GENERAL JOHN P, FREMONT, 
 
 GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA TERRITORY, 
 
 UPON THL CEPTION BY HIS ASSOCIATES OF 
 
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 AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS, 
 
 Ot) 
 
 NEW YORK, 
 
 , August 
 
 
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 fi 
 
 ,Eiuor Uic-|)ttsi:beixt of tbe 
 
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THE &S39@BAT Si 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK. 
 
 OFFICER OF THE SOCIETY, 
 
 :o: l^ocrott Ubnwj 
 
 Gen'l JOHN A. SUTTER, 
 
 Liliz. Pa. 
 
 Gen'l H. G. GIBSON, U. 8. A. 
 
 Fort Wadsworth, iV. Y. 
 
 JOHN SICKELS, 
 
 New York City. 
 
 GEORGE HOWES, 
 
 New York City. 
 
 JOHN J. HAGER, 
 
 Rhinebeck, N. Y. 
 
 Hon. DEMAS STRONG, 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 SAM'L C. UPHAM, 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 GILMOR MEREDITH, 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 
 Qen'l EDW. F. BEALE, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Hon. ROBERT H. McKUNE, 
 
 Scranton, Pa. 
 
 WM. M. WALTON, 
 
 Newark,.N. J. 
 
 Gen. THOS. W. SWEENY, U. S. A. Hon. C. LYDECKER. EDW. B. ANTHONY. 
 Gen. THOS. D. JOHNS. GEO. F. SNIFFEN. E. W. CROWELL. 
 
 Col. EDW. F. BURTON. JAMES A. SPERRY. WM. C. ANNAN. 
 
 FRANCIS D. CLARK. 
 
 Hon. JEREMIAH SHERWOOD. 
 
ADDRESS OF WELCOME : 
 
 Delivered by General H. G. Gibson, U. S. A., to General John 
 C. Fremont, Governor of Arizona Territory, upon the occasion 
 of his Reception by "The Associated Pioneers of the Territorial 
 Days of California," at the Sturtevant House, New York, on 
 Thursday evening, August ist, 1878. Bancroft Library 
 
 FELLOW CALIFORNIANS : 
 
 IN the absence of our grand old Patriarch and beloved/ellow 
 Pioneer and President, the duty devolves upon me of welcoming 
 "our distinguished guest. I regret that he is not here to-night 
 to express, though only in his tremulous and embarrassed 
 utterances, the same cordial greeting which he gave to his 
 worthy compeer and compadre on the banks of the Sacramento 
 thirty-four years ago. Though his speech might have been 
 only silver, the welcome of his heart would have been golden. 
 
 We have met this evening to do honor to an eminent 
 citizen of the Republic and a renowned pioneer, who, as 
 the great Pathfinder of Empire, first disclosed to the nation 
 a knowledge of the rich and attractive country bordering the 
 Pacific, and whose name will, through all coming time, be 
 identified with the exploration of a continent, and with the 
 American occupation and development of the Golden Land. 
 Traversing with his little band the trackless wastes, forbidding 
 
mountains, and dense forests, lying between the mighty Father 
 of Waters and that magnificent region whose 
 
 " snow-sierras liido 
 
 Huge crystalled rocks of virgin gold, 
 
 Adown abrading torrents rolled, 
 
 In lucid streams, by summer shoaled, 
 
 A golden tide ; " 
 
 the youthful explorer in his first enterprise determined the 
 physical geography of a vast, unknown territory, and contributed 
 to science the wealth of his felicitous and valuable discoveries. 
 Wending his way a second time to the then foreign provinces of 
 the Californias, he inspired and aided the raising of the standard 
 of revolt against the rule of the Mexican on the oak-orchard 
 plain of Sonoma, and thus made the initiatory step which led 
 to the acquisition consummated by the war with Mexico, of 
 that beautiful and opulent domain, and which FREMONT and 
 destiny had determined should be ours thenceforth and forever. 
 Discovering, also, in his first expedition, a practicable route by 
 the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, from the valley of the 
 Sacramento to the grand forest-crowned region " along the lone 
 Columbia," his foot-prints became the unerring guide to all 
 who followed after. For as to the fidelity and accuracy of his 
 descriptions and observations, as he spied out the land, your 
 chairman can testify from personal experience; that the 
 itinerary f each day's journey, as we pursued the rough tenor 
 of our way through the vast wilderness of lava bed, forest, 
 plain, mountain and canon through ' ; a land of fracture, 
 violence, and fire " was pictured on the mental vision before 
 as clearly defined as the actual vision beheld it thereafter. A 
 portion of the country traversed by FREMONT had been im 
 perfectly explored by the previous expeditions of Lewis, Clark, 
 and Long, as well as by Bonneville, whose crude narrative, 
 enriched and embellished by the graceful pen of Washington 
 Irving, charmed our childhood, and yet delights our mature 
 years. These gave, however, but a faint idea of its magnifi 
 cent character, and it remained for FREMONT to impart to us a 
 full knowledge of its grand and peculiar features, its wonderful 
 beauties and resources. 
 
