The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-24
AN ATTACK ON GEN. COBURN
The Widow of Ger. John C. Fremont
Makes War on the Ex-COngressman,
Charging that he Was Responsible for the Fail
ure of the Bill for Relief of the Path.
fnder--General Coburn's Reply.
srec,ar 10 the Indianapolis Journal.

srec,a 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, April 23.-In the February
number of the Home maker Magazine, Mrs.
Jessie Benton Fremont. widow of the late
Gen. John c. Fremont, in an article en-
titled "A Home Found and Lost" made
some pretty severe reflections upon Gen.
John Coburn. of Indiana, n member of
Congress at the time the private bill for
the relief of General Fremont and others
was defeated. After abiding causticaIly
to the one-man power in the House of Rep
resentatives she brought in the following
bill of particulars:
In this case the obiector refused to hear
reason and refused TO give any reason for
his opposition to what was otherwise sure
of large majority. In vain his friends
demonstrated. lie was Mr. Coburn. of
Indiana. a Republican, and he had
asked and obtained Mr.. Fremonr's
personal aid for his reelection. which had
been doubtful otherwise. Nothing moved
him. Mr.. COburn was proof even against
the tears of young girl whose father was
waiting the verdict that would leave him
in poverty or restore his fortune Mr.. Co
burE's obstinate, unexplained objection
shock. and o widow and young children
were the victims of this unjust, un-Ameri-
can right OF the one-man power of Con-
gress."
General Coburn naturally takes excep-
tiOn TO this arraignment, and his reply will
be published IN the Home-maker for June
In his formal reply General COburn calls
attention to the paragraph of Mrs. Ere
mont's article above quoted and declares
her statements wholly unfounded in fact.
hpr VI n hafn ha
ty-secoDd Congress for the benefit of the
former occupants of Point San Jose q mil
itary reservation in which Mrs. Fremont
had had an interest The bill covering
committee on claims. limited the
amount to S3OO,OOO. 1t went to the
committee on military affairs and was re-
ported by him ICoburn Jan. IL. 1872 The
history of the case. It found that the
claimants bad no title TO the lands, but
gave an equitable claim for Improvement
the government having the right
OF disposal OF its own reservation.
General Coburp quotes from his COM
mIttee report % show the correctness
of his statement and the erroneous reason
ing of Mrs. Fremont. He says that this
identical reservation was declared for mil
itary purposes twice by President Fillmore.
and his power TO do was then unques-
toned. No evidence was submitted to
Congress TO show title from the city of
San Francisco. These people were mere
squatters. HIS report was the unanimous
voice Of the COMMITTEES. and was
concurred in by the House with
out dissenting voice. Not a
single friend of the bill rose TO support it.
So far from a single objection being able to
kill 1t a majority could have passed il then
and therr subsequently. at the same ses-
sion, at late hour on March 3. the Senate
bill. identical with the House bill,
was taken from the Speakers table
and put upon its passage. Mr. Hol-
man. of Indiana. objected to it be-
cause it had not been referred TO q