The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-10-20

Chiefly at the instance of Mr.. Odds,
Of Ohio, bitter enemy Of Hon. Thorn.
as Corwin and Of the Wing party, the
House Of Representatives, at its last
session, appointed Committee of Five
to investigate the notorious Gardiner
Claim which has been allowed by the
Board Of Mexican Commissioners, to
the tune of $428,00O, to ascertain
whether or not it was fraudulent, and
to report how far Mr.. Corwin, who,
while a member Of the Senate, had
been employed by Gardiner as coun-
sci, and even had an interest in the
claim, was cognizant of the fraud and
accessory to its preparation. The de-
sign of Mr.. Odds and the hope of his
fellow partisans was to prove the Sec
rotary guilty of an offense which would
destroy utterly every ground on which
the public respect and affection have
so largely been bestowed upon him.
The Committee, composed OF three
" Democrats " and two Wings, has
been engaged in its investigation from
the close of the Session until Thurs
day last, when its labors were conclu-
ded and its report made up. Two of
the members, one Democrat and
one Wing, were unavoidably absent,
but we are assured that the report,
which was unanimously adopted, would
have been signed by them both had
they had the opportunity. This re-
port, we rejoice to say, completely
cxoneratcs Mr.. Corwin from the impu.
tations of his assailants. He comes
from the ordeal, as we never doubted
he would come, utterly unscathed.
The reputation for honor and integrity
which he has hitherto enjoyed remains
immaculate. His friends and his
State may regard him with the same
pride as before.
That he is thus honorably acquit-
ted, is due in the first place to the
goodness of his cause, and secondly to
the Justice of the Committee. For
this justice the public thanks are es-
pecially due, because very strong in
fuences were brought to bear to in
duce them to make partisan report
They were urged, as we have reason
to know, if not to bring Mr.. Corwin in
guilty, at least to give such color to
their conclusions and statements as
should suffice, by implication, to blast
his character and strike severe
blow at the Wing party. These inhu
ences they honorably resisted. They
preferred serving the truth to forward
ing the interests of a set of political
aspirants by its violation. And in
this, we say that the Committee, and
especially Messrs. Preston King and
Volney Z. Howard, its " Democratic
members who signed the report, have
deserved well of the public.
That the Gardiner Claim is fraudu
lent one is established beyond doubt
DR.. Gardiner pretended that he haC
been the owner of silver mine at
Laguinilas, in the District of Ri,
Verde, in the State of San Louis Pc
tosi. Of that property he said he haC
been violently dispossessed by thu
Mexican Government, and hence hi
claim for damages. The Committed
have the testimony of two Mexican
gentlemen of high responsibility, on
Of whom was Collector of the Custom
in the District of Rio Verde at thu
time mentioned by Gardiner, and i
now Controller of the State of San
Louis Potosi. They testify unequiv
ocally that there is no silver min
whatever in the place and none in TIN
District. Moreover, it is proved tina
of the mass of documentary evidence
by which the claim was supported be
fore the Commissioners, the create
part was forged, both the seals am
the signatures of Mexican officials be
ing false.
1t is proved, however, that thes
forgerics were sufficient to impose up
on the Mexican Ambassador at Wash
ington, Don Luis Rosa, who in goo
faith affixed his attestation to them
Thus they imposed upon the Commits
sioners. We learn that their ruiz
was tojudge every case on the evi
dcnce presented by the claimant
They did not hear CONVERSATIONS o
take rebutng testimony. If the ap
plicant made out an adequate prim
facie case, his claim was allowed. Sue
a case, by the help Of these forge
documents, Gardiner easily made out
Nor was it natural to suppose tina
they were forged. They had the ap
pearance of genuineness. They wer
duly signed and sealed. They bcr'
the attestation of the Mexican Amba:
sador, known to the members of tn
Committee. This was enough to over
rule any doubt that might else hay
had weight, and the claim was accord
ingly passed, and Gardiner pockete'
the plumber.
Still less could Mr.. Corwin hav'
supposed the claim to be fraudulent
He was employed as counsel in man,
cases, and was applied to to act as sucl
in this case. Gardiner stated to hiu
that he had met with such and sue
losses from the action of the Mexica
Government. Very good, says Nh
|. Cnrwin Won must hrinu such and sue