Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-08-27
MORE COWS,

The last Democrat gives another Cow
(lail) Tale. When Fremont was can
1idate for the U. S. Senate, this same
story was first trumped up. A friend,
John Il Snyder, Esq, wrote 10 him re-
questing information. Mr.. Fremont an
swered him as follows:
" In rply TO your inquiry FOR infor-
maIi~n regarding the =" real nature of
the transaction with D. Eulogio de Ce-
lis" | have TO state that, at a time when
the tr ops under my command were
destitute of provision, and we were able
to proc ure them only in small and de-
sultory supplies, on a precarious credit,
Major Samuel Hensley, then cOmmissary
for the battalion, called upon me with
an offer from Mr.. Cells, which l was
glad to accept Immediately. The offer
was to furnish me 600 head of cattle,
at ten dollars per head, and loan OF
81, 500 payable all in six months, with
the usual interest; and if not paid at
that time, we were to return him the
hides as the cattle were kille3, and the
difference in the price of the cattle, (S8
being the cash price then) being Jonus
for the loan and for the relief afforded
by the provisions. D. Andres Pico was
charged to bring the cattle from San
Louis Obispo to Los Angeles. In (he
interval of is absence, General Kear-
ney issued his proclamation, taking out
out of my hands the partial direction Of
affairs which had retained, and des-
troying the confidence which the people
of the South had been disposed 10 place
in me. Desiring TO know for the salts
faction of those TO when | was indebt-
ed, how far General Kearney designed
to fulfil my contracts previously made,
l Immediately visited him for that pur-
pose at Monterey. As l have already
asserted, on my trial before the court
marshal at Washington, he refused to
assume any responsibility or to fulfil any
contract. l Immediately returned to
Los Angeles, and made known his reply
to Mr.. Cells, Mr.. Cot, D. Andres Pico,
and other gentlemen then at that place.
D. Andres Fico had, in the meantime,
brought a portion of the cattle (between
400 and 500 believe to the mission
Of San Fernando, near Los Angeles,
where they were waiting TO be deliv-
ered-what disposition should be made
of the cattle was for some days sub
iect of discussion between Mr. Cells, D.
Andres Pico, Major Hensley and my
self. 1t was at first proposed to leave
the cattle with D. Andres; but agr,ea-
bly, to the suggestion of Major Hensely,
it was decided 10 place them with
Stearns, as a security both TO Cells and
to the government, until we should be
able to know what course would be pur-
sued by the government. They were
to be kept by Mr.. S:earns on the terms
usually allowed for keeping cattle, viz:
one half the increase, and they were not
placed in his hand for any fixed time,
but only TO await the action of the gov
ernment.
e'It has been made a matter of charge
against me, that gave to Mr.. Cells
full receipt for the delivery of all the
cattle, when 1 had received only part.
1 had the right to do so. 1 had the
right to complete my own contracts,
when others, whose duty it was TO as
sumo them, endeavored to invalidate
them. As Mr.. Cells had sufficient con-
idence in me to advance me money,
and l was under order to leave the
country Immediately, choose TO have
sufficient confidence in him to give him
receipt for all the cattle, and to bind
the Government to him, so far as l pos
sibly could. These cattle were all de-
livered as soon as they could.be brought
to Los Angeles.
"Since my return to this country l
have received number of af1idavits to
all the occurrences of the foregoing
transactions, from Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. Tenn
pie, and other gentlemen, citizens of
Los Angeles. These, with some other
papers, were designed for another occa-
sion, and are now at Monterey, but they
shall be published as soon as can con-
veniently do so. Mr.. Cells is now in
this city. L have thus, my dear sir,
briefly ard hurriedly answered your
severa!! Inquiries.
"J. G. FREMONT.
"JoHN R. SNYDER, Esq"
This letter was published in Califor-