E 41.T F* BANCROFT LIBRARY > THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA S&KCROFI UfiRARV JOHN C. FREMONT ! "IS HE HONEST? IS HE CAPABLE?' JEFFERSOIV. Whenever an individual is presented as a I In the same manner, the lieutenant colonel candidate for any public station, the first! S ave orders and caused the collector of cus- i i i i , i questions which should suggest themselves to the consideration of those with whose in- terests he is to be entrusted, are ; u Is he hon- est ? Is he capable ? " But when the station to which it is proposed to elevate the Individ ual is as exalted as that of President of the toras at San Pedro to receive in custom . house dueg a of depreciated paper signed by in dividuals in no way responsible to the gov ernment. The object I now have in view is the re quest that Lieutenant Colonel Fremont may be required to refund immediately the seven- United States, these questions become of | teen hundred dollars that the treasury of pre-eminent importance; and no man should California has^thus lost by his illegal order, receive the suffrages of the public, whose life and history do not warrant a full, unequivo cal and unquestionable response in the affir mative. John C. Fremont has been nomina ted as a candidate for the Presidency. " Is he honest? Is he capable?" Colonel Fre mont has been employed in the public service. Let his acts answer the questions. We quote from official documents; documents existing long before Colonel Fremont occupied his present position ; so that there can be no pre tence that they were got up for merely politi cal effect. R. B. MASON, Col. 1st Dragoons, Commanding. To Brig. General R. JOKES, Adj. Gen. U. S. Army, Washington city. TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL OBLIGATION GIVEN BY FREMONT TO COT, AND NOW ON FILE IN THE DEPARTMENT. ANGELES, FEBRUARY 4, 1847. I, the undersigned, governor of California for the United States of North America, acknowledge that I have received from Dori Antonio Jose Cot, merchant of this city, two thousand dollars, in hard cash, which he has furnished this government for the public ser vice, and I bind myself, in the name of the United States government, to return the said sum within the term of two months from this late, paying for interest three per cent, per Headquarters Tenth Military Department, Monterey, California, June 21, 1817. A claim has to-day been presented to me month, or one hundred and twenty dollars, against the United States, of so extraordinary But if, at the expiration of this term, the a nature that I deem it proper to send it to ; government should see fit still to make use of you for the information of the department. | these two thousand dollars, Mr. Cot agrees You will perceive it is for money borrowed { lhat the interest shall run ior four months at an enormous rate of interest by Lieutenant | longer at two per cent, per month, or one Colonel Fremont from one Antonio Jose Cot, j hundred and sixty dollars for the four months. and, too, in the official (character) of " gov- 1 And for the fuliilment of what has been stip- ernor ;; of California, when he knew that i ulated, I bind myself, as governor of Califor- General Kearney, his superior and command- nia. ing officer, was here in the country. For $2,000. J. C. FREMONT. Under date of October 9th, of the same year, Col. Mason reports another transaction to the War Department. We quote the let ter, with the accompanying paper necessary to its explanation. Headquarters Tenth Military Department. ) ANGELES. FEBRUARY 20, 1847. I have furthermore received from the said Mr. Cot the sum of one thousand dollars, in the terms expressed above. For $1,000. J.C.FREMONT. From the first invasion of California' by the American troops, a large portion of the lead ing citizens of California, welcomed our! Monterey, California, Oct. 9, 1847. troops with open arms, and willingly fur- SIR: I have the honor herewith to enclose nished material aid in establishing the su- to you the papers relating to a certain con- premacy of our flag in the Eldorado of the [tract entered into on the 3d day of March, west. In consequence of their sympathy in ' 1847, by Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, mount- our success, any one professing to be the ! ed riflemen, with a Don Eulojio de Celis, a agent of our government could have obtained resident of Cnidad de los Angeles, Califor- ihe last dollar thai any of those gentlemen ' nia. The paper marked A is a copy of this possessed; hence the facility by which "our ; contract with Lieutenant Colonel ( Fremont's governor" was enabled to borrow this and certificate bearing date April 26*, 1847, that other sums from other individuals. the contract had been complied with on the The claim of Don Cot was not allowed by ; part of Don Eulojio de Celis, and that he. the treasury department, and it was presented i Fremont, had executed to him in payment a to the army board, organized under the sixth j note for the sum of six thousand nine hundred section of the appropriation act passed Aug- j and seventy five dollars. list, 1852, who, on the 26th January, 1854, j Lieutenant Colonel Fremont left California recommended the allowance in lull, with two in the month of June, 1847, giving no notice hundred and forty dollars additional, for four j to General Kearney or myself of the exist- months interest at 2 per cent, per month. j ence of such a contract, or that he had Congress having made the necessary appro-; pledged the faith of his government tfor the priation, the claim was allowed by the ac- redemption of it by the payment of he sum counting officers of the treasury on* the 31st of *6,975. Nor had I the' least idea of this October, 1854, and was paid on a power of | obligation until applied to by Col. Stevenson attorney from Cot to Corcoran & Riggs, into ! whether I would recognize the contract and whose hand the claim had passed. j redeem the bond at maturity. This letter The board was induced to allow the claim, was accompanied by others, which show that not on account of its legality, but from the in fact, notwithstanding the certificate . of fact that Don Cot had loaned the money be- 1 Lieutenant Col. Fremont, Mr. Celis never de- lieving that it was for the use of the govern- : livered to the commissary of the California rnent of the United States, and the board battalion one single head of beef cattle un- thought it unjust that he should be the victim der this contract, and that not one of those of his own patriotism, though he must doubt- six hundred head of cattle was slaughtered less have suffered considerable loss in having for the use of that battalion : but, on the con- it discounted. Colonel Fremont was called j trary, that they have been delivered to a Mr. upon; but being unwilling or unable (or at i Stearns, of Los Angeles, in two parcels; least neglecting so to do) to show how the [ one of four hundred and eighty-one on the money thus borrowed by him was applied to the service of the government, it was charged to him upon the books of the department, und has remained wholly unaccounted for by him up to this time. On the 30th of January, first day of JVlay, and another of one hun dred and nineteen on the 6th day of July, 1847, both of which dates are subsequent to the discharge of the California battalion com manded by Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Fremont. 1856, a claim was allowed Colonel Fremont i There is no doubt that those cattle are the by the secretary of the treasury, and it was j same six hundred contracted for by Lieuten- placed to his credit upon the before-mentioned j ant Colonel Fremont on the 3d March, 1847. debit against him, which being deducted, i Mr. Celis stated it positively in his letter leaves a balance of 81,986 51 of the $3.000 I marked D; and the receipts lor them bv (and interest) still unaccounted for and stand ing against the '-gallant" candidate for president on the books of the department. It is more than probable that the story cur rent in California will account for the dis bursement of the money borrowed of Don Cot, whish is, that it went to pay for the cel ebrated humbug " Mariposa claim.'' of and about which so much has been said'and writ ten during the last four months. Stearns, marked B and F, specially slate that he (Stearns) receipts for them in the name and behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Fremont. These deliveries occurred at a time when a garrison was stationed at Los Angeles with a commissioned agent of the commissa ry department of the army, Lieut. Davidson, to take charge of subsistence stores intended' for public use ; yet the>e cattle, furnished by a formal contract, are delivered to a private Angeles, California, April 27, 1847. No. 3. Eight months after dale, I, J. C. Fremont, individual upon a