Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-10
SECRETARY MARcY's OPINION OF COL. PRE-.
MONT,
From the annual report Of the Secretary Of War.
December 5, I346.l
lExtractl
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IExtractl
War DEPARTMENT, Dee. 5, I3ts.
In May ls45, John C. Fremont. then brer.,
ard since appointed lieutenant colonel left here
under orders from this department to pursue his
explorations in the regions beyond the Rocky
Mountains The objects of this service We're as
those OF his previous explorations had been, of q
scientific character without any view whatsv 70
military operations. Not an officer or sodirr of
the United States army accompanied him, and lis
whole force consisted of sixty two mon, employ cd
by himself for security against Indians, and for
procuring subsistence in the wilderness and desert
country through which he was 10 pass.
One OF the objects he had in view was 10 dis
cove- new and shorter route from the western
base Of the Rocky Mountains /, the mouth ,of the
Columbia river. This search for part of the dis
lance, would carry him through the unsettled, and
afterward through corner of the settled parts of
Ca itorDia. Heinpproached these settlementsin the
winter of 1855. Aware of the critical state of
| affairs between the United States and Mexico,
to the authorities of the province. with commend
able prudence he halted his command on the fronti
er, one hundred miles from Monterey. and proceed
ed alone to that city TO explain the object OF his
coming to III, commandant general. Castro, and
to obtain permission go to the valley Iof The San
Joaquin, where there game for his mon and
grass for his horses and inhabitants to be moest
ed by his presence.
1t was on the 9Th Of June, and before the con-
| mencement of the war between the United States
and Mexico could have there been known fthai this
resolution taken; and, by the 5th Of July was
carried into effect oy n series OF rapid attacks BY
small bolv OF adventurous men, unfsr the I'M
duet of an intrepid leader. quick to perceive AMI
able to direct the proper measures for accomplish
ing such daring enterprise.
The country north of the Bav of San Francisco
hplr rcla0 of finao
turned Sonoma on the evening of the 4th OF July
and, on the morning o the 5th, called the people
together, explained to them the condition Of things
in the province, and recommended an immediate
declaration of independence The declaration was
made, and he was selected to take the chief dirss-
ton of affairs
Thus. in the short space of sixty days from tbs
first decisive movement, this conquest was achisy-
ed, by a small body of men, to an extent beyond
their own expectation; for the Mexcan authorities
proclaimed ii conquest not merely OF the northern
part, but of the whole province Of the :Caiforniss
WI. MARCY.
To THR President OF TIE UNITED STATES.
But, Il is needless, to quote further testi-
mony, four years experience in the President
ial office, from the 4th of March next, will
vindicate the wisdom of our choice and the
fullilment of our predictions. And here
we press to the discussion of the great quss-
tion before US.
OPINIONS OF WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, MAD
IsoN' AND OTHERS ON SLAVERY.
