Late one night Fremont announced that he had been elected senator of California. They would leave at once for Washington. Even though she had her husband at her side for the return trip across the isthmus it was not much easier for her. Jessie, again, became ill and it was said that she should have died.
Reaching home, the Fremonts along with Jessie’s father were at once embroiled in the slavery issue. Jessie, John, and Senator Benton were against slavery. Jessie became just as outspoken on the subject as her father was. But at last, it was time to return to California, and Jessie was four months pregnant. John’s term in the senate was over and he again busied himself in ranching, as well as being involved in various ways to make money. Soon, John Charles, a healthy baby, was born. A fourth child, Anne, followed but died soon after birth. The loss was extremely hard on Fremont.
In 1859, with Fremont on another expedition, Jessie gave birth to her last child, Frank Preston. Upon on Fremont’s return he was asked to accept the nomination for the candidacy as president of the first “free soil, free speech, free press” Republican Party. Jessie had always been close to her father but now a terrible rife separated them. Senator Benton, who was mourning the death of his wife, opposed this new Republican Party. Worse, he opposed his son in law’s part in it. Jessie stood by her husband as he ran on an anti-slavery platform. But campaigning and the speeches were not much different then as now and Fremont got caught up in his past.
The situation of Fremont’s birth became an issue. Senator Benton turned his back on both his daughter and Fremont, and James Buchanan won the presidential election. It was time to return to California.
In 1860, while living at Black Point, on the cliffs overlooking San Francisco Bay, Fremont accepted a commission as a Major General. He was to command the Department of the West. It was time to head back to St. Louis. The American Civil War had begun. But things did not go well in Missouri.
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