date. Thus, on the 15th day of May, 1848, and in the 34th year of his age, Col. Fremont's connection with the military profession terminated, and his manhood once more resumed its natural proportions.*

"In pursuance of his original intentions as communicated to the government in August, 1846, Commodore Stockton appointed Colonel Fremont civil governor of California, and Colonel William H. Russell, secretary. Governor Fremont immediately entered on the duties of his office, and the people acquiesced in his exercise of authority.

"The commodore and his maritime army returned to the squadron. "The performance of his duties as governor of California by Col. Fremont were incompatible with the authority which General Kearney attempted to exercise over him by virtue of seniority of rank, notwithstanding the President and Secretary of War both justified the appointment of Colonel Fremont by Commodore Stockton, as civil governor of California, yet nevertheless he was permitted to be brought to trial on charges of disobedience preferred by General Kearney. He was found guilty on several charges and specifications, by a court evidently disposed to favor General Kearney. The finding of the court was approved in part by the President, but the sentence remitted.

"Indignant with the injustice and inconsistency manifested by the government, Colonel Fremont promptly resigned his commission in the army.

"Towards the close of the Mexican war, the army was powerful and popular at Washington. The esprit de corps of military gentlemen was piqued and offended with Fremont's deference to a naval commander, and his sacrifice was demanded. The President and Secretary of War had not the moral courage and firmness which the occasion required, and Colonel Fremont was driven from the army."-Life of Commodore Stockton, p. 154.

CHAPTER XI.

COLONEL FREMONT PROJECTS A FOURTH EXPLORING EXPEDITION-CALIFORNIA CLAIMS BILL-SPEECHES OF SENATORS

BENTON, CLARKE AND DIX-MAP

MEMOIR -REPORT OF SENATOR

TORREY'S PLANTÆ FREMONTIANÆ

AND GEOGRAPHICAL

BREESE

PROFESSOR

GOLDEN MEDAL FROM

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL

SOCIETY OF LONDON-LETTERS FROM JOHN M. CLAYTON AND ABBOTT LAWRENCE-REPLY OF COLONEL FREMONT.

WHEN Mr. Fremont abandoned the profession for which he had accomplished himself, and sat himself down the morning after his resignation was accepted, to determine what useful end the remainder of his life should be devoted to, he was but thirty-four years of age. Within that period he had attached his name imperishably to the historical, geographical, scientific and political history of his country. The highest peak of the longest chain of mountains on this continent had accepted his name in token of his being its first explorer; the plants which bloomed on its sides and in its valleys, had received from him their nomenclature; as the deliverer of California from Mexican misrule, he had identified himself for ever with the most durable tradi

tions of that wonderful State; as a geographer he had won the homage of the whole scientific world; and finally he had achieved among his own countrymen a popularity more unanimous and more universal than had ever before been enjoyed by any one of his years. These reflections were well calculated to sooth any mortification, if he had felt any, at the result of the court martial. Starting life without means and aided only by the friends. he had made himself, and his own energies, he had reached distinction before he had reached the maturity of his faculties; and, before most men have begun their career he was covered with honors enough for the close of his.

None of these considerations, however, disposed him to idleness. On the contrary his plans for a laborious and useful future were soon formed. While in California he had made arrangements for the purchase of the tract of land known as the Maraposas, of the value of which he had informed himself during his third expedition. Upon this he determined to settle as soon as he had demonstrated the practicability of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific States by a public highway. This he resolved to do before allowing himself any but necessary repose, and soon made his arrangements for a new trip across the plains, the following winter.

The intervening period was occupied in doing what he could to procure a settlement of the bills incurred in the conquest and defence of California in 1847, and in making up a report of the scientific results of his last expedition.

On the 1st of February, the military committee of the Senate, consisting of Messrs. Cass, Benton, Crittenden, Dix, Rusk and Davis, commenced an investigation in

relation to the claims above referred to, amounting in all to some $700,000 for the payment of which amount a bill was afterwards introduced. The beneficiaries of this bill and its general provisions are described with sufficient minuteness in the following paragraph near the close of a speech made in its favor by Senator Benton.

"The California battalion, formed out of the American settlers on the Sacramento and the men of the topographical party (re-. inforced afterwards by later emigrants from the United States), finished on the Plains of Couenga the movement which had commenced at Sonoma, and in the same spirit of justice, moderation and patriotism. In conjunction with the sailors and marines, they had twice conquered California before the United States troops arrived in the country. They did it without aid from the United States-without quartermasters, commissaries, and paymasters to The fruits of all feed and pay them. carry their labors have been received by the United States, and the bill rendered is only seven hundred thousand dollars—a fraction only of the amount paid to those who arrived after the work was done. It should have been provided for in one of the public bills. It is an appropriation, and of a public nature, and of a most sacred nature. It should at least have had a place in that Deficiency" bill of fourteen millions, which lately passed Congress, for what can be more deficient than non-payment, for almost two years for such extraordinary services? Even if this bill is passed at once and with the least possible delay from legislative forms, it will still be almost half a year before the claimants can begin to touch their pay. The bill is carefully drawn, both with a view to public and to private justice. It is intended to settle up and pay up all just claims, and to close the door forever upon all false ones. A commissioner acquainted with the subject, familiar with every transaction, is to go to California, visit every district in which claims are originated, call all before them, allow

the good, reject the bad, and bar all that are not presented to them. In this way, and in this alone, can justice be done to all parties, just claimants saved from the depredations of agents and speculators; the United States saved from paying false accounts, and California prevented from becoming a mine for the production of false claims for half a century to come. The great and main facts that services have been rendered, that the United States have received the benefits of these services, and that they have not been paid for, are established by the depositions; the mode of settlement, and the detail of payment, is directed by the bill."

Senator Clarke of Rhode Island, in the course of a long and able speech upon the same subject paid the following tribute to Col. Fremont's services.

"MR. PRESIDENT: The former explorations of Col. Fremont through the wilderness of the extreme West, have given him an enviable reputation in the world of science. His maturity of thought, and polished and cultivated intellect, united to a firm resolution, and a courage that never quailed-all eminently fitted him for the mission he so well and so readily undertook and performed. His energy of character qualified him for the position in which his government had placed him. If we condemn this invasion of the territory of a friendly power, I would not be understood as reflecting upon the man, who in obedience to his government, conducted that invasion and carried out those wishes to the entire subjugation of the country. I would not, sir, take a feather from his plume, nor a sprig from the garland that encircles his brow. Whatever may be the rigid rules of war, or the technicalities of the service under which this officer has suffered, his honor is untarnished—his high reputation as a soldier is unspotted-the crowning act of his eventful life is fresh in our recollection. When the commission which he bore, and which he would have yielded up only with his life, became tainted with censure, firmly he tendered it back to the executive whom he