Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-24
pensioning Gen. Fremont.

PensiOnin9 Gen. FREMONT
Although in his dotage, and said to be
in INDECENT circumstances, the PROPOSE
ton To pension Gen. John c. Fremont is
not likely to meet with public favor 1t
will not be denied that his military
career has been marked by some gallant
deeds and hazardous undertakings, but
he has not been such an eminent soldier
as to entitle him to any extraordinary
consideration. He was born in Savannah
in 1918 Of French parentage, and received
a partial educat ion at Charleston Col
Iege. He taught school in that city from
1880 to 1888. when he was appointed in
structor in mathematics on the United
States slOOp-of-war Natchez, then used as
a training ship, which position he filled
for about two years. After this he was
engaged as a civil engineer in a subordl-
nate position in preliminary survey for
n projected railroad between Charleston
and Cincinnati. About lS43 he was ap-
,5inted by President VanBuren Second
n lieutenant in corps of typographical
engineers. and for several years he was
engaged in making extensive eXplora-
tious in the West, in which duty he eX-
hibited great courage and fOrtitude.
He took an active part in the Mexican
war, but became involved in a dispute
with his superior officers, and was CEN
sured for disobedience to orders, where
upon he resigned. He then embarked in
an independent expedition to the Pacific
slope, in which he lost all his horses and
mules and a large part Of his men. He
settled in California, and was elected one
Of the first United States Senators from
that State. In 1856 he was the Abolition
candidate for the Presidency, and received
III electoral votes against ia for James
Buchanan. on the breaking out of the
civil war he was made a Major General,
and placed in command of the Depart
ment of Missouri. He at once issued an
order emancipating the slaves Of those
who were in the Confederate army, in his
department, which, being entirely with
out authority of law, was promptly an
nulled BY President Lincoln and he was
removed. He was then given command
in Virginia, but he proved a failure, and
resigned in June, 1862, because a junior
officer, Gen. Pope, was placed over him.
He took no further part in the war.
In 1864 he accepted the nomination Of
the anti-Lincoln Republicans at the Cleve-
land convention, but finding few support
| ers, Withdrew from the Presidential con-
/ test before the election. In 1872 he went
to Europe to negotiate the bonds of pro-
posed Southern transcOntinental railroad.
In this connection he was charged with
fraudulent conduct in Paris, and was
prosecuted in the criminal court. He re-
fused to return to that country for trial,
and in 1873, in accordance with French
law and usage, his case was tried in his
absence. and he was declared guilty and
sentenced to pay a fine and to imprlson-
ment. As no great question has been
raised about the business of the accusa-
ton and the regularity of the proceedings,
it NAV be reasonably assumed that the
charges could not be refuted, so he has
ever since been a fugitive, and he now re-
sides in New York. Notwithstanding the
fact that the life OF Gen. Fremont has been
that Of an adventurer, it is to be pitied
that he is in INDECENT circumstances in his
old age. But there are thousands of more
worthy men and more gallant soldiers
who are in want. There is no great pub
lie service that he has rendered
to give him a claim on the gratitude
and bounty of the country. Should the
Mexican war veterans be pensiOned, he
will no doubt have a claim in accordance
with the rank he then held, but it is not
likely Congress will so stultify itself as to
pass a special bill in his case.