The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-07-16

on the recent Mexican Commission. The wings |
should insist that the matter be probed to the bot
Tom, lest by any seeming resistance to inquiry and
disposition to concealment they raise suspicion
in the public mind that the Administration may be |
implicated in,the transaction. The Galpihn Claim
was unfortunately managed for the party, and
should be an admonition that any attempt to
an unworthy political adherent, however elevated
and influential, is often more injurious than his
expulsion. There has been, beyond question, a
gross fraud committed on the Government, of which
the Administration is innocent, and the best way
to convince the country of its purity is to show by
what arts and iniquites it was accomplished, and
lot the guilt fall where it justly belongs.
Some affect to disbelieve that any wrong has
been committed, and assert the charge to be hum
bug raised for political effect. Now there is con-
elusive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that no one will dare
DR.. Gardner could not and did not
own a silver mine in San Luis Potos from 1874 10
lS47. He resided in the city and State but twelve
months from the beginning of lS45 to 1916, and
his daily employment was known to gentlemen
now residing here. But the nature and tenure of
the property under the laws of Mexico, which he
pretends to have possessed, stamps falsehood upon
the claim. He represents himself as the sole pro-
prietor of silver mine, for if he was only share
holder his personal expulsion from the country
would not have arrested the operations of the mine
and caused the losses he alleges, and if he had
partners he could not claim the whole loss as his
own, and they would have been represented in
the claim ds parties, if American ctizens
Now there is but a sing lie instance in all Mexico
of an individual being the sole proprietor of such
a mine, and in that instance the mine has de-
scended through line Of rich ancestry, and the
present proprietor is the last relic and representa-
tive of his race who mourns that he has no son to
succeed to the rich inheritance. Could young
foreign adventurer, without the means of daily
support, fall into such an estate without its being
widely known! Would it have been concealed
from his daily companions? The nature of the
property and the hazards of the operation preclude
the suppostion that DR.. Gardner could have en-
gagged in any such enterprise. Admit that he had
the good fortune to discover rich lead the surface
is always nearly worthless, and no mine in Mexico
ever yet paid the expenses of shafng it as it pro-
crossed; and the uncertainty of being workable
vein, after long and expensive labor on it, make it
a very hazardous business when begun with the
richest prospects. 1t is always a gambling opera
ton. The cost of smelling furnaces, mills and
appurtenances Of every kind, are many hundred
thousand dollars, where water and fuel are con-
venient From those practically acquainted with
such enterprises, we are informed that silver
mine cannot be put in operation, under the most
| favorable circumstances, without an expenditure
of 100000 or $1,000 900, before any returns can
be expected from it. The mode of securing a right
to mine adds much to the hazards and difficult
| ties of the undertaking. When lead is dis
covered specification of it is made to the author
Il "a, han mad md ohaf lie po
the vein, and if it prove to be workable seam,
presumption right is granted to an area covering
only about five acres. No other person can en-.
croach on this space, but any one may lay claim
along side of it, and if the frat discoverer wishes
to secure more ground than his first five acres, he
must make new specifications, prove them by
shafling, and he must sink as many shafts as he
has FIVE acre lots. Another difficulty interposed
by law is, that if any presumption right remains
unimproved for period exceeding seven days it
becomes vacant, and is subject to entry by the first
conner, with all its improvements. No workable,
profitable mine could be purchased for less than
81, OOO, 900 or $2,0OOOOO
Now under these circumstances, is it probable
or even possible, that in Mexico, where no system
of credit is known-where no man can go beyond
his immediate ready means, that young man, with
no inherited wealth. mere adventurer, depending
on his wits for his daily bread, could become pos
sessed of silver mine with all its costly appurte-
nances by discovery purchase, during atwelve
months residence in place where his obligation
was not held to be good for fifty dollars? Such a
pretence bears fraud on the face of it. 1t is more
incredible than any tale Of Sinbad the Sailor. A
few simple questions to the claimant himself would
| have exposed the fraud How did you become
possessed of this estate 2" Where are your
| tles?" There must have been gross collision
some where. Gen. Waddy Thompson, the attor-
| ney of Gardner, who had been long in Mexico
knew the nature of such property and the difficulty
Of acquiring it-who had often used this client
| through his necessities in Mexico, in no very hon
orable services at five dollars the job, must hav
| been aware of the falsity of the claim. The Mex
| lean commissioner, familiar as he must have beef
with the nature and tenure of such property in hi
own country, knew the claim to be fraudulent an,
baseless. But what cared he to whom the none,
was paid, and he drew upon Gardner for $2S, 0O
the day he received his money?
Such claims this were allowed and paid blu
greater wrong was done in those that were re
jected. AS instances, we have heard of two wor
thy citizens of New Jersey, whose cases excite
universal sympathy in Mexico at the time The
had extensive carriage and coach factories at Pu
ebla and in the city of Mexico. They were resi-
ding there as American citizens under the guar
antees of the treaty of lS31-peaceable and order
ly residents, esteemed by all, both foreign and ma
tive citizens. Suddenly one day. without motto
or form Of trial, their whole property was seized
con6scated and sold by the public authorities
their families insulted and turned into the street.
and one, whose wife resisted an attempted viola
ton Of her person by officer, and wounded him
severely with a pair of scissors, was thrown int
prison, where he lay for many months, for havin
resisted the authorities! The only reason allege
for this gross violation of rights was charge thu
, the men had contributed money to aid two star,
ing, destitute fellow countrymen, who, it is sait
were fugitive Mier prisoners These coach man,
acturers finally escaped from the count try, after tn
, loss Of about $4,000 each, and are now living
poverty, vainy beseechng the Government to d
them justice. Another claim we have seen, whic
+. was rejected, is held by merchant of this cit
z who was travelling under permit from the Cel
trail Government with train of mules and lare
!. amount of merchandise. 1t was seized and take
for the use of the Mexican army, during its oper,
tons in some of the interior States. Compens
ton was sought for the loss from the Government
> and Santa Anna allowed the claim, as just al
indisputable one, and gave the claimant draft {
y the amount on the Collector Of Mazatlan. B
the Collector had funds, nor could ever
caught with any, during five or six years of CO
slant solicitation for payment. Although the Me
y l