 For his great and distinguished service to the State, the 
 Government at Washington awarded him promotion in the 
 army, and the new-born Golden State of California a seat in 
 the Senate of the United States. In later years, bearing the 
 
-t 
 
 standard of a great political party, he with knightly courage, 
 courtesy, and modesty, led it nigh unto victory, and opened 
 the path to its subsequent success; and, at a critical period of 
 its fortunes, contributed to its overwhelming triumph and 
 continuance of power, by his graceful and opportune retire 
 ment from the field as the nominee a second time for the 
 Presidency of a great convention of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 In his military career as an officer of engineers, he displayed 
 rare ability and remarkable fertility of resources and expedients ; 
 and as a field officer of the line, added to his fame by the joint 
 conquest with the gallant Stockton, of the territory of the 
 Californias ; and how far the crimes and blunders at Washington 
 affected his usefulness, success and renown, as a leader and 
 commander of our armies in the late civil war, as of other true 
 and loyal soldiers who bore the heat and burden of the day, and 
 stood among their fellows high in reputation for wisdom and 
 honor, impartial history must determine. It suffices us, 
 however, to know that his services came fully up to the official 
 standard of " gallant, faithful and meritorius." But as an 
 explorer, his name must ever be classed with those noble 
 and illustrious names on that brilliant scroll which embraces 
 Marco Polo and de Soto, Mungo Park and Livingstone ; with 
 those who " in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of 
 robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness.; in 
 weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and 
 thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness," have exposed 
 or sacrificed their lives in the cause of science and humanity ; 
 and whose marvellous sagacity, indomitable courage, patience 
 and fortitude, have reflected glory on our race. 
 
 But the full measure of reward for his brilliant, and eminent 
 services whose 
 
 " records half-effaced, 
 Which with the hand of youth he traced 
 On history's page," 
 
 has never been conceded nor bestowed. It is an inherent, and 
 perhaps, ineradicable vice of all republics that their great 
 benefactors and heroes are seldom duly honored or rewarded 
 while living soon neglected or forgotten when dead ; and our 
 own Republic can claim no immunity from the vice. That it may 
 cease to be its reproach and shame should be the fervent prayer 
 of every true patriot; and that when we have done with honoring 
 
with " storied urn and animated bust " the genius and heroism 
 of antiquity and of other lands, we may find time and means to 
 demonstrate to the world that there are those of our own land 
 who have "won a mural crown of towering glory." May the 
 time yet come when as the golden orb of day sinks to his rest in 
 the bosom of the mighty ocean beyond the portals of the Golden 
 Gate, his parting rays shall shed their golden light on its 
 pinnacles, whereon shall stand the sculptured forms of FREMONT 
 and SUTTER, with the inscription on the one, " The path he trod 
 was the Path to Empire;" and on the other, "The golden 
 heart that enriched the Golden Land ! " 
 
 General FREMONT, you are about to depart for the vicinity 
 of the scenes of your former labors and signal deeds, and we 
 come as fellow Pioneers and Californians, to offer to you our 
 earnest congratulations and cordial good wishes. May health 
 and happiness attend you, and in your new field of employment, 
 may you ever enjoy the approving smiles and favor of a grateful, 
 appreciative people. As your youth was adorned with fame, 
 may your age be crowned with glory and honor. For myself, 
 in the remembrance of a pleasant journey together in years gone 
 by, through the beautiful valley of the San Joaquin, " on fields 
 with dasies pied," and "gorgeous .flowerets in the sunlight 
 shining," through arid waste and cooling mountain grove in 
 the remembrance of a kindness done, but as soon forgotten by 
 you, I tender to you the kindliest greeting and most earnest 
 prayer that heart can feel, or voice or hand express. 
 
ADMISSION DAY, 1877. 
 
 Extract from the Address of Welcome, delivered by Gen I H. G. 
 Gibson, U. S. A., at Long Branch, N. /., September 8, 1877. 
 
 Twenty-seven years ago " the morrow morn," after a long 
 and bitter political contest in the Halls of Congress, the State 
 which the Pioneers of California had founded and organized 
 became " a bright particular star " wedded to the Union. 
 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo terminating the war with 
 Mexico had extended our dominion on the remote Pacific 
 over a vast region to the south of 
 
 " the continuous woods 
 Where rolls the Oregon and hears no sound 
 Save its own lashings" 
 
 to us and the world at large a terra incognita. Beyond a 
 narrow fringe of settlements missions and presidios on its 
 line of coast from Cape Mendocino to Cape San Lucas but 
 little was known of the geography, character and resources of 
 the territory of the Californias. To the commerce of the 
 world it was but a land of hides and tallow. The expeditions 
 of the renowned Pioneer and Path-finder, JOHN C. FREMONT, 
 opened to our people and to the world a knowledge of its 
 beauty, fertility and wealth. Though the mighty river rising 
 in the great Cordillerian chain, and cleaving in its course to 
 the ocean, the majestic Sierras that shut out California from 
 the rest of the continent, and which the explorer's glowing 
 fancy fondly pictured as freighted in the future with the 
 argosies of a rich commerce was never found ; yet from the 
 summit of the Sierras the proud Pioneer gazed upon a region 
 which, although in its native primeval wilderness, gave a 
 glorious promise of future opulence and greatness. Distance 
 had not lent enchantment to the view, for on nearer approach 
 it was found to be a land of wondrous fertility and surpassing 
 loveliness. 
 
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 t 
 
I 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 TERRITORIAL. 
 
 1833. 
 
 JACOB P. LEESE. 
 
 183O. 
 
 Gen. JOHN A. SUTTER. 
 
 184,3. 
 
 Gen. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 184,6. 
 
 Hon. RODMAN M. PRICE. 
 Gen. EDW. F. BE ALE. 
 Gen. JOSEPH W. REVERE. 
 WILLIAM COLLIGAN. 
 JOHN DOLMAN. 
 EDWARD C. KEMBLE. 
 Dr. GEO. McKINSTRY. 
 
 184, 7. 
 
 FRANCIS D. CLARK. 
 JOSEPH EVANS. 
 RUSSELL MYERS. 
 CHARLES J. McPHERSON. 
 JAMES E. NUTTMAN. 
 WILLIAM H. ROGERS. 
 Judge THERON R. PER LEE. 
 Hon. JEREMIAH SHERWOOD. 
 JOHN WOLFE. 
 
 184,8. 
 Hon. JAMES S. WETHERED. 
 
 184,0. 
 
 WM. C. ANNAN. 
 EDW. R. ANTHONY. 
 Col. EDW. F. BURTON. 
 RUSSELL W. BENEDICT. 
 MARK BRUMAG1M. 
 STEPHEN M. BARBOUR. 
 E. W'. CROWELL. 
 DAVID M. CHAUNCEY. 
 HENRY K. CUMMINGS. 
 ROBERT W. DOWLING. 
 JOHN S. ELLIS. 
 WILLARD B. FARWELL. 
 JOHN H. FISHER. 
 
 1853. 
 
 JAMES H. BUTLER. 
 CHARLES W. SCHUMANN. 
 Ca'pt. JAMES H. MERRYMAN. 
 
 1853. 
 
 Hon. C. K. GARRISON. 
 WILLIAM R. GARRISON. 
 
 184,9. 
 
 JOHN GAULT. 
 
 Gen. H. G. GIBSON, U.S.A. 
 
 A. T. GOODELL. 
 
 R. R. GRIFFITH, Ja. 
 
 Gen. JOSEPH HOOKER, U.S.A. 
 
 H. B. HAWKINS. 
 
 JOHN J. IIAGER. 
 
 JOHN H. HARRIS. 
 
 JOHN G. HODGE. 
 
 JOSEPH B. HILL. 
 
 GEORGE H. JOHNSON. 
 
 BENJ. W. JENNESS. 
 
 JOHN LAIMBEER. 
 
 Hon. CORNELIUS LYDECKER. 
 
 Hon. ROBT. H. McKUNE. 
 
 GILMOR MEREDITH. 
 
 Com'r RICHARD. W. MEADE, U.S.N. 
 
 JAMES J. McCLOSKEY. 
 
 Gen. FRANCIS E. PINTO. 
 
 OLIVER H. PIERSON. 
 
 JOSEPH M. PRAY. 
 
 SILAS H. QUINT. 
 
 JOHN SICKELS. 
 
 JOSEPH S. SPINNEY. 
 
 A. A. SELOVER. 
 
 GEO. F. SNIFFEN. 
 
 JAMES A. SPERRY. 
 
 Gen. THOS. W. SWEENY, U.S.A. 
 
 Hon. DEMAS STRONG. 
 
 ROBERT J. TIFFANY. 
 
 SAMUEL C. UPHAM. 
 
 WM. M. WALTON. 
 
 185O. 
 
 Gen. JAMES F. CURTIS. 
 GEORGE HOWES. 
 C. C. HASTINGS. 
 Gen. THOMAS D. JOHNS. 
 Gen. CHARLES S. MERCHANT. 
 STEPHEN L. MERCHANT. 
 BEVERLY C. SANDERS. 
 Capt. JOSEPH SPINNEY. 
 CHARLES R. THOMPSON. 
 
 STATE 
 
 185O. 
 
 GEORGE W. GILBERT. 
 LEWIS LELAND. 
 
 Honorary. 
 
 REUBEN LORD. 
 EFFINGHAM B. SUTTON.