Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-29
VOL. L, NO. 4o~.~.wHoLE NO. 26o2.

American people believed these as-
saulis to be unjust, mean. and con-
iemptable. Pass this resolution. droo
out OF the Departments the bills.
vouchers, letters, and papers between
Ool. Fremont and the Government :
gafoie them, scatter them over the
land, blurt their contents in the un-
willing ear Of the country. and the
people, with that sense of ns,;ce
that practical judgment which dis,in-
gulshes them, will pronounce it all
political prosecution. Yes, Sir, this
partisan scheme will bring upon its
authors, upon the men engaged in lis
execution. not public confidence and
regard, but public censure and con-
tempt; and it will bring to Col. Fre-
mont the sympathy which honest
men ever give TO the persecuted.-
Col. Fremont was lnlrusled by his
Government with high and response
BILE duties. Those duties were far
distant from the seat Of Government.
beyond the borders Of the Slates-in
the territories beyond the father of
waters-in the Rocky Mountains
IN California. Those high and re-
sponsible duties we're performed in
manner that won the commendation
OF The Government, the approval of
honorable Senators upon this floor.
aud The applause and admiration of a
grateful people. His name is forey-
er associated with the pathways 10
the golden shores Of the Pacific
through the gorges of the Rock,
Mountains, with the conquest ami
acquisitions Of California. Money
was lntrusted to his hands. la the
performance Of the duties assigned
HIN, men, property, money, were ali
Tor months, years, intrusted TO his
Keeping. The people will demand
why John G. Fremont is arraigned
now, eight or ten years after his du-
, ties to the Government were perform
ed. II his accounts were unsettled
It he had failed TO account for none,
placed IN his hands-if he was i'm an,
sense defauller-" WHY" the peo-
. pie will demand, was he not report.
y ed, as the laws require, by the prope,
. officers Why was his name lei
out OF the list of public officers who's
Il accounts were reported unsettled :!
/ On the 10th Of January, 1854, the
!, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, ControlIer
!, OF the Treasury, made a report to
. the House of Representatives, in
which he says;
" 10 conformity with tho provisions Of tho Act afcop
gfess approved March 4, 1909, entitled An act n1ub
to amend the several acts for the etabshent and reg
ulaon Of the Treasury, war. and Navy Tepattment.
and Of tho act passed March . 1917 entitled An act IT,
provide oi the prompt settlement oftha public account
transfer Il, herewith, stttemsnts Of tho account. % A
swa,ned do" moe than three yesrs por the 6rst ia
o July 1888 on tho bnoks Of the Register Of the Tteas
y, and the booAs the seeond Third and Fon,,b
A"di'o'' Of tho Treasury, tesPscIivoly."
This report, Mr.. President, con-
talns nlnety-six pages of names re-
ported in obedience TO the reouire-
ments Of the law, by Mr. Bigger.
Register of the Treasury, Mr.. Clay
ten, Second Auditor, Mr.. Burt, Third
Auditor, and Mr.. Dayton, Fourth
Auditor. These reports Of the au-
dllors of the Treasury Department
contain the names of persons whose
accounts have remained unsettled, or
on which balances appear 10 have
been due more than three years pri-
or TO July |, 1853, furnished in
pursuance Of the second section of
the act of Congress, approved March
3, 1909 entitled ian act further to
amend the several acts for the estab-
lishment and regulation of the Treas
ury, War and Navy Departmental
and the names of officers whose
accounts for advances made, or bal
ances unaccountod for, one year pri-
or TO July |, 1853, and have not
been settled within the year pre-
pared in pursuance of the thirteenth
section Of the act of March 3, 1872
In this long list of names / find the
names of some of the noblest sons
Of the Republic. The names Of Gen.
eral Gaines, Worth and Harvey are
in his list, but the name of John G.
Fremont is not among them. If his
accounts were unsettled, if balances
we're against him, why was not his
name reported ? His name is not in
The list of persons whose accounts
were unsettled during the year pre-
ceding the LIST OF July, 1853, or the
three years preceding that date. On
the LIST Of July, 1853, no monies
were in his hands unaccounted for.
He owed the Government nothing.
AT tht very time he had claim for
supplies furnished the government as
early ns JulY. 1851. That claim
was examined aud reported upon by
a committee of the House OF Repre-
sentatlves, at the head Of which was
Col. Orr. one of the leaders Of the
Administration IN the House. That
committee reported u bill allowing
Col. Fremont $l63,625, and that
bill received the unanimous vote OF
tho House and Senate. and the ap-
provaI of President Pierce on the
29th of Jolly, 1854. Ii his accounts
were unset,led-if money was 10 his
hands unaccounted lor--lf the Gov
eromenl had any balance against
him-why, Sir, why did not your
Administration compel settlement,
and secure any clOims of tho Gov
ernment when it held $l93,S25 of
John c. Fremonl's money in lis cof-
fers? WIN the Senator from Penn
sylyania--will any Senator--answer
lbis question Z Some mousing poll