Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-24
THE CATTLE STORY.
Another Vile slander Refuted!
COL. FREMONT INDICATED (!

When honest, wel-meaning persons write
us that such and such absurd lbes on Colone
Fremont are circulating in their locality, and
that they want documents wherewith to refute
them, we cannot help answering that they take
hold Of the business at the wrong end What
they have really to do is to make their neigh
bors acquainted with the true character of Col
Fremont, his career, his services, and the es-
unation in which he has ever been held by the
wise and good who Intimately knew him: and
this will preclude all necessity for paying at
tention to the potty- larceny SANDERS with
which his baser adversaries seek to biacken his
| reputation. Only let the People see and know
him as he is, and the vipers will find them
selves biting little the sharpest files that ev-
| erjawS were worn upon.
Let us illustrate the character of these IL
bells by few ready illustrations
The conquest of California from Mexico was
effected by very moderate forces, vet with We
ry little bloodshed. Col. Fremont bore most
distinguished part in that conquest-at least,
all the contemporary accounts gave hlm the
credit of so doiDg-Secretary Marcy's among
the rest. We believe Mr.. Buchanan did not
commit himself in any public document; but
we assured that, when Col Fremont's Beef
contract was under investigation before the
Indian Committee of the House, Mr.. Buchan-
an appeared as a Witness for Col. Fremont be-
fore that Committee, and testified strongly in
his favor. If they were not now rival candi
dates, we believe Mr.. Buchanan would NOW,
gladly appear as a conclusive witness against
Colonel Fremont slanderers
Of course, so large a country as California
was not conquered, and could not have been
held, by force so immensely inferior in num-
bcrs as were its American conquerors to the
hostile Mexican authorities, soldiers and peo-
pie, but by the manifestation Of extraordinary
activity as well as courage. Our little force
there in 1857 had to be multiplied ny-fold
by rapid movements from point to point and
by suddenly appearing when and where it was
least expected. Thus Colonel Fremont, whom
Com. STOCKTON, after the conquest, appointed
It's Governor, was at one time obliged to ride
at the head of one hundred mounted men. over
four hundred miles-that is, from Los Angeles
TO MoGterey-in four days, to meet an appre
hended attack, and back again in the same
tine-a feat which old Caifornians pronounc-
ed uneqalled in that country, where horseman-
ship has been carried to its perfection. But
this march could never have been made with
out repeatedly changing horses, which was ef-
fected by driving into rancho or cattle estate.
unsaddling and turning loose the tired and
painting beasts, putting their equipments in
stantly on as many fresh animals, and spurring
headlong forward. OF course, the owners of
the horses in due time presented claims against
the Government, which Military Commits
sion scrutinized and either allowed cut down
or rejected; and some Of these-Gen. Valle-
JOS for one-have since been paid by Con-
gress, while others have not. But they all fl
gure-not merely the amounts paid or allow
ed, but the amounts merely cIaifned-in the
newspaper demonstrations of Col. Fremont,s
prodigality or dishonesty as Governor Of CAL |
iforna
Take for instance Col. Fremont deemed il |
necessary TO head party of his force and cross |
the bay OF San Francisco to capture a Mexi- (
can fort and spike the heavy cannon mounted |
thereon; for, though the fort proved at the |
time to be scarcely occupied, it would have |
become exceedingly formidable and annoying |
then been dispossessed of the country. had |
seen fit to throw themselves into it. But Col. |
r. had no boats in which to make the passage, |
and was obliged to borrow those of an Ameri- |
can merchant ship then lying in the bay The |
captain lent and manned his boat or boats. |
himself steering and his men rowing; andCoI. /
F., who had no money wherewith to pay. GER
tilted that the service was rendered, and that |
it was valuable, but set no price on it. The
captain claimed ten thousand dollars theCom-
mission allowed him ffry dollars /; and even
this, we are confident, has never been paid
No matter-the $4,000 figure, large as life,
in various statements afloat intended to con-
vict Colonel Fremont of prodigality or dishon-
esty in California;
Probably most of our readers have seen or
heard something about the .ssx hundred cows
which Col. F. is said to have purchased ON
Government account in California, but to have
turned over to a ranchero to breed on shares
for his own profit. We have met this libel in
some dozen or more Pro-slavery journals, not
one of which gives the least hint of the fact
tha. fhe Federal Government nerer paid, and IS
not required TO pay, one cent for these cors.-
The facts in the case are briefly these
Col. Fremont, while Governor of California,
did contract with stock-grower for six hun
ircd cows at $40 per head, for the public SER
vice. As tboy were not Immediately needed,
they were left with ranchero or herdsman till
they should be wanted on the usual terms
half the increase to the owner and tina balance
to the berdsman. Col. F. gave an order or