The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14
COLONEL FREMONTs RELIGION.

COLONEL FREMONTS RELIGION.
We have heretofore taken little notice of the
charge that Colonel Fremont is Catholic, for
several reasons and first among them, that no
one believed tie story; and secondly, admit
ting it to be true, he has right to be q Catho
lie and third, it is ust as well that the mis-
cradle fabricators of this falsehood should be
employed in its circulation, as in the manufac
ture of new ones-nay, better, on the principle
that the fox preferred the surfeited swarm of
flies to new and hungry one. However, it is
now time that this stupid and improbable in
vention were disposed of, although it is capable
of doing little harm, but simply because we
are fatigued with its repetition. The following
authoritative contradiction by Colonel Ray
mond, the Lieutenant Governor of New York,
will set the matter at rest. He is authorized
by Colonel Fremont to contradict the story !;
and, besides, furnishes indubitable proof of its
the Rev. Mr.. French, of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in this city, showing that Colonel
Fremont has had three children baptized by
him, one of them so late as last year.
Letter from Lieut.. Coz. Raymond, Of Ner York.
New YORK, July 20, 1856.
My DEAR SIR: Your favor of the lst instant
ought to have been answered long ago, but alb
sence and business must plead my excuse.
am not surprised to hear that the rumors
so widely circulated concerning Colonel Ere
mont's religion should have the effect of caus-
ing some, who sympathize thoroughly with his
sentiments in regard to the extension of Sla-
very, to hesitate about pledging themselves to
his support. But so far as those rumors assert,
or imply, that he is Roman Catholic, they are
without the slightest foundation in fact
publish anything himself on the subject. or take
any part personally in the canvass. But he
converses with the utmost freedom upon these
topics, as upon all others he has no desire or
disposition TO practice any concealment of his
religious opinions; and | have no reason to
suppose that he would desire others to do 40
on his behalf
Colonel Fremont is not now nor has he ever
been, Roman Catholic. His father diving
when he was five years old, he was educated
exclusively In Protestant schools, and at the
age of sixteen was confirmed, of his own mo.
ton, and from sincere conviction, in the Prot.
estant Episcopal Church, of which he has con.
tinued ever since to be member. Not one of
his own children has ever been sent to Roman
Catholic school, though / believe an adopted
daughter attended for a short time the semi
nary at Georgetown, of which the pupils gen.
orally are largely Protestant That tbi. ought
not to be construed to his prejudice. even bv
the most jealous Professionals. is sufficiently
shown by the fact that Mr.. Fillmore sent his
own daughter to Roman Catholic seminary
at Buffalo, for purposes of special instruction |;
yet no one ever inferred from this circumstances
that he himself was not Protestant.
Colonel Fremont's marriage was celebrated
by Catholic priest; but this was in conse.
quence of the difficulty, if not mpossibilitv. of
procuring any other clergyman to perform it.
The ceremony was in a private room. WAS very
short and simple, and did not imply any assent.
on his part or that of his wife, to the doctrines
OF the Roman Catholic church; nor was either
OF them required or requested on that occasion
to give any pledges that their children should
be brought up in that faith. They have all been
baptized and educated in the Protestant Epis-
copal Church.
The statements which Alderman Fulmer, of
this city, is said to have authorized, to the effect
that in March, 1852, he saw Colonel Fremont
Joining in the religious services of a Roman
Catholic Church at Washington, and that in a
subsequent conversation with him at dinner. at
Browns Hotel, Colonel Fremont declared him.
self Catholic, and believer in the peculiar
doctrines of that church, are entirely untrue.
Colonel Fremont was not in the city of Wash.
ington at all during the year 1852. He Left
New York for California in March, 1850. He
returned in the steamer George Law. which
reached New York on the 9th of March, 1852
and remaining in that city four days, he left on
the 10th, IN the steamer Africa, for Europe
and did not return until June, 1853. under
stand that Alderman Fulmer exhibits receip,
from Browns Hotel, dated March Z, 1852. 70,
four days board. This makes it certain that the
| Alderman's stay there terminated on the It'll
and that the alleged conversations must have
taken place previously to that date. But as Col
Fremont did not reach New York from Califor
MIA until the 9th, it is impossible that he should
have been connected with them-especiallv a,
he remained in New York until his departure
| for Europe, and did not visit WASHINGTON a,
/ all. He has no recollection of having eve,
| dined at Browns Hotel until this last winter
since l94l, or of having ever seen Alderman
Fulmer, there or elsewhere The Alderman.
am informed, is a man who would not be likel,
to make such statements, unless he believed
them to be true. But it is very certain tina
he has fallen into o very gross error somehow
| prooaoiy py mlstaklng some other person, will
| whom he may have held the conversation i,
question, for Colonel Fremont. He owes It Il
his own character, as well as to Justice, to taxi
steps to confirm, or correct, the accuracy o
his recollections in this matter
You may rely upon the entire authenticit,
of the statements / have thus made, in reply I,
your inquiry for the facts" In the preseu
state of the public mind, and in view of tn,
earnest and perseyerinp INSTRUMENTATION n
the truth, you may think it desirable that the,
should be generally known. If so, you ar,
quite at liberty to make them public, and t.
add, that they are given as the result of CONVEX
sations with Colonel Fremont himself.
l am, very truly, yours,
HENRY j. RAYMOND.
The following is the statement of the Rev
Mr.. French, of this city, referred to above:
WASHINGTON, July IL, 1856.
The following children of j. Charles anI