Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-26
HEADQUARrERs TENTH military DEPARTMENT,

claim was to-day presented to me against the
United States of 80 ext aordnary nature that !
deem it proper TO send il TO you for the informa
ton Of the department
You will perceive it is for money borrowed at an
enormous rate of interest by Lieutenant Colonel
Fremont from one Antonio Jose Cot, and, too, in
official (charactcr) of "governor Of California,
when he knew that General Kearncy his superior
and commanding officer, was here in the country.
In the same manner, the Lieutenant Colonel
gave orders, and caused the collector of customs
at San Pedro to receive In payment of custom.
house dues large amount-say about 81, 7O0--of
deprecated paper signed by individuals in no way
responsible to the government. .5..
The object now have in view is the request
that Lieut. Col. Fremont may be required to
fund Immediately the seventeen hundred dollars
that the treasury of California has thus lost by his
illegal order. am, &C.,
RIB. MASON,
Col. lat Dragons, Commanding.
To Brig General r. JONES,
Adg, Gen. IT, s. Army, Washington city.
Fremont 10 Cot and now on file in the Depart
ment:
ANGELES, February 4, lS4T.
!, the undersigned, governor of California for
the United Sta es Of North America, acknowledge
that have received from Don Antonio Jose Cot
merchant of this city, two thousand dollars in hard
cash, which he has furnished this government for
the public service. And | bind myself, in the
name of the United States government, to return
the said sum within the term of two months from
this date, paying for interest three per cent. per
month, or one hundred and twenty dollars But
II, at the expiration OF this term, the government
should see fit still to make OF these two thou
sand dollars Mr.. Cot agrees that the interest shall
run for four months longer at two per cent. per
month, or one hundred and sixty dollars for the
four months. And for the fulflment of what has
been stipulated, bind myself as governor Of Cal
ifornia. a
For $4,000. J. G. FREMONT.
ANGELES February 90, 184T.
| have furthermore received from the said Mr..
Cot the sum OF one thousand dollars, in the terms
expressed above. j. G. FREMONT.
For $1,000.
The claim Of Don Cot was not allowed by the
Treasury Department and IT was presented 10 the
army board, organized under the 9th section Of the
app opration act passed August, 1852, who, on the
26th January, 1854, recommended the allowance In
tull, with two hunored and forty dollars additional
for four months interest at two per cent per
month. Congress having made the necessary APP
preparation, the claim allowed by the account.
ing officers of the Treasury on the 31st October,
1854, and was paid on power of attorney from
claim had passed.
The board was induced to allow the claim, not
account Of its legality, but from the fact that
Don Cot loaned the money believing that it Was
for the use of the government of the United
States, and the board thought It unjust that he
should be the victim Of his own patriotism, though
he must doubtless have suffered considerable loss
in having il discounted. Colonel Fremont was
called upon; but being unwilling or unable Tor, at
least, neglecting 80 to do) to show how the money
thus borrowed by him was applied to the service
Of the government, IL was charged to him upon
the books of the department, and has remained
wholly unaccounted for by him up to this time.
On the 30th of January, 1855, claim was allowed
Colonel Fremont by the Secretary of the Treasury,
and IL was placed to his credit upon the before
mentioned debit against him, which, being deduct
cd leaves a balance of 81, ,9s6 81 of the $4,000
land interest) still unaccounted for, and standing
against the gallant candidate for President on
the books Of the department Il is more than
probable that the story current in California VIII
account for the disbursement of the money Dor
rowed of Don Cot which Is, that il went to pay
for the celebrated humbug Marposa claim" and
about which 30 much has been said and written
within the past four months.
Second and Third Financial Operations of Frs-
mont IN California.
Below we give the letter Of Col Mason, Cover
nor Of California, which explains the accompany
ing documents, and places the " gallant colonel"
or governor in rather unanviable light among
all right.thinking men. The italics are ours: