quarters on the other. Major Weightman (of Washington, son-in-law of Mr. Cox,) was very friendly in his attentions to me, and Capt. Brent of the Quartermaster's deputy, gave me some most effective aid in my equipment. Among the citizens who have treated me with some attention, I make it a duty to recommend to your attention, when you may meet him, our fellow-citizen of St. Louis, Mr. F. X. Aubry. You will remember him as having lately made an extraordinary ride from Santa Fé, to Independence. We have been travelling together from Santa Fé to this place. Among other acts of kindness, I received from him a loan of $1000, to purchase animals for my journey to California.

I reached this town at half-past 8 o'clock this morning, by appointment to breakfast. Capt. Buford, who commands here, received me with much kindness, and I am staying with him. This is a military post, and with the exception of a little village or two, a few miles below, the last settlement we see until reaching Tusson, even should we pass by that route. We go on this afternoon, and perhaps reach California in twenty-five days. The weather here is warm, and the people engaged in opening the ground for sowing. I will write a brief note to Jessie, and conclude this, as I shall be much pressed

to get through the business set apart for this "Very affectionately,

day.

"J. C. FREMONT.

"HON. THOMAS H. BENTON, Washington City."

It

The allusions, in the foregoing letters, to a plan of life he had formed for the future, indicate that he had designed to spend the residue of his days in retirement, and in California. Before this time he had entrusted $3,000, to an agent to buy a farm or ranch for him in that country, suggesting a certain tract which he was particularly desirous of obtaining. As that was not available, the agent purchased another, since known as the Mariposa (butterfly) grant. was thought by most persons, at that time, to have been an undesirable purchase, as it was in the wilderness, far removed from settlements, and infested by Chauchiles Indians, a very savage, warlike, and hostile tribe. The first night Col. Fremont spent on the tract, when he first visited it, six men, belonging to a party that had camped in the neighborhood, were killed by the Indians, and he never went there without having a fight with them. For these reasons it was not a very eligible location for a farm, although comprising considerable land in itself well adapted for agricultural purposes. His plan was to use it as a grazing farm; and

the favorite wish and design of his heart was to collect upon it the faithful and brave companions of his exploration, the men whose friendship and worth had been proved in so many joint perils and sufferings, and there dwell in their midst, surrounded by a colony that would be as one family. With them around him, there would have been nothing to fear from Chauchiles or any other Indians. In the prosecution of this cherished purpose he had purchased, and sent round the cape, a large supply of farming tools and agricultural implements of every kind. But the beautiful vision was dispersed by the discovery of gold, which threw farming projects out of the question altogether.

On the 25th of June, 1849, President Taylor appointed him commissioner for running the boundary line between the United States and the Republic of Mexico. He never entered on the duties of that appointment. In the mean while, under the auspices, and with the encouragement of that truly patriotic and enlightened chief magistrate, the people of California took the usual steps to form a constitution. Col. Fremont exerted his whole influence to secure that portion of the continent to free labor. The great point was gained. And he was elected one of the first senators of the State of California in the congress of the United States.

CHAPTER VIII.

A SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE State of California was admitted into the Union on the 9th of September, 1850. The next day, her senators elect, John C. Fremont and William M. Gwin, after a last desperate effort to prevent it, were allowed to take their seats, the former being introduced to the senate by Mr. Barnwell of South Carolina. Fremont's name had been made familiar to the ears of senators, particularly at that session, by the extent to which California occupied their discussions. In reference to that country, as both conqueror and explorer, he was the authority on which they all relied. In a speech on the compromise bills, delivered in the Senate on the 25th of June, 1850, Mr. Soulé, arguing a certain point relating to California, uses these words : 4 This opinion is fully sustained by the highest authority which I can summon before the Senate—that of the learned, enterprising, and indefatigable officer, to whose labors the United States and the world are so much indebted.”

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Such was then the universal estimate throughout the country of the value of the public services of Col. Fremont.

As is the practice of the Senate, in the case of members entering the body as the first representatives of new States, Fremont and Gwin drew lots for the classes to which they were to belong. The term of one third of the senators expires on each alternate 4th March. Col. Fremont drew the shortest term, expiring with the 31st congress on the 4th of March, 1851. Mr. Gwin drew the longest term, continuing to the close of the 33d congress on the 4th of March, 1855. As Fremont was unable to attend the short term of that congress, his whole senatoria) service consisted of what remained of the long session, which terminated September 30th-that is, twenty-one days.

In that short time he accomplished an extraordinary amount of work. Immediately, upon taking his seat, indeed, on that very day, he submitted a resolution describing seventeen post routes, covering the whole territory of California, and gave notice of a variety of bills, which provided for the extension over that State of all the functions of the Government, in its several departments. These bills were designed to complete the organization of the whole system of society. They legalized all its interests, pursuits, privileges, and securities, and brought them