special agreement (as he ; my command. The above sum, for which Stearns, says) to breed on shares for the term this obligation is given, shall be subject to of three years. I have endeavored to procure | an interest of two per cent, per month, after from Mr. Stearns a copy of the agreement he ! the expiration of the term of eight months has made with Lieutenant Colonel Fremont j from the 18th of April, 1847. until paid, for taking care of these cattle, but his letters I J. C. FREMONT, (marked^? and 10) positively assert that he j Lieut. Col. United States Army, regards those cattle as the private property of Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, but that the agreement by which he holds them is a verb al one, witnessed by a Mr. Hensly and Lieu tenant Gillespie, of the United States navy. | governor of California, and thereby the legal Thus stand the facts, and 1 am applied to to agent of the government of the United States know whether payment will be made upon i of North America, in considera'ion of the the paper marked 2, which is a certificate sum of two thousand five hundred dollars that the sum of ^6,975 is due to Mr. Cells being borrowed or advanced to me, for the for supplies furnished the California battalion, i benefit of the said government of the United which supplies are clearly and plainly the i States, by Eulojio de Celis, hereby promise lot of six hundred breeding cows now in : and oblige myself, in my fiduciary character the hands of a private individual, not one of j as governor aofresaid, and my successors in which has been used for public purposes, office, to pay the said Kulojio de Celis, his This note becomes due on the 18th of Decem- i heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, ber, 1S47, and bears an interest of twenty- 1 the aforesaid sum of two thousand five liun- four per centum per annum after that date. i dred dollars, without defalcation. It is In connection with this subject, I call | agreed and understood that if the aforesaid your attention to the paper marked 3. wherein j sum of two thousand five hunched dollars is Lieutenant Colonel Fremont has bound him self and future governors of California, to pay not paid on or before maturity, it is to draw interest at the rate of two per cent, per month the sum of #2,500 at the expiration of eight j from the time it falls due. In testimony months from the date of March 3, 1847,^or, | whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and in default thereof, that the note shall bear an \ have caused the seal of the territory to be af- interest of twenty-four per cent, per annum ; | fixed, at the city de los Angeles, the capital this, too, when the acting assistant quarter- of California, this 3d day of March, in the year 1847. J. C. FREMONT. Governor of California. No. 7. ANGELES, AUGUST 12, 1847. DEAR SIR : In reply to your official letter of yesterday, I would observe that I hold in master at Monterey had been more than a month in the country, with a supply of money applicable to the proper expenses of the army in California. Mr. Celis states that it was partly to secure this loan of money that Lieutenant Colonel Fremont made with him the liberal bargain for cattle, for which the price is about 40 per cent, higher than the market price at the time, j my possession six hundred head of cattle. Both of these notes are soon due, and Mr. ! (the major part breeding cows.) received Celis is going to make application for pay- j from Don Eulojio de Celis, on account of merit, as he claims to have fulfilled hit) part Lieutenant Colonel John C. Fremont. I of a contract for the redemption of which the hold these cattle by agreement, and for the good faith of the government of the United term of three years ; to return the same States is pledged by an officer thereof; but number and class at the end of the term, the whole transaction, as shown by the ac- with one-half the increase, excepting such as companyiiig papers, appears to rne of such a may be lost in any way whatever, and not character that I shall not order payment of : for wan' of care on my part. 1 consider the the money to Mr. Celis, but refer all the pa- cattle as the private properly of Lieutenant action as Colonel J. C. Fremont, not being instructed pers to the department, for such they may consider proper in the case. 1 have the honor to be, $-c., II. B. MASON, CVlonel 1st Drfisfoons, Commanding. To General R. JONES," Washington city. No. 2. This is to certify that there is due from the United States to Don Eulojio de Celis the sum. of six thousand nine hundred and seventy five dollars, on account of supplies furnished by him for subsisting United States troops in service in this territory and under by him to the contrary. I have the honor to be. >-c., ABEL STEARNS. Col. J. D. STEVKNSON. Commanding Southern Military District, Cal. In 1852, a Board of Commissioners was established by Congress to receive and audit claims against the government of the I niied States, growing out of Col. Fremont's military operations in California. This board held their -fusions j n California, and claims amounting to about one million of dollars were present ed for supplies represented to have been pro cured by Col. Fremont, for the use of the troops under his orders. Had Col. Fremont been in command of any considerable num ber of men, this sum would not seem large ; but it must be remembered that his whole force consisted only of a small battalion, and that this force was in service but five or six months. Of these claims amounting to a million of dollars all certified by Col. Fre mont on his honor as tl correct and just," and " applied to the public service " the Commissioners found about $140,000 reason able and just, and recommended their pay ment, leaving eight hundred thousand dollars disallowed. We present a few of these claims with the opinions of the Board. The United States Dr. To Mariano G. Vallejo. For the following property taken from the ranches of Geueral Marino G. Vallejo, for the use of the United States troops under the com mand of Captain John C. Fremont in the month of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty-six: To eight hundred head of cows and large cattle, at $15 each .... $12,000 To six hundred head of second-class cattle, at $12 each 7,200 To six hundred head of third-class cattle, at $8 each 4,800 * To one hundred head of sheep at $5 each 750 Total - ... 24,750 M. G. VALLEJO. SONOMA, 30th August, 1846. *Should be 150, as in old ac. and assignment. I certify, on honor, that the foregoing ac count is substantially correct and just ; that the property enumerated and charged was taken from General Vallejo, for the use of the United States troops under my command serv ing in California during the year eighteen hundred and forty six ; that this property was consumed and expended in said service, and no portion of it returned, to General Vallejo ; and that he has received no compension what ever for the same. I do further certify that the prices charged are reasonable, not exceeding the value of the property at the time it was furnished for the use of the United States troops under my command in California. JOHN C. FREMONT. The explanatory remarks of this date ap pended to claim No. 9 I consider as applicable to this case. JOHN C. FREMONT. JULY 11, 1853. BOARD FOR THE EXAMINATION OF CLAIMS CON TR ACTED IK CALIFORNIA UNDER LT. COL. JOHN C. FREMONT. Opinion on the claim of Mariano G. Vallejo, No. 8. Cattle, $24,750. On the additional testimony produced, the board is of opinion that a part of this claim, amounting to fifteen thousand five hundred and seventy -five dollars, ($15,575,) is just, and ac cordingly recommends so much of it in amount ! to the favorable consideration of Congress; the | balance, nine thousand one hundred and seven ty-five dollars, ($9,175) being disallowed. This amount is arrived at by deducting one- hundred and fifty (150) head of second-class cattle which were returned to General Vallejo by Captain and Assistant Quartermaster J. L. Folsom, (see his letter to the board of March 31, 1853,) and adding fifty (50) to the number of the sheep, (see the so-called claim numbered 10 ;) the animals to be paid for at the follow ing rates: 300 head of cows and large cattle at $10 $8,000 450 head of cows, second class cattle at $8 3,600 600 head of cows, third class cattle at $6 3,600 150 sheep at $2 50 375 15,575 [vote unanimous see Journal, page 220.1 C. F. SMITH, Col. U. S. Army, President of the Board. January 3, 1854. The United States Dr. To Mariano G. Vallejo. For the following property taken from the ranches and stores of Mariano G. Vallejo, for the use of the United States troops under the command of Captain John C. Fremont, in the month of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty-six: To 500 head of first-quality horses, at one hundred dollars each . . . $50,000 To 309 head of horses, at seventy-five dollars each 23,175 To 250 head of wild mares, at twenty- five dollars each 6,250 To 40 saddles, complete, at $50 each 2,000 To 40 pairs of spurs, at $5 each . . 