Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-09-04
Letter ffon c. c. washburn.
On the charge of PeruI,,;r

Of the 3ist u If can procnre ye9r i9yor
monts correspondence, 10 which vo, fsfla IL
IofWafd II 10 you am not surprised that Some nj
the most INSCRIPTIONS Of the slavery extoptonists
SHOULD feel inclined to keep out of SIGHT the trna =
sue now before the country. by resort To nars,,,
detraotion OF the Republican candidate for The Pros
itency Bat this dodge cannot avail them Ihnno
that none OF our friends will be disturbed by any OF
The false allegations to which YOU lude or waste
her time IN disproVlnS them fer as ts! one lie is
nalsed You may be sure that bigger one viii! be in
vented to take the place of it, Let them reve IN
! Their d ry work. Honorable Southern men d,sdaiD
TO use suca weapons of warfare but they are Il "
sezeJ upon rs lie Northern dough face and pa-tv
sc&N enEcIs Who surgY 10 say ilttsS+ 70 Il ,ras l.
er or less degree ell parts Of Inc nor h. TEeI.5 ana
character Of Col. Fremont, were bot Tsrif ar n III 3,
American people long tuiore lie was lelaiun;ed Tor
me Presidency, and II is an0tcwolthy iec ual tie
hishest compliments ever paid 20 any living man.
were those bestowed upon him hv the late Pres 3rn
fok, ana GoV, Marcy, the prescu. Secretary Of
State An appeal TO lie record. and history If the
county IS me 5eet response ;&at lie made 10 s
Cetractors i5y Lat record las .liea3s are viI.iu.
that he should be judi cd
The partieuur charge OF dishonesty 70 which ,.,,i
ail1de suppose gre" on OF cetiuig letters II Dol
R IS Mason, Written "a Cali,a.st. ! t.s.4k i'm lS41
winch were published not long since .If c Z 5 ~
tins city, accompanied by un amor -p4Hs ca.ai.5 H.
/ cation signed "A California; and wI.ch has caoa
re published i'll of Tie pros ayk. eet the
north. 1t you or your friends arc Il Is: -Gel W.sn
the entire iasity of the charge <aa4a ia elt5
anonymous communication. refer yoa end ~ el 10
the Congressional Globe, 32d Congress Npi II. pa
ees 1oG 10 t03 inclusive, where You viii iiat ths
whole matter was discussed tlld GCled upon by
Democratic Congress.
As you may not have access 20 the Globe, will
here state that in the 32d Congress bill was intro
dnced 10 pay Col, Fremont for certain of mon
ey which he had dis6urBed in California for the Gov.
efnment which nancy he had raised upon drafts
drawn the Secretary of State. The drafts were
protested, and the holder called upon Col Fremont
Tor payment. Col. Il. insisted that The money was
raised and used for the exclusive benefit Of the Gov
ernment and brought The matter before Congress-
he principal management OF the bill IN It's pOssaCe
through the House tnken lv the Hon M
Phelps, then now, leading Democratic member
OF the House OF Representatives from AissouEj, and
Hon. W. \. German, a leading PTosaFefy Demo
cratic member from Indiana and at present Govern
or of Minnesota, appointed by Frank Pierce.
Gov. German was chairman OF the Military Com
mttee and reported tie bill In the course of dis
ssion upon it, when il before the House on the
18th day Of February 1883 ho made use OF the fol.
lowing languages
II have answered all the objections that l
know of; and allow say that in the settlement
OF these accounts, another item was thrown into il,
and embarrassed it, II was scid that Col Fremont
got this $40 SEQ and bought the Maripusa land with
it; and distinguished gentleman of the House told
NE that lie had heard that he had purchased large
amount Of cutie with il, upon which he had made
large profit. Now the Mariposa land ouly coat So
600 though it turned out TO he exceedingly valuable
and worth forty or fifty times what lie paid fog it -
But the date Of thar purchase anterior to this
transaction As to the aedged purchase Of large
amount of cattle, and the grand speculation out Of
the operation How did we act as TO the CHARGE
Did we believe it blindyl No sir, we went into
investigation OF it, and what was the result We
found lie had purchased certain amount of cattle
for the use OF tho army, but because he had moi the
means Of paying for them, he left the cattle in the
possession o. tho vcldcT, VINE had finally to take
them back tor non payment. So that transaction
ended in smoke. as does the charge,
/ will say for Col. Fremont, that when / went in
70 tie investigation Of this transaction, had some
predjudices which thought perhaps might be un
founded, and which satisfied were un
founded. The praiulces which had been upon my
mind, have been dspecd by the investigation Of ali
his conduct in California, and am prepared to beGr
Testimony this OCCASION to tLe correctness of His
whole line Of conduct as an officer end dlsbursing
agent.
Not one dollar can be traced to lis hands; no prap.
ery can be traced to his hands for which re cannot
give to the Government satisfactory vouchers, that
ii has been appropriately and properly applied
Speaking u the achievements of Col. fremont,
Gov. German, himself distinguished and gallant
officer of the war with Mexico said:
Upon the whole Pacific border uos',atallion be-
havcd with more distinguished bravery than did that
battalion under Fremont. No battles were ever
fought against such tremendous odds The battle of
Buena Vista even, was not fought against such odds
of the battles fought hv this little batal-
ion under Fremont. But this brave soldier, who
served his country faithfully and honoraby is
ucarcerated abroad for debts incurred for the hene
fit of his Government, the payment Of which is
sought to be denied by mere quibbitpg."
MI. Phelps, Of Missouri. spoke several times dur
ing the progress Of the discussion, and advocated
the claim aud defended Col. Fremont in The warnest
manner,
Hon. Thompson Campbell, the Distinguished dem
Oeratic member of the House from the Gaena dis
trict, ILL., made use Of tue following language:
'Sir, IS this Government prcpared - icpudiate
wholly and entirely, the services OF Col Fte&oc.u
Califoruai | spp,elenl that at This day IL tie ao@
at tie history 81 lie ScGH ices OF Col fFentu. I ''i.
forna, this Government 10 not prepared Il repelt,o
Hon Rodman NJ Price. the present Democratic