Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-09
Colonel Fremont on the stand.

The New York Commercial Advertiser of yes
terday evening contains the following account of
an interview with Colonel Fremont by Mr. B. F.
Cook, resident of Staten Island, and highly
respectable stationer of New York city. The
statement was made at Fillmore and Doneson
meeting at Factoryville, Staten Island, on satur-
day last, as follows:
Mr.. B. F. Cook made some interesting and i'm
portant statements expecting an interview he had
with Colonel Fremont on the subject of his alleged
Romanism. 1t was in substance this Some friends
having desired to enlist the speaker in the cause
of so-caled Republicanism, he expressed desire
to have all doubts removed on this mooted ques-
ton, but said that nothing short of an assurance
from Colonel Fremonts own lips would satisfy
him. An interview was arranged for. The OBJ
ject of the visit being understood by the Colonel
he avowed himself ready to answer any questions
proposed. Mr.. Cook proposed the following, and
received to each the answer annexed:
"Were you married by Roman Catholic priest? ?"
81 was !" the Colonies lip quvering as he spoke
Did you at the time believe in, or profess to
believe in, the Roman Catholic religion ?"
81 did not"
"Have you before or since, or at any time, pro-
fessed the Catholic religions"
II have not" .e........
Here Mr.. Cook bowed, to signify that he had no
more questions to ask.
Col. Fremont then volunteered some remarks to
the following effect: that while in California he at
tended no church, and that he occupied his Sun
days in reading and writing, and in attending to
such matters OF business as he thought of import
ance. Mr.. Fremont further said !: CT am frequent
ly Intercepted by all parties on this subject
presume the delegation now waiting for me up
stairs wish to interrogate me on this point When
they do, shall put the most favorable construc-
ton on the matter that / can wish to offend
none, but to secure the votes Of ALL Only this very
morning / have letter from Maine, saying that
unless / make personal denial of Romanism, and
that / am or have been Roman Catholic that
State will be lost to the Republicans; and another
letter from Indiana, telling me that if will author
ize my friends there to say | am a Roman Catho-
lie, they can secure for me a large German and
Irish vote. | have to frame my replies so as to
secure the votes Of all. There is now deputation
waiting for me, whose errand doubt not is the
same. II is best TO say little about this matter
as possible, and we must manage the thing as wen
as we can, so as to get the votes of both sides"-
Here the interview terminated. Mr.. Cooks state
ment was listened to with profound interest.
The Commercial Advertiser thus alludes to this
curious affair #
mo one who knows the narrator will question
the entire veracity and moderation of his state
ment. We have been for some time cognizant Of
all the circumstances of the interview, and of the
causes also that led to it. But as they were men,
toned to US without any permission to publish, we
have not felt at liberty to make them the subject
Of editorial comment The gentleman himself very
properly stated them publicly on Saturday night,
as will be seen by our report of spontaneous Fill
more meeting on the island and we need not
therefore impose any further restraint upon our.
selves respecting them. Had the whole story been
told-all the antecedents of the actual interview
II would have been decidedly amusing, revealing
how closely every access to the distinguished Re
publican candidate is carefully and ealously watch
ed by the '6iends who seem to have been APP
pointed bis custodians.'
II appears, therefore, from Fremont's own con-