The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-09-11
Col. Frcmont's AnIcceSents-HIs
Fraudulent Transactions.

| IL - TemaIhuoIet CoHsiuOiinB "S S"oi'
time which Colonel Fremont has been in
public service, what host Of ugly antece'
dents he contrived TO manufacture. His
record is positively dreadful for his friends
and supporters, and is overwhelming them
with confusion.
A few of his exploits may be thus stated:
$4,000 FOR MARIPosA- Is47 he bor-
rowed $4,000 at Angeles, in California, OF
on old Mexican merchant, named Antonio
Jose Cot. He agreed to pay three per
cent. per month for the use of il. He act.
ed in this os "Governor" OF California, and
SO designated himself in the paper.
With this money he purchased the Mali
posa tract, which he holds to this day as his
private property. It was not until 1852 that
the United States paid this borrowed money,
and then not because it was legal claim,
but because Don Jose lent the money in
good faith, and ought not to suffer from Ere.
mont's fraud. The entire amount then paid,
including interest, was $4,000 which is the
exact sum that Fremonts Marposa tract
cost the United SiateS.
THE NEAT CATTLE SPEcULATToY.-ln the
same year he bought six hundred head Of
cattle for the sum of Sc 900, at $40 head
the hides to be given back to the Mexican
of whom he bought them. Not one OF them
was ever used for the battalion; but, after
it was discharged, Colonel Fremont had
them pOstured for three years, with one Abel
Stearns, the latter to be paid for the pastur-
age by a share Of the increase. Ard Col
R. D. Mason says not one OF the cattle was
was ever used for public purposes. The
Unite States paid for these cattle $6,975,
including nterest--not because any soldier,
sailor or marine ever tasted the beef, but
because, again, it was not right TINT the in.
noceht Mexican should suffer for FremOnt's
fraud.
A $4,000 GAME.-This borrowing money
of the MexiCans, on the credit Of the United
States, was q favorite plan of his for ma
king raise. March 3, 1S47, he borrowed
of one Don Eugio Cells $4,000, at two
per cent. per month. This money was
never used for any public purpuse, and pro.
badly went to jingle in the pockets Of the
erterprisipg young man-Coonel John C..
Fremont.
FREE RATIoSs AND Fremont. - After
Fremont made his celebrated trip over the
mountains in lS49, The journal of the jour
ney, was kept by Richard A. Kearn, one of
his men. The following is one of the
items:
Upon Colonel Frcmonts arrival at Taos,
Mujur Beal, commander Of that post, ordered
the Commssary to issue to the Colonel,
thirty days fall raioEs for the twenty five
men in the mountains and expected in
These rationS were never turned over to the
men, and were probably taken to California
by Fremont, The men were Obliged to buy
! their own provisions from the people Of the
country who came 10 their relief"
A Committee of Congress, who reported
upon his accounts seceraI gears ago, made the
following report:
"Cla;ms against the United States for
funds advanced, subsistence and supplies ot
all kinds furnished or tuken fer the use oi
the volunteers serving under the command
Of John c. Fremont, in California, during
the year 1916, amounting to S27S ,S49 23,
have been presented for the consideration
of the board.
"The limited powers conferred upon the
board by law restricted it in the examin.
alton of the claims presented to simply re.
ceiving such explanations and testimony as
might be offered for the claimants, or the
agents or assignees and not to seek the
same from any other than official sources
such rs the records Of the Treasury and
the Departments of Government might
furnish.
"The insufiiciency Of The testimony pro.
duced; the irregularities and conflicting
nature of some Of the accounts presented
the irreConciabIe differences of prices
paid for articles; the tact that many articles
have been charged for more than once, anC
at widely different prices; the want o
proof or explanation of the necessity OF
object Of heavy purchases and expenditures
the apparent and unexplained magnitude
of the expenditures, in comparison with
the force actu"lIy employed, make it proper
to refer the subject to Congress for sucl
further legislation as may be deemed ex
pedient."
[Sec Congressional Globe, volume twenty
six, page five hundred and ninety six, session
Thirty second Congress, February IL, 1852
53.l
Is not such record as the above over
whelming proof that Fremont is an unli
man to be placed at the head of this Gov
ernment?