The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-11
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON D. c., SEPTEMBER

dence before the Committee on Military Affairs,
states that he was directed to convey the order
of the Government to Colonel Fremont, to watch
the interests of the United States in California.
This, sir, was the purport of Captain GILES
pies mission; and SO soon as the eommunica-
ton was made to him, Colonel Fremont return
ed to California, under the order of his Govern
ment, and by its express authority. Immedi-
ately after his arrival, the American settlers
who knew him and placed entire confidence ia
him, called upon him for aid and protection ;
and under what circumstances was this call
made, sir? The families of those settlers, who
had been previously invited to take up their
abode there, had been ordered, through the in
fuence of British agents operating upon the
local authorities, to leave the country forthwith
A large force of troops was raised to drive out
these unhappy people to where they must either
perish from starvation, or be exposed to the
tomahawk and scalping knife ofthe blood thirsty
and merciless savages. Cong. Globe 3Okh
| Cong, LIST session, p. 629.
1t was under such circumstances
as these, sir, that Colonel Fremont was called
upon to prevent the slaughter of the families of
the American settlers, and shield them from the
horrors of Indian butchery and outrage What
did he then do, sir? Colonel Fremont stands
in no need of any commentator from me: he
|
Drawing dangers and fatigues-a well.earned
reputation, which has extended itself far beyond
| the limits of the United States. Had he falter-
ed on this occasion even for an instant and re-
fused to listen to the appeal which was then
made to him, his lofty fame and widespread
| renown would have been blasted in a moment.
1t would have been lost beyond the possibility
| of redemption.
| From the limited acquaintance Uhich hare
iciM Colonel Fremont, 1 am induced to 6elieue
he could haze risked, not only his life Jatt,
Wtdt is infinitely more caiudble, lbs reputation,
to CRAFTY his deep feelings O generous sympa-
| thy ,oiM his distressed conntrymen. He obey
ed their call, sir; and, so far from meriting any
blame for so doing, he deserves, for this act
| alone, the very highest commentator that can
| be bestowed upon him. His influence operated
| on the Indians. They knew him to be an Off
| Ger OF this Government, who had incurred the
| displeasure of the authorities of California.
Under these circumstances, he acted promptly
Mr.. President, in defence of the American set.
| tiers, who turned out with all their disposable
| means, and made common cause with him, not
| only against the authorities by whom they were
prosecuted, but against the British agents, by
| whose influence that persecution had been
| brought about.-COng. Globe, 30h Cong, LIST
| session, p. 629.
| the expenses which were incurred in the opera
tons in that country, with the exception of those
which took place during the very brief time
| preceding the arrival of Commodore Stockton,
were incurred with the express sanction of the
Government and under the immediate direction
OF Its commanding officer. Shall we then. sir.
repudiate these claims? Shall we say to these
people, "we will not pay your" Would it be
just to do so? VIII any Senator within these
walls say, that for obeying the best and most
humane dictates of his heart, for riskng his life
and reputation to preserve women and children
from savage butchery, Colonel Fremont shall
pay himself, and the expenses attending the
| gallant act-the more especially. when the con.
sequence Of that act has been TO pyeyent Califor.
ma from falling into tile hands of the British
Government? Is there any one here who wish.
es to throw the responsibility on him? think
not.-Comg. Globe, 3OM Cong, lst session,
p, 629.
MIR. BUTLER. The bill appropriates the
money for the payment of the claims: and
they may be paid by the very officer who adiu.
dicates them, and, in effect, they are paid on
his certificate. He is a judicial paymaster,
with judicial powers / will not say that the
Legislature might not appoint as competent an
olhcer as the President may, nor that Lieut..
COL Fremont would not be my choice He as
a. gentleman Of rare endowments, ofrare abili-
| ties; and # the selection rested ariH me. he
acoutd be the Gerry individual ,ohona 1 ,could Sc
tecf: Let it not be supposed that nv objection
TO the bill arises from any objection to the in
dlvidual indicated. That is not the ground of
my opposition at all but it rests mon the 100
ic."d ground tnaJ 1 have intimated- Coma.
G' Noe R SoM Co"g;, lst sess, p $50.
fremont acted without authority in taking up
arms TO defend the men, women, and children.
whose lives were menaced, not only with the
destruction OF their fields by fire, but with the
| horrors OF an Indian war; We admit. that for
about thirty days he acted without authority
from the Government; and we own and de-
clare that he made it apparent to the world
that ne did so by putting up, not the flag of
tne United States, but an Independent flag
Cong. Globe, 3OM Cong, LIST sess, %. 63l.
| For period of thirty days, we
admit there was no authority Fremont did
an act for which he had no authority: but
will undertake to say that, if General jackson
were alive, he would not be ashamed of such
an incident in his life. He would say, -" Write
al doaon. L take the responsibility. I sared
my c0unhyn,en, men, acOmen and children.
iron. tie tomaha,ck Of the savage. Write it
q" do~n' When Fremont wrote me an &C.
| count of it from California, he sent me at the
same time blank, to send in his resignation
If there was any disapprobation of what he
had done. 10 man of honor and patriotism
there are obligations Infinitely higher than any
| that a commission imposes, and in discharge
of which commissions will be despised. This.
was, then, Fremont's Cong. Globe, 3OM
Cong, Isl $685., p. $50.
april Is, 1913.
| Mr.. BENTON. Lieutenant Minor
or the navy, then in Commodore Sloat's squad,
| ron, has we'll testified to all this He saws.
"The undersigned was on dutv on shore
when Captain Fremont arrived with his force
at Monterey from the north The undersigned
believes that the appearance of this BODY of
men, and the well-known character of its com.
| mander, not only made strong impression on
the British admiral and officers, but an equally
impressive and more happy one upon those of
| the American navy, then in Monterey. For
himself, the undersigned can say, that after he
| had seen Captain Fremont's command. all his
doubts regarding the conquest of Calforni,
were removed."-Con Globe, 3Oth Coma. LIST
| Sess, p. GIG.
| april &c. 1S4S.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, suggested that if
! the battalion had continued in the service. and
coming home, had left claims behind them
| there would have been no hesitation in allow
| ing them to perfect their vouchers at the spot
where the claims had arisen; and that was all
that the bill, in effect, contemplated 1t was
| nothing more than Justice to send board out
TO investigate these claims. 1t was proper to
send persons who were well informed on the
subject; and such were the individuals named
| In the bill, whose appointment Congress was
fully authorized to make.-Cdng. Globe, 3Oth
Cong LIST $685., p. 6S5.
| MIR. CRITTENDEN Tboso ola;n,s