The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-26

II,
business recollect Alright, not much over year.
or between one and two years. We could hardly
understand how, taking up an abandoned mine.
involving the necessity Of beginning anew, he
much. And we obtained all the evidence We could
from his papers and books, and examined. them
critically again and again, before our conclusion
was formed. was good deal struck with what
a M 10 De the enormous profits of working
the mines, and the great expenditure in getting
them under way. He was INTERCEPTED about that
- ndeavored to find some works upon mining in
mexlco, and the mode of conducting it. did
nnd, think, in Woods Book on Mexico.
good deal of information on mines and min.
ing and the enormous amounts which are ex-
pended upon mines corresponding in it's general
features to what DR.. Gardiner had set forth and
ms counsel explained. 1t seemed to relieve our
minds from some apprehension which we had en-
tertained upon the subject We spent from time
to time good deal of time in talking about the
case, examining and comparing the evidence,
laying it by for few weeks and then taking it up
again to see what fresh impressions we could get
from it; and think may ga. there was not one
case upon which we spent 30 much time as upon
this. We examined all the papers before the
board, as new papers were filed from time to time;
we examined and compared them with the previ-
Gus ones; and in a word, may say we exerted all
the skill and ingenuity we possessed to see if we
could detect any falacies or any thing to
put US on our guard. .:* -
Before we came to new papers the mining title
filed and examined. hope was not understood
to say that the papers shown me this morning were
all the papers filed in this case. There were 9th.
ers-l cannot say how many; but among others
there was document from General Gates am
not quite certain whether it was in the form of a
deposition or letter. There was also a deposition
from Mrs. Chase, of Tampico; and had private
conversation with Mrs. Chase upon the subject.
So we adopted every mode, and took greater pains
than in ordinary cases to arrive at the facts and
the truth of this matter. And we were all of opin-
ion that the case was very strongly proved indeed.
And l may say the case was 40 strongly proved
that it rather excited little suspicion-that is to
say, the rules,of the board were all exactly con-
formed to; which rather, perhaps, accounted for
the regularity and ability of his counsel-Mr. Cor
win, General Thompson, and Others There were
handwriting of Mr.. Corwin, where he figures it
all out; one by General Thompson, and perhaps
others. They also argued the case before US YER
bally and orally Exercising all the ability we
s ana makang large for
OF filling up, we made the award we did and It
was very unsatisfactory to the counsel of Dr. Gar
diner. Up to the very last hour of the sessions of
open the case and hear arguments as to the amount
desire to add that it never came 10 my knowledge
that there was any doubt as to the validity of the
claim we did not know that there was any suspi-
torlety, it is true but commissioners we knew
Of no suspicious. NJ
Mr.. BRADLEY. Exhibiting to witness paper
marked number ~, Do you recollect whether
that paper was before the board?
Ans recollect very we'll there was a protest
and the law of expulsion before the board / have
no reason to doubt that this is the same paper.
tried to md some description of the mine in some
book, which could not. tried to find some mar
rative that would give some account of this nar
tlcular district of country, but could not Ali we
knew about these things was what Dr. u ardiner
said, and what we found in the documentary
Nfn otpl
ing to Dr. Gardeners standing and character, be-
fore the board.
The DISTRICT ATTORNEY. You mentioned that
one OF the reasons assigned for pressure was that
DR.. Gardiner wanted to 60 TO Mexico, and had not
Titness The reason assigned by DR.. Gardeners
counsel was that he wanted the means of compro-
missing with his creditors, and was under the ne.
,essity of returning to Mexico The leading idea
thought was that he wanted to effect compro.
mise with his creditors
Cues Do you remember what time it was that
this suggestion was made?
Ans. 1t was pretty early; cannot state precisely.
CUES Do you know whether he did go to Mexico?
Ans 1t was understood at the time that he had
gone there. did not know it of my own know
ledge. ~.
Cues Do you know where he went?
Ans. do not 1t was in the spring of 1850.
indeed, know he contemplated going to Mexico
at the time he was before the board.
Cues: Do you know when he returned from
Mexico?
Ans do not. He was here the following win
ter
Cues. You do not recollect seeing him here in
the summer of 1850?
-Aas. think not. The board was not in session
during the summer
CUES. You referred to the certificate of Senior de
la Rosa, the Mexican Minister; was Mr. Rosa here
in this city at that time?
Ans: SO far as had any knowledge, he was in
this city.
CUES. Was there any effort on the part of the
board to obtain any explanation from Mr.. Rosa?
Ans. think Mr.. Johnson, our secretary, was
on two or three occasions to call on Mr..
CUES Was there any order of the board for Mr.
Johnson to call on Mr.. Rosa?
Ans. No. MIR. johnson was informally request
cd to have an interview with him, upon several
occa slons, which do not now recollect. E.
CUES. Did he ever make a report of the result of
those interviews?
Aas. He did not. He never &C mmunicated anv
information OF value, if he obtained any. think
ne told us nc had seen Mr. Rosa, and had had some
With him.
GUS. Did the board take any means to get tea
imony from Mexicol
Ans No; the law did not require us to do 30. It
no not autnorlze US to summon witnesses from
here. And ought to add that the board thought
here ought to be some person commissioned to 90
Mexico and test the validity of these claims-all
If them The evidence before US was of 30 purely
70 pure CHARACTER tnat We thought there
Hanger of being deceived. The suggestion was
accordingly made to the President Of the United
States to recommend to Congress the passage of a
aw authorizing the appointment of an agent to
test those claims, with full power bring witnesses
rom Mexico, and take dispositions. You will find
he recommendation in General Taylor's message;
and the only notice which remember to have
aeen taken Of it was, that one of the newspapers
here made an attack on General Tay FLOR for trying
to get place-an appointment for some friend,
Congress took no notice Of the recommendation,
anf the board were charged with all the RESPONSE
bilty OF elmmoning witnesses from Mexico, when
they had not tke slightest power to move in the
case at all.
Cues. You mentioned, as one of the features of
this claim which attracted the attention of the
board, the !rapidity of the gains and the circum-
stances of the party. Was there any evidence be
fore you as to what had been his previous occupa-
ton before be engaged in this mining enterprise?
Ans think we bad nothing except DR.. Gardi
ner's statements, unless some Mexican papers
stated it, which think they did not. There may
have been something in the last paper which ac-
the mining title. 1t was long depo-
stion, and do not recollect DR.. Gardiner made
explanations
Captain Edmund Ba,yy, recalled for further cross.
examinations. - -"e@
cues. State, if you please, the compensation
paid to Mccormick, the guide you took with you
to Laguinillas from Queretaro?
Ans. paid him five dollars day
CUES. How much did you pay Frejo, the other
interpreter?