St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-25
THE FREMONT HOME.
Serious Reflections From the
Widow OF the Dead Gen.
eral.
Government Charged With
Having Confidenced the
Soldiers Property,
And Ex-Congressman CobuPn
With Having Prevented
Its Return.
Mr. Coburn Makes Some Pun
gent Remarks in His
Answer.

NEW York. April 2L-Mrs. Jessie
Benton Fremont, widow OF Gen. Ere
mont, wrote story In the last issue OF
Jennie June's magazine, the Home
maker. that has caused much discus
sion. She calls IT ~ Home Found and
Lost" and directly charges eX-Con-
gresham John Coburn, of Indiana.
with being responsible for her failure to
get back her home in San Francisco
from the government. According 10 her
story she went with the general 10 san
Francisco shortly after their marriage
and picked out an ideal spot for a home.
IL was thirteen acres OF the extreme end
OF San Jose, Black Point. which juls
out into the channel near the entrance
10 the haTbOr. The general bought
the property for $4,000 IN gold
from Mark Brumagem, San
Francisco banker. and had the deeds
made out In his wife's name. Mrs.
Fremont gives picture OF the home
they made. Then came the civil war.
and Gen. Fremont, who had yolun-
teered. wrote her TO join him with the
AZ AAaDAtlA- 2AlG nOuAl
after her arrival that the government
had taken her home
For Military Purposes,
but Secretary OF War Stanton assured
the general that the occupation was
only temporary and would be satiSfac-
torily settled. After the war they tried
10 get their property back, bat In vain.
Today the commander OF the depart.
ment has the homestead for pleasure
ground. The locality is now known as
Golden Gate Park" and the property
is very valuable. The story goes on as
follows:
ave made application TO congress for
redress. Twice bills passed the senate
10 restore me my property. When the
bill reached the house the last time II
was stopped by a single objection. The
oblector refused 10 give any reasons for
his opposition 10 what was otherwise
sure OF a large majority, despite the
circumstances OF his friends. lie was
Mr.. Coburn. OF Indiana, who had asked
and obtained Mr. Fremonrs personal
aid for his reelection, which had been
doubtful otherwise. Mr.. CobuTn was
proof even against the tears OF young
kiAlt hiiOoG A1llti " ~ hdlAlfik lllt Wei
diet that would leave him in poverty or
restore him TO fortune. The father was
suffering from wounds contracted IN the
war, and Mr.. COburn's obstinate. uneX-
planned objection killed him. | trust,
as there are few men capable OF such
cold cruelty as Mr.. Coburn, | may have
success in tho renewed effort | am max
ing this winter 10 regain my lost home.
This article came 10 COburn's atten-
ton last week, and he sent letter OF
general denial TO the IlOmemaker al
once, for which he demands as much
publicity as was granted 10 Mrs. Ere
monts story.
The Reply
will appear In full in the June issue Of
magazine. The following synopsis has
been given out for publication:
lie says that Mrs Fremont has at
tackled him entirely without proyoca.
ton, and that she mas given an errone-
Gus statement Of facts. lie quotes from
the Congressional Record to show that
Mrs. Fremonts bill came before him as
member OF the house committee on
military affairs, and that on Jan.
IL, 1872. he read the report on
IL before the house. The committee
investigated the matter thoroughly.
had open hearings Oh IL and gave oppOr-
tunlty for all testimony 10 be handed
in. IL came 10 the conclusion ''that the
claimants have no title to the lands, aud
at most nave All equitable claim for pay
for improvements upon the lands, upon
which they were mere squatters." The
house concurred In this report without
one dissenting vote. Next year, March
3, similar bill, passed by the senate,
was handed 10 the house. Dir. Holman,
Indiana. objected 10 its passage because
IL had not been given 10 house COM
mittee. Mr.. Negley. of Pennsylvania.
objected, as il had previously been
examined and rejected by the house.
Mr.. Coburn, on the other hand. pro-
posed a substitute providing that i'm
provements Oh the land be paid for 10
the extent OF $4,000. The house re-
fused 10 pay anything, and the bill was
dropped.
II had nothing to do with the death
OF the invalid father: In fact, never
saw the weeping daughter" says Mr..
COburn. land ] hold myself innocent of
injury TO Mrs. Fremont. 1 AIN not in
dpbted in any way to Mr. Fremont for
political help; In fact, the aid Is on the
other side, and anyhow 60 not believe
that political debts should be paid from
the public treasury. IL not only a
political creditor is TO be paid. but, IN
addition, gang OF his suitors' friends
are TO be subsidized out of the public
money, then let me be considered an
migrate. have not been al Washing
ton since March. 1875, concludes eX
Congressman COburn. land il the bill
IS such popular one fail 10 see why II
las not been presented and passed the
past seventeen years"