The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-28
YOUNG BRIDE
PLAYS PART IN
OUR HISTORY
By Tntercepting and Holding
important Orders Issued by
the Government.
WIFE OF JOHN FREMONT
Is the Person Who Figures ina
Difference over Expansion
of the Territory.
nHAnnoelArrp pnrap,

played a tremendous part In the his
tory of the United States by intercept
ing and Withholding important gov
eminent orders. The history of at
least three states on the Pacific coast
hinges more or less directly upon this
act OF INSTRUMENTATION, pronounced at
the time, far and wide, as high-handed,
but later justified by the exigienctes OF
the times. The bride was Mrs. Jessie
Benton Fremont, wife of John c.
Fremont, the explorer and statesman,
and daughter of Thomas H. Benton,
for many years a senator from Miss
ouri.
EARLY in s48 Fremont received from
the United States government COM
mission to undertake the second OF
his noted expeditions OF exploration
to the northwest, then a vast, nnin-
habfted region, the ultimate detsiny OF
which hung In the balance. In obed1-
ence to 1t, he came to st. Louis from
Washington and Immediately set about
Quitting his expedition, with his
young wife acting as his secretary
Took Cannon.
II is a matter of history that during
the first third of the last century there
was a powerful sentiment, both in and
out of Congress, against extending
the dominion of the United States to
the Pacific coast Such senators as
Webster and Calhoun were opposed TO
1t and for the most pat were able 10
influence Congress- to their bellefs' On
the other hand, Senator Benton, fol-
lowing his first election In 1871, pc
came a staunch advocate of western
expansion and was able to command
a large following, through whose Ell
forts the various expeditions OF ex-
ploration were authorized.
In soutfltting his expedition, Free
mont took the liberty OF adding
twelye-pound brass howitzer, secured
from the government arsenal at st.
Louis upon the representation that he
needed it as a defense against pos
sible hostile Indians.
News of this acquisition, it appears,
was carried hastily to Washington,
where the announcement created
something OF a sensation in govern
mental circles. The element not es-
peciaIIy friendly to the expedition de-
clared that the taking of cannon into
foreign or neutral territory consti-
tuted an act of hostility which might
involve the government in grave even
Qualities. This view appears to have
been shared by the head of the topo-
graphic bureau, under whose direction
the explorations were being made, tor
he straightway dispatched sealed or
ders to Fremont at st. Louis, direct
ing him to halt, the expedition and re-
port forthwith at Washington for the
purpose Of giving an explanation OF
his action.
intercepted Orders.
the west in April, shortly before the
arrival of these orders, Mrs. FNreemont,
as his secretary, being instructed to
omen his mail and forward by courier
such documents as appeared import
ant He was still within easy recall,
having proceeded but short distance
into what now constitutes Kansas up
on the day Of the arrival of the I'M
portant post.
thoroughly imbued with the ardor OF
her husband and father for western
expan sion, thought she discerned IN
the preemptory orders subterfuge to
defeat the purpose of the expedition.
For her husband to proceed to Wash
fngton. she we'll knew, would require
weeks and make impossible any jour-
ney to the northwest during that sea-
son Senator Benton was absent; II
was before the days of telegraph; she
had no one with whom to counsel.
Thus. beset, the young wife resolved
to suppress the orders.
Enoning one of the fast couriers
at her command. Mrs. Fremont dis
patched a message OF love to her hus-
band. urging him at all hazards to
hasten his departure from the farther
est fringe of civilization and to pass
beyond the Rocky mountains as quick
" as possible. There were hints OF a
reason in the message, but the reason
was not given.
Thus, Colonel Fremont proceeded
upon a Journey of months all uncon-
scious that his presence In Washing
ton was daily expected
There was another sensation at
Washington when the expedient prac-
ticed by the young bride became
known. It was stated that Freemont
wouId he arrested and court-martialed
as soon as the government could lay
hands upon him and that his wife
might also suffer prosecution. Nothing
came of these threats, however, and
when the explorer finally did reach
Washin Rton, months later, he found
praise and promotion instead of pros-
ICON. while his secretary was re-
garded MS something OF heroine be-
cause of her part in the success OF
his expedition.
The Freemout party dragged that
wheel-mounted cannon across the
tracItless mountains and plains far to
the northwest almost to the present
site OF Portland, Ore. Returning, II