Washington sentinel., 1856-07-29
From the New York News.
Fremont ms n Legislator.

We publish to-day an authentic copy of the
only bill ever introduced by Col. John C. Ere.
mont into Legislative body, and which may
be looked upon therefore as an indication of
the ability of that gentleman as a legislator
and public official. Ii was during the few DAYS
that he held seat in the United States Senate,
and on the 18th day Of September, 1850, that
Col. Fremont brought forward this bill, and it
was doubtless this most unfortunate movement
that caused the people of California to imme-
diately dispense with his further services at
Washington.
The gold diggers Of California had estab
fshed among themselves a simple, comprehen-
sive and complete unwritten code. How much
space the claim of each man should occupy,
how long he should be entitled to it and on
what conditions, when he should be considered
as abandoning it, and all other circumstances
and contingencies, were provided for in this
rude miners common law, with a foresight and
distinctness which have been the theme of
much eulogy among those who have seen and
tested its practical workings in these rich
pacers and gold fields which American indus
try has dug, washed out and sified, with such
indefatigability.
The test Of wise legislation is the extent OF
its interference with natural rights and ind-
the true necessities of the State, it is unwise
and is sure to re. act. 1t is evident that the
Californans were so ungrateful as not to ap-
preciate kindly the attempt Of COL Fremont TO
legislate for them so many mines away, in
what they esteemed so impertinent a manner
They objected to President Fillmore's appoint
ing as Col. Fremont proposed, twelve gold
mine agents" and superintendent Of gold
mines" from among the seedy politicians Of
the Wing party, to go out to California and
set aside their own admirably common law of
the pacers, TO their own advantage. They
we're so blind as not to see the necessities for
permits and passports and similar machinery
Of government, hitherto supposed peculiar to
monarchical countries. They were so ambi.
tious as not to admire the proposition to con.
fine each digger to thirty feet square. They
did not feel desirous Of paying for permits to
work on the land that was common to ALL and
which most of them had expended their little
means in reaching. They we're not carried
away with enthusiasm at the idea Of paying
fines Of "one hundred dollars day for work.
ing in a mine without permit" lone third
part thereof to go to the informer." In fact,
they objected very strongly to all the details
of this wonderfully astute plan for preserving
order in the gold mine district"
ihefe was hnOtneT PROVISION In lne Dill
which met with serious objection among large
class Of miners-men who are now citizens OF
the United States, but who in 1850 had only
declared their intentions" COL Fremont's
bill, (section 2,) prohibits all but American
citizens from working or digging for gold.
The American miners in California held no
such narrow views. The native and adopted
citizen worked there, side by side; with those
whose term of probationary residence in the
country was not yet complete, and no man said
them nay. II was probably this suggestion ol
Col Fremont's however, which has made him
the candidate in 1856 Of the North Ameri
can" Knownothings.
This bill laid out Col. Fremont at home stiff
and cold; laid him out as completely as James
Buchanan will do next November. II not only
extinguished him politically, so that in the
Legislature which elected Col Weller to I'll
the term commencing on the 4th Of March
1851, his name was not heard Of as n candi
date, but it drove him out of the State. Col
Fremont has not since resided in California
He is disgusied with it, and it is equally dis
gusted with him. So much for his career in
the United States Senate!