American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-24

The erudite and learned editor OF the Rich
mond Why, who Was Secretary or the Board
Of Commissioners on Claims against Mexico at
the time the award to DIR. George A. Gardiner
was made, has come out in defence Of that
award, and of the Commissioners who made il.
His defence is copied from the Richmond WIG
into the National Intelligencer Of this morning.
The editor of the Wing says that he, as the Sec
rotary to the Board of Commissioners, has never
been assaulted by those who have, as he knows,
most unjustly assailed the astute, upright and
sturdily honest Commissioners. He winds up
his article as follows:
Besides all this, we, who knew all the facts
OF the case, and the relations of Mr. Corwin.
Mr.. Corcoran, and all the rest to it, knew that
every fraudulent fact alleged in the story pub
lished was folly or fiction; and not q single
matter has yet come to our knowledge to effect
our clear persuasion that DIR. Gardiner is per-
fectly innocent, and that it will be so established
beyond doubt"
1t may not be out of place to PROFOUND a few
interrogatories to the editor Of the WHO. who
processes to know so much about the Gardiner
claim, and the conduct of those most interested
in and connected with it, and who is esteemed
as courteous, gentleman, ready to impart in
formation to the public when respectfully called
upon to do 80.
Can the late Secretary of the Board Of Com
missioners tell what has become Of the furni-
ture, bought at price of So, 100, for the fur
nishing OF the rooms of the Commission?
Was there not bought for the disposal Of the
officers of the Commission, an amount of books,
such as Souvenirs, Annuals, &c., at a cost of
$500; and if so, who made way with those
books?
Was there not an iron safe manufactured in
New York, by Herring & Co., for the Commits
sion, at cost, transportation and incidental
charges included, of $500?
Did not the late Secretary of the Commits
sion, who now edits the Wing, sell that safe,
Calf & Brother, of this city, for 5000?
Did not Mr.. Zantzinger, Of the State Depart
ment, refuse to receive the proceeds of the sale
of said safe, upon the ground that the Secreta-
ry had no right or authority of law to sell it?
And did not the Secretary thereupon deposite
the 5000 with Corcoran & Riggs to the credit
of the United States treasury, where the sum
now remains?
Did not Mr.. Fisher, the commissioner adu-
dicating the claims against Brazil, apply to
President Fillmore for the use of the aforesaid
safe, as soon as the Board for which it had
been manufactured should cease to need it, and
obtain the Presidents assent to his application
And when Mr.. Commissioner Fisher applied,
at the proper quarters for the safe, was he not
astonished by being told there was no safe
there-that it had been sold?
Among the printed Rules of the late Board of
Commissioners on Mexican claims, was the fol-
lowing positive direction:
Every memorial so filed must be addressed
to the Commissioners, and must set forth mi
nutely and particularly the facts and circum-
stances whence the right to prefer such claim
is derived to the claimant, and it must be Ver,ed
by his oath or affirmation"
DR.. Gardeners memorial was verified by his
oath. So was ]. Carlos GARDENERS memorial in
favor of his brothers claim, endorsed by his
OATH 1t was upon these oaths that the Grand
Jury found, against those who took them, true
bills of perjury.
But there was another memorial before the
Board of Commissioners relative to the same
Gardiner Claim. 1t was William w. Corcorans
memorial, signed by him. who claimed that he
had purchased one-fourth of the Gardiner
claim, and asked that one-fourth of the award
upon said claim should be made to him 1t
was 80 made. But he did not, and was not by
the Board required to, swear to his memorial.
Why were the rules of the Board set at naught
in this case, and Mr.. Corcoran, the banker
granted an exemption not extended to anybody
elsef Can the late Secretary of the Board
explain
Mr. Corcoran subsequently, at the time ].
Carlos Gardiner was bailed, swore in court that
he had purchased no part of, and owned no in
terest in, the Gardiner Claim. Can the late
Secretary of the Board, who knows all about
the connection Of Mr.. Corwin and Mr.. Corcoran
with the Gardiner Claim, account for Mr.. Cor
coran's singular course of proceeding in this
crooked matter?
Can and will he tell the public the exact
amount of money which Mr.. Secretary Corwin
realized from the Treasury, through his con-
nexion with, and interest in, the Gardner
award?
Can and will he tell the public aDAo IL pas that
purchased fourth of the Gardiner Claim, if it
was not Mr.. Corcoran?
Can and will he tell the public whether Mr.
Thomas Corwin sold to George Law, esq.,, the
whole or only part, of his interest in the Mex
lean claims, for the sum of $50, 900, more or
less!
These things will be ascertained and told to
the public, By Congress, even if the late Secre-
tary Of the Board of Commissioners on Mexican
claims does not or cannot do it.
COMMENTATOR.
The Mexican boundary Commission.
Was not the appointment of Mr.. Bartlett, as