
Pennsylvania to rush to the defence of Mr..
Buchanan, that | have come to regard him as
that genteman'S prcmonitory symptom" here.
Nothing bnt that senator's extreme desire to
better the wavering fortunes of his chief could
have induced him to engage in this political
device.
Mr. President, the people will regard this
as persecution. 1t will bring odium, not upon
Col Fremont-but upon the men who origi-
mated it. 1t will rather rebound as all such
attacks against candidates for the Presidency
have done, to his advantage. The issues are
made up. They are the gravest and most
transcendent issues ever presented to the peo-
pie of the United States All that the sena-
tor from Pennsylvania and his candidate can
make out of his inquiry will not weigh fea-
ther in the coming contest, which is to decide
whether Freedom or Slavery shall sway the