Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-11
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
Fremont in California.

L GnOAt III OdLlLOL uld'
Popular indignation waxed so fierce against
Fremont. in California, for his many misdemean-
ors, frauds populations, and evident ncapacity
co perfurm duties he had been intIusted with,
that he left for the States. Charges from his
superior officers followed him to Washington
W. Patriot.
Against this unfounded and lying assertion of
the Patrot we submit the following vndcation
of the conduct of Col Fremont in California
Mr.. Marcy, now Secretary of State, in il dis
patch to Gen Kearuey, dated june To- 1871
informd him that the Government is apprized
that /" Lieut.. Col Fremont bore conspicuous
part in the conquest OF California and that
his services have been very valuable in tina
country
Again, Mr.. Buchanan, Secretary OF State, in
an official letter to the President, dated May II,
1889, says, speaking Of Col Fremont He " is
entitled to the highest consideration, from his
WE'LL known ability and superior means OF in
formation.
More than this, Mr. Soule, in speech delii-
cred in the Senate, june 35th 1880 says
. This opinion (Mr. S)ue's) is fully sustained
by the highest authority which can summon
before the Senate, that Of the learned, enter
prisng, and indelatigablo officer to whose labors
the United States aud the world are so much in
debted."
Are " misdeneanors. frauds and peculalions "
" labors for which the United States and tile
world are SO much Indebted - Are they 60 the
valuable services spoken of by Mr. Marcy
On September O. 1850, California was admitted
into the Union as State On the following
day. Col Fremont, the Senator elect, took his
Seat. Ism it new and strange manifestation
of popular Indignation for the people to
confer on the person against whom they % wax
ed so fierce " the highest gift in their power!
" Charges from his superior officers fol owed
him to W Washington" Mark the result of an
examination of those charges
The charges were these, all made by General
Kearney. 81; Mutiny 2; Disobedcncc to
the lawful commands Of his superior officers.
3; Conduct to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline" The circumstances of this
affair are thus: Col. Fremont was IL subordin
ate officer He found Gen. Kcarney and Com.
Stockton disputing about the right to command.
He was to determine for himself under whose
command he would act. He had, previous to
this dispute received his appointments, and
performed his work under Stockton. On the
receipt of an order from Gen Kearney, he thus
expresses his determination: - Until you and
Com. Stockton adjust between yourselves the
question of rank, where | respectfully think
the difficulty belongs, | shall have to report and
receive orders, as heretofore, from the Commo-
3ore.'
For this letter and the conduct based upon il
he was court martialed The Court fuund him
guilty of every specification of each charge -
The President of the Court, BIT. Brig. Gen
Brooke, Lieut.. Col. Hunt, Lieut. Col. Taylor
and Major Boxer filed the following paper
Under the circumstances in which Lieut.
Col. Fremont was placed, between the officer
of superior rank, each claiming to command il
chief in California, circumstances in their ma
ture calculated to embarrass the mind'and ex
cite the doubts of officers Of greater experience
than the accused and in consideration of sh,
important professional services rendered by hin
previous to the occurrence of the acts for whicl
he has been tried, the undersigned, members 0
the Court, respectfully commend Lieut.. Col
Fremont to the lenient consideration of til,
President of the United States -
The action of President Polk was as follows
" Upon an inspection Of the record, lam ~
satisfied that The facts proUed in this case con
stitute the military crime Of mut,ny.'" an
Of opinion that the second and third Charge
arc sustained by the proof and that the convic
ton upon these charges warrants the sentence
of the Court The sentence Of the Court i
therefore approved; but, in considerations o
the peculiar cir umstances of the case, OF tn
previous meritorious and valuable services o
Lieut.. Col Fremont, and of the foregoing rec
ommendation of II majority of the members q
the Court, the penalty of dismissal from tn
service is RENTED.
Lieut.. Col Fremont will accordingly b
released from arrest, will resume his sword, an
report for duty. JAMES X Polk"
Thus restored to his command unwilling
"by accepting the clemency Of the President
to admit tn Justice Of the decision agains
him." he resigned his commission. No one ca
doubt that Col Fremont acted from an homes
conviction Of duty throughout the whole affair
I, is plain that no real guilt can be attached
! him, that no spirit Of subordinaton can he lai
to bis charge 1t is plain that such was tn
, opinion of the Court. The President acquitc
, him of the charge Of mutiny, finding him onl
farorably, or technically guilty of the othe
charges Thus it is proved from facts that h
5 is no mutineer, and that he is guilty Of no Of
fence, that the United States and the worl
arc indebted to him. that what the Poirm
characterizes as " evident ncapacily,' is calle
r = well known ability by Mr.. Buchanan, whc
t by his official relation, become intimately az
quainted with Mr. Fremonts conduct and char
| acter. a.