200 To 200 blankets, at $5 each . . 1,000 Total 82,625 M. G. VALLEJO. SONOMA, August 30, 1856. I certify, on honor, that the foregoing ac count is substantially correct and just; that the animals and other property enumerated were taken from General Mariano G. Vallejo for the use of the United States troops under my command serving in California daring the year eighteen hundred and forty-six ; that this property was lost and expended in said service, and no portion of it returned to General Val lejo ; and that he has received no compensa tion whatever for the same. I do further cer- 5 tify that the prices charged are reasonable, not exceeding the value of the property at the time it was furnished for the use of the United States troops under my command in California. JOHN C. FREMONT. In explanation of this amount, it is proper to state that I considered the stock owned by General Vallejo to be of superior quality, and that I was directed by this knowledge in ad mitting the higher prices set out herein. It is further proper to state that in Sonoma, and generally throughout California, the stock found upon farms was driven off, as much in the view of preventing it from falling into the hands of the enemy as for the use of the troops, io which latter purpose only a comparatively small portion was appropriated. Great num bers of the stock, so driven off by us, were scattered over the country, and were, conse quently, lost and perished. And it is in this extended sense that the words "consumed and expended" in the service of the United States were intended to be understood: JULY 11, 1853. JOHN C. FREMONT. BOARD TOR THE EXAMINATION OP CLAIMS CON TRACTED IN CALIFORNIA UNDER LT. COL. JOHN C. FREMONT. [Opinion in the claim of M. G. Vallejo, No. 9.] Horses, cattle, &c., $82,625. On the additional testimony produced, the board is of opinion that a part of this claim, amounting to thirty-two thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars, ($32,625,) is just, and accordingly recommends so much of it in amount to the favorable consideration of Con gress ; the balance, fifty thousand dollars, ($50,- 000,) being disallowed. This amount is arrived at by allowing the undermentioned rates, the urice affixed for the first quality horses appear ing to be the highest that was paid by the quar termaster, or any other official, for horses for the service of the California battalion, viz : 500 horses, 1st quality, at $40 . . , $20,000 309 " 2d " at 25 ... 7,725 250 wild mares, at $10 2,500 40 saddles, complete, at $30 ... 1,200 40 pairs of spurs at $5 200 blankets, at $5 1,000 $32,625 [Vote unanimous see journal, page 226.] JANUARY 17, 1854. C. F. SMITH, Col. U. S. Army, President of the Board. Claim of M. G. Vallejo, No. 9. [Claim No. 16.] United States To Salvador Vallejo Dr. For the following property taken from the ranches and stores of Salvador Vallejo by the troops under the command of Captain J. C. Fremont, in the months of June, July, and August, A. D. one thousand eight hun dred and forty-six : To 200 head of first quality horses, at $130 each $20,000 To 240 head of second quality horses, at $100 each 24,000 To 15 saddles, at $100 each . . . 1,500 To 4 rifles, at $100 each . . . 400 To 1 rifle, at $200 200 To 2 pair of pistols, at $100 each . 200 To 10 mares, at $80 oach .... 800 Total fifty three thousand one hun dred dollars $53,100 The remarks of this date, appended to Claim No. 11, are applicable to the present case, except that it is proper further to say that the arms specified herein were of a su perior quality. JOHN C. FREMONT. llth JULY, 1853. Sworn to by claimant, and endorsed Approved : J. C. FREMONT. BOARD FOR THE EXAMINATION or CLAIMS CON TRACTED IN CALIFORNIA UNDER LT. COL. JOHN C. FREMONT. Opinion on the claim of Salvador Vallejo. Horses, arms, &c., $53,100. No 16. On the additional testimony produced, the board is of opinion that a part of this claim, amounting to eleven thousand seven hundred dollars ($11,700,) is just, and accordingly recommend so much of it in amount to the favorable consideration of Congress; the balance, forty-one thousand four hundred dollars ($41,400) being disallowed. This amount is arrived at by allowing the undermentioned rates, viz: 200 horses, first quality, at S30 . . $6,000 240 horses, second quality, at $20 . 