GEORGE WASHINGTON in 1886, said:
II can only say that there is not a man living
who wishes more sincerely than do To llee plan
adopted for the abolition of it. tSavery;l but there
is only one proper and effectIal mode in which il
can be accomplished, and that is by legislative
thoriy and this so far as my suffrage will go,shall
never be wanting. y 9 Sparks's Washing ton, l5S
" There are in Pennsylvania laws for the gradual
olitlon OF Slavery, which neither Virginia nor
Maryland have at present. 'but which nothing 10
more certain than they must have, and at period
not remote"
THOMAS JEFFERSON, in speaking upon
this subject, uses the following language:
Nobody wishes more ardsntv than to Sc, al
q aholitiOn not only OF the trade, but of the condi
II n OF Slavery, and certainly nobody will be mnrs
willing TO e"connter any sacrifice for that object"
The whole commerce between master and slave
IS continual exercise of The most unremittinx
iesp 'tism on the one part and degrading subinis-
sion on the other " with what ex-
scraiion should the statesman be lo1ded. who per-
niiiEg half of the citizens thus to trarnple OF
The rights Ofthe other transforms those int desp1ts
md these into enemies, destroys the morals Of tks
me part ami the patria of the otherl Can
he liberties of n nation be thought secure, whom
we have removed their only firm basis, "a convic-
ion in the minds OF the people that these liberties
ire the gift OF Godl That they are not violated
'ut bv his WRATH INDEED. | TREMBLE FOR NJ coUH-
rY WHEN REFLECT Con IS JUST, AND HIS yusTIcE
,ANSoT SLEEP FOREVER"
JAMES MADISON declared ''he thought it
wrong ID admit into the Constitution that
here could be property in man,"
JAMES WILSON, distinguished member
,f the Convention that framed the Federal
Constitution, in speaking of the power Of
Congress over the Slave trade alter 1908,
ays:
II consider his clause as laying the foundation
or banishing Slavery OF this country; and
hou h the period more distant than could wish
will produce the same kind, gratu Il chlngc
vas produced in Pennsylvania" 9TH,
eD States which are to be formed will be under
le control of Congress in this particular, and Sev
nv will never be introduced an1ng thetn.n
"lt presents Us with the pleasing prospect that
le ri rhts of mankind will be Acknowledged and
Established throughout the Union. If there was no
her lovely feature the Constitution but this
ne, it wouM diffuse beauty overIts whole coun-
nance. Yet the lapse OF a few years, and Con-
-ess will have power to exterminate Slavery frosn
ithin our borders."--t2 Elliot's Debates, 4Si.
JOHN RANnoLPH, of Virginia, said:
Sir. know there are gentlemen, not only from
le Northern but from the Southern States, who
ink that this unhappy question-tor such it is---
negro Slavery, which the Constitution has vain
attempted to blink by no: using the term. should
ever be broa ht into pubc,notice NOR especiali~
oithat OF most especially here. Sir,
ith every due respect Tor the gentlemen who tiinS
}, ditfer from them toto ceio Sir, ii Is thing
hieh cannot be hid. 1t is not 4 dry rot. that you
IN cover with the carpet until thu hDuss tumble,
,Out your ears. You nigh as well try to hide
f,ll, ka
ncer in your face, aui must be Treated secasis.n
TEN }"
HENRY CLAY, as late as 1850. in the
enate of the United States, said "Thers
as no power on this earth that could in
Ice him to extend Slavery over one inch Of
rritory now free"
DANIEL WEBSTER, in his celebrated
eech in 1913, said in these expressive
Ords:
Il content myself with saying in a few words
at my opposition 10 the further extenson OF luca,
very III IN Is country, to the increase OF slave
in Congress. Is general and uni
TSal shall oppose all such increase IN all places
all times and under all circumstances, against
Inducements against all supposed limitations
grea interests. against ali combinations and a.
inst Ill compromises"
In a speech ut Bufalo, in 1851, Mr. WEs-
ER said:
| never would consent AMI never have consent.
that there shOulGbe one loot of slave tcrrIi0ry
yond what the old thirteen States had at Ihs inns
the foundation OF the UniOn.r
''l think see course adopted viii is likely
turn the constitution of this llnl into i deforTned
1nster---in.o curse rather than blessing; ia
It. 4 frame OF UStQCAL government. not founded
popular representation not founded on
ualiy; but on the grossest INEQuALTrT; and
mink that this process will 90 OF. or that there
danger that It will 70 on, until this Union shall
10 piecaS | re-Si tito day an always, Who-
er ia. ,eTs or whoever flies, | continue the con-
t."
'lt the South wish any concession from me, they
il not get 1t; no' hairs breadth At,t | conccde
thing But SJy | Will maintain for them asI
u maintain for You, ~ the utmost of my power
IN the iace OF all dan ger, taSir Rlrrs under the
institution and 30 NIGHTS under the Constitu-
n. And shall never be tOunl 10 talter in one
the otle -
In his MarShieli speech, he sail: "Thers has
a long TINS beea North. | think the North
II is at last discovered. | hink there viii bs