Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-10-19
Corwln and his sIanderers.

COrwin and his SIanderers.
We intended, after publishing the speech of
Mr.. Campbell to drop this subject for the pres
ent. But circumstances forbid such course.
Edison B. 0lds, with unparalleled malignity has
been, for about year past, endeavoring to white
wash his own infamous reputation by industrious
ly using his poisonous tongue to defame Ohio's
favorite and renowned statesman and orator-Hon.
Thomas Corwin. He managed, in the first place,
to create ''public rumor' against Mr.. Corwin,
by manufacturing SANDER, and then retailing
it in different sections, in the character of po
litical essence peddler. Next, on the strength of
this "public rumor," created by HIMSELF he pre-
ferred charges against Mr.. Corwin in Congress.
In pursuance 10 his wish, committee was ap
pointed, with power to send for persons and pa
pers, and were instructed to inquire into the con-
nection of Mr. Corwin with this claim. The Lo-
cofoco speaker of course appointed majority of
Mr.. Corwin's political enemies on that committee.
The following persons were appointed on that
committee: Andrew Johnson, Locofoco, Of Tenn;
Volney E. Howard, Locofoco, of Texas; Preston
King, Locofoco, of New York; Jas. H. Duncan,
Whig, of Mass; Chas. Chapman, Whig, of Ct.
Mr.. Corwin urged immediate action; but the COM
mittee refused to report before the adjournment of
Congress. Mr.. Corwin then begged them to OBJ
tain leave Of the House to sit during vacation, as
it was of great importance to him to have this
subject settled. The House granted this request.
After several months investigation, just before
the election, they unanimously reported that Mr..
Corwin's connection with the Gardiner claim
was entirely honorable, and that, in the whole
transaction, he is BLAMELESS.
The following is the precise language of this
Locofoco committee, and is all that relates to Mr.
Corwin's connection with the matter:
sin relation TO the second branch of the
inquiry the connection Of the II on. Thom-
as Corwin, 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, 1849, the Hon. Thomas Corwin,
then member OF the United States Senate,
was employed as counsel in the Gardiner
claimby Hon. Waddy Thompson, the origin
al counsel of Gardiner, upon an agreement
that Mr.. Corwin should have for his fee five
per cent. on whatever sum should be award
ed to Gardiner by the Commissioners. In
February, 1850, Thomas Corwin, in CON-
pany with Rober, G. Corwin purchased one
fourth par, of The claim of Gardiner, and
this one.fourh part Of said claim was as.
signed on the 18Th Of that month TO W. w.
Corcoran, Esq, who loaned money 10 the
MessrS. Corwin 10 purchase it, and held the
claim for the Messrs. Thomas and Robert
G. Corwin, in equal shares, as collateral Sc
curily for the payment Of the loan. The
Messrs. Corwin paid $4,000, and reln-
quished their fees on the fourth part of the
claim purchased by them and paid port OF
Edward Curtis fees-what amount does moi
apvear-as the consideration for The pur-
chase. ..-..---.-
''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 previous 10 his going into the Cabinet
of President Fillmore as Secretary of the
Treasury, q sale Of his fee interes. in, and
also of his half of the one fourth part ol
the Gardiner claim, was negotiated through
The intervention of Gov. John Young, oI
New York. From this time the said
Thomas Corwin refused to act as counsel
or consult with the o,her counsel who hac
been associated with him in relation TO The
same, and took no further par. in the pros
ecuIion Of the said Gardiner claim. The
assignment Of his fee interest and his inter
terest in the one.fourlh part Of the Gar
diner claim and all his interest in all Other
claims before the Board of Commissioners
nhirly seven in number,) was executed by
Thomas-Corwin to Jacob Little, Of New
York, in November, 1850, and the money
for The purchase was then paid by George
Law, 10 whom the assignmen 10 Jacob Lit
tie was at that time transferred.
THE money Tor the sale, $8O,357, was
received by Thomas Corwin, and on the
23d of November was deposited by him tc
his credit with MesSrs. Corcoran & Riggs
No testimony has been adduced before the
committee proving, or tending TO prove, tha
the Hon. Thomas Corwin had any knowl
edge that the claim Of said Gardiner wa.
fraudulent, or that false testimony or forgec
papers had been, or were 10 be procured IL
sustain the same"
Thus is this scoundrel, OldS, branded with in
fanny by committee of his own frends-thus il
he convicted Of SANDER by Locofocos One woult
think that the most malignant depravity could g
no farther. But the end is not yet. Mr.. Old:
was candidate for reelection to Congress. Hi!
election must be secured by some means or other
The report of this committee, which was received
by telegraph in his district two or three days be-
fore the election, was calculated to injure his
prospects; as his strongest claim was based upon
the fact that he had exposed Mr.. Corwins "ras.
cality," The report of this committee, in full
was published in the Washington Union and the
New York Herald, both leading Locofoco papers
and an abstract Of it in the National Intellgen-
Ger, all Of which papers were received at the Of
flee of the Ohio Statesman on Monday evening
preceding the election. The persons connected
"