4,800 15 saddles, at $30 450 4 rifles, at $50 200 1 rifle, at $50 50 2 pair pistols, at $50 100 10 mares, at $10 100 11.700 [Vote unanimous see journal, page 230.] C. F. SMITH, Col. U. S. Army, President of the Board. JANUARY 19, 1854. [Claim No. 246.] United States Dr. To Carlos Antonio Carrilo. For supplies furnished United States troops under command of Col. John C. Fremont. 1847. Jan. 5. To 38 mules, at $100 $3,800 To 20 mares, at $50 . . . 1,000 To 75 horses, at $100 . . . 7,500 To 35 cows (milch,) at $30 . 1,050 To 100 fanegas corn, at $3 . 300 To 60 " beans, at $4 . 240 To 4 saddles, at $30 ... 120 14,010 6 I certify that the above account is correct, and that the supplies enumerated in the bill \vere furnished to the troops under my corr- mand, and applied accordingly to the use of the United States forces. JOHN C. FREMONT. BOARD FOR THE EXAMINATION OF CLAIMS CONTRACTED IN CALIFORNIA UNDER LlEUT. COL. JOHN C. FREMONT. Opinion on the claim of Carlos Antonio Carillo. No. 246. Horses, &c. ; $14,010. The board deems a part of this claim, amounting to four thousand and thirty-five dollars, ($4,035,) just, and accordingly re commend so much of it in amount to the fa vorable consideration of Congress ; the balance, nine thousand nine hundred and seventy-five dollars, (9,975.) being disallow ed. This amount is arrived at by the allow ing the undermentioned rates, viz : 38 mules, at S25 .... $950 ,20 mares, at $10 .... 200 75 horses, at $25 .... 1.875 35 cows, at $10 . . , . 350 100 fanegas corn, at $3 . . 300 60 " beans, at $4 . 240 4 saddles, at $30 .... 120 4,035 [Vote unanimous see journal, page 305.] FEBRUARY 9. 1854. C. F. SMITH, Col. U. S. Army, President of the Board. [Claim No. 230.] The United States To William D. Phelps, Dr. For services of himself, crew s and boats o the barque Moscow, of Boston, of which he was part owner and in command, and being agent for all other owners, and for the risk and hazard incident to such service, in trans porting Captain J. C. Fremont and a detach ment of men under his command to a fort on the opposite side of the bay and entrance to the port of San Francisco, in Upper Cali forma, in July, 1846, and aiding him ir capturing and dismantling the said fort, am spiking the guns thereof, consisting of thre brass and seven iron cannon, of heav calibre, and a part of which were afterwards taken on board the United States ship Ports mouth, by order of Capt. J. B. Montgomery, United States navy, $10.000. E. E. WILLIAM D. PHELPS. Sworn to by the claimant. I certify that Capt. Wm. D. Phelps did transport a party of men under my command to the fort near the Presidio, at the entrance of the bay of San Francisco, under the cir cumstances narrated in the above deposition; that he aided in dismantling the fort, and that 1 have always considered his services on that jccasion to have been very valuable to the United States. JOHN C. FREMONT. WASHINGTON CITY, Aus 1 . 5. 1853. I certify that in July, 1846, Capt. W. D. Phelps did transport a party of men under the command of Capt. J. C. Fremont from San- celito across the bay of San Francisco (seven miles) to the fort at Yerba Buena, command ing the entrance to the harbor, for the purpose of spiking the guns of the fort, which was in a very dismantled condition, and could not have been occupied without having been almost entirely rebuilt. There was no enemy present, and the sole object Capt. Fremont had in view was to prevent the Californians from using the guns at any future time. There was no risk or personal danger in curred, and the service would be well paid for at fifty dollars. ARCHI. W. GILLESPIE, Bvt. Major U. S. M. Corps. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19. 