The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-14
MR. CoRw1N AND THE GARDINER. CLAIM

be reiuted, we always take pleasure In record
ing the fact
1t will be recollected that certain enemies OF
THOMAS CoRwIN, Secretary of the Treasury
had impeached his integrity in connection with
the famous Gardiner claim The subject was
brought to the attention Of the House of Rep
sentatives at its late session, and committee
appointed to investigate his relations to that
claim. It was composed of Preston King, Vol
ney +. Howard, and Andrew Johnson, Demo-
Gratis, Messrs. Chapman and Goodrich, Wings.
1t is well understood that King and Johnson
have always been Jealous in detecting and ex-
posing corruption in high places.
The Committee has been in session large
portion of the time since the adjournment of
Congress, and its investigation has been thor
ough and comprehensive.
few days since it closed its work and rem
dered unanimous report, signed by King and
Howard, Democrats and Chapman Wing
Johnson, Democrat and Goodrich, Wig, being
absent.
The report, we regard as a complete refuta-
ton of the base charges against Mr. Corwin.
We transfer all that portion of it which re-
lates to his connection with the claim:
In relation to the second branch of the in
quiry, the connection of the Hon Thomas Cor
win, the present Secretary of the Treasury,
with the said Gardiner claim the following
facts appear from the testimony upon the points
directed by the resolution to be investigated
In May, l849, the Hon. Thomas Corwin,
then member of the United States Senate,
was employed as counsel in the Gardiner claim
by Hon. Waddy Thompson, the original coun-
sci of Gardiner, upon an agreement that Mr.
Corwin should have for his fee five per cent
on whatever sum should be awarded to Card
der by the Commissioners In February, 1850,
Thomas Corwin, in company with Robert G..
Corwin, purchased One-fourth part of the claim
OF Gardiner, and this fourth part of said claim
was assigned on the 18th of that month to w.
W. Corcoran, Esq, who loaned money to the
Messrs. Corwin to purchase it, and held the
claim for Messrs Thamas and Robert G.. Cor
win, in equal shares, as collateral security for
the payment of the loan. The Messrs COrwin
paid $22,000 and relinquished their fees on
the fourth part of the claim purchased by them,
and paid part of Edward Curts's fees-what
amount does not appear--as the consideration
for the purchase
"The Hon. Thomas Corwin resigned his
seat in the Senate and accepted the appoint
ment of Secretary of the Treasury in the month
Of July, 1850 In the same month, and previ-
Gus to his going into the Cabinet of President
Fillmore, ~ Secretary of the Treasury u sale
of his fee interest in and also of his half of the
one fourth part of the Gardiner claim was ne
gotiated through the Intervention of Gov John
Young, of New York, to George Law Esq, of
New York. From this time the said Thomas
Corwn refused to act as counsel, or consult
with the other counsel who had been assOca-
ted with him in relation to the same, and took
no further part in the prosecution of the said
Gardiner claim. The assignment Of his fee in
tercst and his interest in the one fourth part of
the Gardiner claim, and all his interest in all
other claims before the Board of Commission
ers, thirty-seven in number) was executed by
Thomas Corwin to Jacob Little, of New York,
in November, 1850, and the money for the pur-
chase was then paid by George Law, to whom
the assignment to Jacob Little was at that time
transferred
"The money for the sale, $S0,357, was re-
ceivcd by Thomas COrwin, and on the Odd Of
November was deposited by him to his credit
with Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs. No testi-
mony has been adduced before the committee
proving, or tending to prove, that the Hon.
Thomas Corwin had any knowledge that the
false testimony or forged papers had been or
were to be procured to sustain the same"
No TESTIMONY HAS BEEN ADDUcED BEFORE
THIS COMMITTEE PROVING, OR TENDING TO
ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CLAIM OF SAID
GARDINER WAS FRAUDULENT, OR THAT FALSE
TESTIMONY OR FORGED PAPERS HAD BEEN OR
WERE TO BE PROCURED TO SUSTAIN THE SAME
1t is also shown that the sum of eighty thou
sand dollars was paid him, not for his interest
in this claim alone, but for his interest in thir-
ty-seven other claims, before the Board; that
this sale was made before his entrance into the
Cabinet and that after his entrance he had
nothing to do with it, refusing to act as coun-
sci, or to consult with the other counsel who
had been associated in the case.
We notice in the Union desperate attempt,
in the face of this report, to implicate Mr. Cor
win in the alleged fraud of Gardiner, although
it knows very well that had there been any
evidence on this point the Committee, of which
a majority were Democrats, would have found
it out. The Committee says, on the contrary,
that "no testimony has been adduced before
the Committee proving, or tending 10 prore,
that the Hon. Thomas Corwin had any knowl-
edge that the claim of said Gardiner was fraud.
ulent or that false testimony or forged pa
pers had been or were to be presented to sus-
tain the same
1t is true that the Board of Commissioners
at first looked upon the claim with suspicion
but such evidence was produced as satisfied
all the members of it that it was valid Be-
sides, had not this evidence been strong. it is
not to be supposed that the New York specu-
lators always wide awake to their own inter
ests, would have paid 30 much for Mr. Corwin 5
interest, before the decision of the Board
The New York Evening Post wonders how
the fraudulent nature Of the claim could be
unknown by Mr. Corwin, when the Committee
came so promptly to the conclusion that it was
fraud Mr. Corwin was engaged as counsel
more than two years ago Much has trans
PRED during the two years in relation to the
claim of which he then knew nothing, but of
which the Committee had the benefit in their
investigation. As the Committee state dis
tinctly, that no evidence was produced before
them tending to prove that Mr.. Corwin knew
that there was fraud, we cannot but think that
the Post is guilty Of great injustice to Mr. Cor
win, in calling in question his integrity, upon
no evidence whatever.
As for the Union it is mere partisan, and
tharafnra holds nr;yato charactar M no,h;n,