The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-08-06

j he rnbid eagerness with which the Cd.
position papers seize upon the Gardner ar,
lair, and undertake to found upon il n
charge against the administration OF NAL
ieasancc or neglect Of the public inter.
est, shows The desperate shifts 10 which
they are driven. Surprising every alega
ton respecting that claim TO be well found.
cd, nothing ran be clearer Than that The
administration cannot in any way bo held
responsible for tho fraud practised on the
government. And no fair mirded man
will even by implication attempt TO fasten
blame upon The President or his Cabinet
for airansnction over which they had no
control whatever. The circumstances Of
the case are thus succinctly stated in The
Washington Republic:
BY the treaty Of peace with Mexico,
The United States agreed 10 pay The claims
established by American citizens against
The Mexican government TO any amount
not exceeding three and one.luurth mil.
lions Of dollars. During the admnislra-
ton Of President Polk, an act Of Congress-
authorized the appointment of three COM
missoncrs to adjudcale the claims arisin q
under the Mexican treaty. In accordance
WIN lhls act three commissioners were
nominated by President Taylor, and by
and with the consent oil the Senate con-
iirmed. Amongst other claimants under
the Mexican treaty were Mcssrs. Gardi.
ner and Mears. -Fheir clam, established
by apparently authentic and undispuied
testimony, was examined and allowed by
tie commissioners. No suspicion was en-
iertalned of any fraud, in regard TO this
claim, until after the award and payment
ny the commissioners.
= Subsequent, however, 10 the payment
oil the claim, and after the departure or
Or. Gardiner for Europe, it was said he
had confessed 10 Mr.. Porte that The claiu,
was fraudulent, aud sustained by iabrica.
ted testimony. Upon receipt of this inlor,
nation, the President directed The District
Attorney TO inform The Grand jury, then
N session. Of the representation against
GARDINER. This was done, and resulted
IN The finding Of true bill against Card.
ner for false swearing to the memorial
Forte. having been summoned before the
Grand Jury, denied on oath, the confess
sion 10 him by Gardiner that the claim was
fabricated. The bill was found. we nm
derstand, by the Grand Jury, upon testi.
mony before Them other Than that of
Porte.'
The most ingenious malice cannot dis.
Germ IN This case any ground for orimina.
llng the administration. On the contrary
the prompt and decisive action oflhe Pres
ldent is deserving of all commentator
The alleged offenders have already been
subjected 10 proper responsibility for
lheIr unlawful acts and all means have
been adopted 10 secure The faithful execu.
lion of the laws. II the parties inculpa,ed
are proved to be gully, they will receive
The punishment which The laws award 10
lelonies Of this description.
And no less llagiliOus is the attempt of
.hc Gemecrailc press 10 cast reproach upon
Tue board Of Commissioners, in connec.
uon with this alleged fraud. If Gardiner
ana ms associates contemplated swindle
upon The Government, their scheme would
oi course be ingeniouly devised and adj
rollly executed. Detection was certain.
unless the hing was experlly done. The
venue was laid IN Mexico. The Board in
Washington had no means of distinguish.
ing between genuine aud spurious te stimo.
n.y. aud they had no authority 10 institute a
scrutiny al The point wheie the spoliaiions
were sworn 10 have been committed The
proofs were plausible, coherent and com
pact; and II was impossible 10 avoid the
eouelusion to which they arrived. The
n,oa were not impesched. There
""s ho'hlng impr obable in the circum-
oi'a" as detailed by lhem--nohing in tie
character OF the evidence 10 invite snspi,
.Ion-how could the Board guard against
imposition? We make n brief extrnc,
ron me OPP nlon Of tho Board, given on
mating the award
III appears from iho ov;Janoa in th;.