1853. No BOARD FOR THE EXAMINATION OF CLAIMS CONTRACTED IN CALIFORNIA UNDER Ll\ COL. JOHN C. FRKMONT. Opinion on the claim of Wm. D. Phelps. o. 230.] Services of boats' crew and use of boat, $10,000. The board deems a part of this claim, amounting to fifty dollars ($50) just, and ac cordingly recommend so much of it in amount to the favorable consideration of Congress; the balance, nine thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars, C$9.950,) being disallowed. [Vote unanimous see journal, page 302.] C. F. SMITH, Col. U. S. Army, President of the Board. FEBRUARYS, 1854. These documents require no comment these literally speak for themselves, and the reader who has gone thus far, will not be sur prised at the developments in the annexed article from the San Francisco (California) "Globe" of the 8th of August last. I FREMONT AND HIS FRIENDS. " The name of Col. Fremont has been connected with the houe nf Palmer, Cook & Co., in the financial opera tions of that concern. The only connection between this banking h use and Col. Fremont is in the Mariposa estate. They are interested in that property. Messrs. Palmer, Cook & Co , advanced funds to carry on the suit for the recovery of the Mariposa estate, for a certain portion of it, if sue. essfnl. Palmer, Cook & Co.'s portion was cut up into several shares and sold to different capitalists for certain sums advanced to meet law expenses, &c. Palmer, Cook promise of ten thousand dollars, drew drafts for upwards of $180.000 upon the Secretary of the Interior. Skillful negotiation was next needed, and Wright, as the most unscrupulous of the G'ang. was put forward to raise money on the drafts, endorsed by Fremont. Adams & Co., deceived by Wright's representations that Barbonr had authority to draw the draffs, cashed $30,000 of them. This was great success, and put. the conspirators in funds. Barboor was paid his 810,000. (quit tin? State and has never returned,) and some part of the purchase money for the cattle paid. But more money was required, and negotiation was entered into with the banking house of, James King of Wrn., that house upon the residue of the drafts, (over $150,000,) ad vanced S40,000, to draw 3 per cent, per month interest. About the same time Fie- mont disposed of half of his interest in the Mariposa grant to Palmer, Cook & Co., put this $40,000 in their hands, became ihi-ir servile tool and agent, and has been their stipendiary eversince. Under color of leases from Fremont of quartz veins of the Mariposa tract of land, Wright and his associates have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Eastern cities, and in Europe, by buying fine !>)! d specimens of quartz in the Eastern mar kets, and representing them as coming from the veins on the Mariposa leads. English capitalists began to suspect these frauds, and it was necessary to have Fremont in England to help them out of their difficulties. The most unheard of falsehoods were told by Wrght of the richness of these veins, which, for a time, satisfied those who had invested their money in them; but at length suspicion of fraud became so strong, that Fremont, Wrinht and their confederates had to escape secretly from England. (Fremont leaving his wife and children behind him, to follow on the next, steamer as a blind to prevent pur suit and arrest, before sailing ; ) to avoid a prosecution for swindling, for which, if they had been caught, they would have been con victed, and sent to Botany Bay. In Europe, before their escape, and afterwards in the United States, these adroit financiers rioted on their ill-gotten gains. Fremont is said to have expended twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars in Europe, in a few months. The pickings of these operations were soon exhausted in the fraudulent and unsuc cessful speculations of Palmer, Cook & Co., and by Fremont's extravagances, and in a state of utter destitution Fremont presented himself before Congress in 1854, begging for an appropriation to pay for his beef contracts. He represented that James Kinu' of Win. had sued him on the 840.000 advanced on these drafts, obtained judgment, and bought his Mariposa Claim for less than a thousand dol lars, and unless Congress gave him relief the time of redemption would expire and it would be entirely lost to him. By t.h.e most dexterous and unwearying lobbying, the bill passed Congress, and Fre mont ' turned up'' again, a millionaire. He redeemed the Mariposa claim; bullied Cor coran & Riirirs of W: shington City, who held the claim of James Kini:, of Wni.. into a re duction of from twenty to thirty thousand dol lars on the amount due; through his partners, Palmer. Cook & Co., shaved the Californians from whom he had purchased the cattle, and who had so patiently waited for their money, forcing them to take half that was due them, or ^et nothing, (for Palmer had skillfully had the deed for the Mariposa claim made to him self personally, and at the same time took a 8 