Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-21

sented claim. Gen. Thompson of South Carolina was
employee Us MS counsel Gen. Thompson being the warm
personal iead OF Mr. Corwin and acquainted with his
hgn legal aainmens and DESTROYS to avail himself Of
MS assistance employed him to aid in the argument 10
the board OF commissioners The fee agreed to be paid
Mr. Corwin by Gen. Thompson five per cent ,inon
the amount allowed. Gardiner had nothing to do with
Mr. Corwin in this contract. Mr. Corwin spent to INV
knowledge the greater part of vacation between two
sessions OF the Senate in the preparation of arguments in
this cause The proofs furnished by Gardiner and
his agents. and have the authority of the members Of
the board OF commissioners composed as was of dis
ngushed men and able uriss for saying that there was
clearer case presented to that board than this of
diner The papers most perfect both in matter of
form and substance and contained internal evidence by
combination Of cooboratve circumstances force the
conclusion that the claim was just 1t was allowed
Now, sir it is charged that this claim was fraudulent
and the testimony perured. 1t may be So and it may
not Gardiner has been arrested and because Of that
members OF Congress who may desire fat Offices think to
make progress in their pursuit by jumping the conclu
sion OF his guilt before trial do not deny his guilt
yet any man who will assert it, in high low places to
his prejudice before fair trial. Though he be in irons
does not deserve the rights of American citizen If
guilty he has acted strangely He had received payment
OF his claim, large 0rtion Of it, Leaving his money
here he went to Europe There hearing that it was ru-
mored here this claim was fraudulent with all possible
speed he returned to this country to his accusers
and gave himself up to the law Though he may be gull
N this conduct sir is very like that Of one conscious of
his innocence.
] My colleague sometimes places his condemnation Of
Mr. Corwn upon the ground that when in the Senate at
eight dollars per day. he had right to engage in this
pursuit OF his profession In reply to that will only
say that, although Mr. Corwin did as much
OF the time OF the Senate in speaking his friends de-
Sired nevertheless the record will him to have been
present all occasions when voting the most essential
part Of legislation, was done. My colleague who when
candidate TWO years ago. home to electioneer the
best part of month before the adjournment thereby
lodging evading upon the test question Of the
day-the fugitive slave law who Galphinzed" upon
the public Treasury lin small way) to the amount Of
md
close OF the session. whilst he home making stump
speeches, averring his enacty to freesoi principles
should be the last to raise such frivolous objections
But, Mr.. Chairman, to the Gardiner claim. 1t will
long be remembered by the members of the Thry-rst
Congress- that whilst engaged in this hall in the
controversy about the connexon of Secretary Crawford
with the Gaphn claim we were startled by the
ment that President Taylor dying The House ad-
journed In few days Mr.. Corwin was invited to take
charge of the Treasury Department had the pleasure
them as had during the whole of that session. of living
with him. Our relations then, they ever have
been, of the most intimate and confidential character
For political reasons, opposed, warmly opposed to
his going into that Cabinet hence every affect
ing his action made an impression my memory Mr..
Corwn having then fresh upon his mind the scenes of
this House few days previous upon the Gaphn matter
declared to his friends that his contingent fees ON Next
can claims were nsuperabe barrier his acceptance
under circumstances would he subject himself to
such suspicious had given rise to that controversy
lie was mportuned and pressed by day and by night by
distinguished statesmen from all quarters of the Union
to accept the post His resolution xed and in re-
ply to the argument that these claims settled and
determined by tribunal independent of the Cabinet in
all its action, his decacy too fastidous he sternly
said that he would never act the Secretary of the
Treasury out of which any claim in which had either
direct remote interest should be paid On this point
he immoyable. His friends then suggested that he
should first dispose of all his interests in those claims
To this he consented house in New York proposed to
buy his interest The terms were arranged the money
paid Mr. Corwn became Invested of every interest
he had direct or indirect, in all Mexican claims includ-
ing that of Gardner and in this position free and un
trammeled, entered the Cabinet Of Mr. Fillmore-yerv
much, l will add, to my regret
Now Mr. Chairman, for the truth substantially of this
statement, pledge my veracity man. and my honor
as Representative in the American Congress- / will
| now read the extract from my colleagues speech:
Through the Investigation Congress- their Galphinsm
been exposed and Crawford with the
OF the American people has received his passport perpetual
lnfamy But Corwn still remains unwhpped Of Justice
True sir his caspaw and accomplish the fraud is loaded
with IRONS and is branded by public sentiment as perurer
and orger but the spirit the head And brains
in the fraud, through the negligence of this House. stl
permitted control the Treasury of the United States
Though this House may not visit upon him retbuv justice
yet the American people, remembering with this
fraud his bloody hand and hosptabe grave sentiments and
the aid and comfort he gave enemies Of war will
sink him 80 deep in nfamy that the had Of will
| never reach him.
Here, Mr. Chairman, two clear positive and dis
tinct charges. First that Mr. Corwin has been guilty of
the high crime of subornaton Of perjury. Secondly that
he is pdriceps crimins to vidnous fraud upon the
public Treasury which he appointed the people
sentinel. If my colleague present would extend
him now the opportunity Of Withdrawing uncondion
ally the base calumny; should, behalf of my con-
stituents, demand statement Of his proofs But pre-
Stunning that he ventures to base his charge upon public
rumor and avas himself Of the aid Of her foul and ire
sponsibe tongue, to SANDER my friend and constituent
his party gain something have say that
public rumor is VIGOROUSLY liar" and that
the charge Of these crimes upon Mr. Corwn is q tcfa
| malicious, and deliberate lie.
Mr. Chairman, in relation to the other parties concern
ed so far as there is design to manufacture party capt.
ta have only TO remark that General Waddy Thompson
Of South Carolina, who the original and leading
counsel in the Gardiner claim, is now as learn from
newspaper publications, not supporter Of Gen. Scott
but the friend of MIR. Pierce. Major Lay, who Of
counsel in this case Is distinguished advocate Of Gen.
Pierce's election.
| Mr.. STANLY. He had Pierces letter
Mr.. CAMPBELL Yes, he to be the boon COM
panon of Pierce for he held his letter the Baltimore
Convention and has since figured in Pierce meetings in
New England.
Mr. Chairman dismiss the subject far Secretary
Corwn concerned And il may be proper TO add that
since these charges made by my colleague have
never met the Secretary. In fact, sir have avoided
him. believing from his we'll known aversion to having his
name connected with public controversies, he would at
tempt to dssuade from the performance of that which
regard a duty owed not only TO him but to his
neghbor who send me here his hosts Of friends every
where, and to myself q member Of this body.
THE GALPHfN CLAIM.
few words, Mr.. Chairman, upon the subject Of the
Gaphin claim Our opponents flooding the coun-
try with publications that subject well calculated to
deceive an unsuspecting people. This was claim on
the part Of heirs of Gaphn for money expended by
gle win not 20 into its interesting Details but will
that this expenditure Mt the time whom or forea