confession of judgment from Fremont to hi? 1 house for upwards of 873.000, to bear three per cent per month interest, until paid, so nothing could be made out of Fremont,) and his creditors had to take whatever Palmer. Cook & Co. offered, or get nothing. In this way most of the appropriation made by Con gress was secured to Palmer, Cook & Co., which saved them from bankruptcy two years ago. Since then, Fremont has been their agent in the Eastern States, receiving a thousand dollars per month from Palmer, Cook & Co., to enable him to make a show of wealth, and thus aid them in their negotia tions. Fremont, Palmer and Wright, spent the summer and iall of 1855 in the Eastern States, trying to raise money on the Mariposa and Bolton & Barren claims. But their most strenuous exertions and expertness failed them, and Palmer came home foiled. Here, his fortunes and that of his House, he found in a desperate condition, owing to the ex posures of the Bulletin. Orders were im mediately issued by him to Fremont and Wright, to turn Black Republicans, and by bribery, and every available means, accom plish the election of a Black Republican Speaker. The money of Palmer, Cook & Co., elected Banks, Speaker. Now for the reward. Banks so appointed the Committees as to secure the reporting of a Bill to confirm the Bolton & Barron claim, outright, without going through the ordeal of the United States Courts. They found a convenient tool in Phil. Herbert, to offer this bill, and to lobby it through the House, as he would certainly have done with the aid of Wright and his partners in the claim, notwithstanding the opposition of Gen. Denver, but for Herberts having killed the Irish waiter. But to return to Wright and Fremont. Their success in electing Banks emboldened them, and they struck for higher game, no less than Fre mont's nomination by the Black Republicans, for President. With such a nomination, the confirmation of the Bolton and Barron claim by Congress, and the Mariposa claim by the Supreme Court, Fremont, it was supposed, could borrow upon these claims any amount of money among his fanatical negro-worship ping associates ; and Palmer, Cook & Co. would in reality be the Rothschilds of America. The plan was well laid, and now for its execution. At this juncture, Selover appeared upon the stage, the very man to carry through this villanous scheme. Into this he entered with wild enthusiasm, having oceans of gold floating before his vision, if successful. But to get the nomination, money was first necessary, and money was obtained and spent lavishly, poured out like water. In this way a large portion of the money of the State, designed to pay interest on the Bonds, went. The Placer Herald says, Selover expended ^49,000. How much Wright expended is not known. Success at tended their efforts. Fremont was nominated by the liberal and scoundrelly use of the money of the people of California placed in the hands of Palmer, Cook & Co., to pay the interest on our State and other Bonds. Diplomacy and negotiation are now re quisite to the consummation of their compli cated and sinister schemes. But ten days remained from the time of Fremont's nomina tion, until the interest had to be paid; plenty of time, so the conspirators thought, in which to attain their ends. But like Biddle's specu lation in cotton, with the funds of the U. S. Bank, they tripped up in playing their last card. Fremont could borrow no money on the Mariposa claim. Herbert's difficulty had blocked the game on the Bolton & Barron claim, and the first of July found Palmer, Cook & Co.'s agent without a dollar of the $102,000 placed in the vaults of that House, to pay the interest on the State and City Bonds. San Francisco and California are discredited before the world, and their credit ors are swindled out of their money; but what of that? Fremont is nominated; if elected, Palmer will be Secretary of the Treasury, Wright Sub-Treasurer, Selover Collector of the Port, and that will be honor and glory enough to the State, to re-instate its former credit and wipe out the stain upon her escutcheon, now so disgracefully im pressed thereon, by these political schemes and financial transactions. What say you, citizens of the United States, is John C. Fremont " hon est ? Ts he capable ? " Do his acts show him to be a proper person to occupy the exalted station of President, and direct the financial transactions of the Republic?