Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-15

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quarters Of an hour each morning in the
and he must confess he had always met the gentleman
from Mississippi alone there The otner members OF the
committee had doubt aosented themselves irom the
committee meetings because they imagined that their
want of experience in military affairs would be Of little
service except for making quorum He deemed 1t his
uty always attend account Of opposite reasons He
hoped the gentleman from Mississippi would Withdraw
Ibis request and let them try once again 10 get the COM
Emittee together.
Mr.. FLORENCE desired to know in what war his coll
league had served because he Mr. supposed that the
Speaker desired yndcae the truth OF history by
pointing the gentleman on the Military Committee.
Mr., STEVENS replied that his colleague knew very
well that he appointed on that committee on account
of his examination OF the Notifications, the couneryaa
tons the circumy allatons-the gentleman knew the
terms he did not-at Christiana.* Laughter.
The House then refused TO grant the request of Mr..
WILCOX.
THE GARDINER CLAIM.
The House resumed the consideration of the report
Of the select committee appointed 10 investigate the
connection Of the Hon THOMAS CoRwIS, Secretary Of the
Treasury with the Gardiner claim, and the bill reported
by that committee prevent frauds upon the Treasury of
the United States.
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, said that he considered
that the committee had authority to report the bill be-
fore the House. and he could legitimate connexion
between il and the subject referred to the committee for
investigation He could vote for it as it was, but
would be willing to for il with amendments. The
gentleman from Ohio sr OLps seemed to think that the
committee reported the bill in reference to Mr. Corwin
He Mr. S did not consider it, and he did not think
there any thing in the report which could justify such
inference. He free TO state to the House that he
thought that the report Of the committee fully and CON-
petey exonerated the Secretary of the Treasury from
that improper conncxion with the Gardiner claim which
the gentleman from Ohio seemed to entertain suspicion
when first brought this matter before the country
If Mr. Corwin was improperly connected with the claim,
law had existed since 1888 by which they could proceed
against him. There therefore necessity, If the
committee undertook recommend this bill to meet Mr.
for adj mi nj
listed on the subject He maintained there nothing
wrong in member of Congress being connected with such
claims From the beginning OF the Government to the
present time it had been considered He
rated instances Of members of Congress prosecuting claims
against the Government and then proceeded TO yindcae
the Gaphin claim from the charges of fraud which had
been made against in the course Of debate on the sub
ject under consideration.
Mr.. STANTON of Tennessee did not believe that Mr.
Corwn, at the time he connected with the Gardiner
clam knew that was supported by forged papers and
perjury He saw no improperly in members OF Congress
appearing before tribunals established by Congress for the
adjudication of claims He thought, however it would
be unpardonaby wrong for member TO be interested in
any case TO come before Congress for settlement.
Mr. KING, OF New York, said that as every thing had
been presented this subject that sufficient
bic the House understand it, he would demand the
previous question.
The previous question was seconded.
The SPEAKER then assigned the floor 70
Mr.. KING who reported this bill 10 the House. He,
however yielded the floor
Mr. ORR, who desired TO reply TO remarks Of the
gentleman from Tennessee Mr. Johnson in reference to
Mr. Naddy Thompson, friend and constituent of his
Although Mr. Thompson and himself differed in political
opinions-Mr I. being Wing and he being Demo
crathe felt il due to truth and justice that his
PLANTATION Of this matter should 90 before the country in
connection with the deductions made by the gentleman
from Tennessee. Mr.. o. then stated the connexon of
Mr.. Thompson with this claim declaring that he did
believe that that gentleman would have been capable of
committing such fraud upon the Treasury He was i'm
posed upon in the way which the commission was
beueyng the statements made by Dr. Gardiner TO be true
lie believed that ninetynne of hundred Of the peo
pie Of the country would exonerate Mr. Corwn and Mr.
Thompson from any fraudulent coInexon with this |
claim
Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, inquired of the gentle
man if Mr.. Thompson would refund the money he had
ceved from this claim, should it be proved fraudulent
Mr.. ORR replied that, If the claim should be proved
fraudulent he not instructed by Mr.. Thompson
say what ne would take. His Mr.. 0.'s) opinion
was that in that he ought to refund the money
Mr. HOWARD, a member of the select committee
Mr. KING further yieding,l argued TO prove that the
claim fraudulent but said that there evidence
TO prove that Mr.. Corwn Mr.. Thompson, the time
they were prosecuting it, believed it TO be fraud lie
then advocated the bin before the House.
Mr. KING, of New York, member Of the select com
mittee said that he concurred with majority OF the
committee that appropriate part OF their duty
70 investigate the character Of the Gardiner claim This
done, and, from the testimony which appeared be-
fore them they the conclusion that the claim
commission by which allowed by false testimony
and forged papers. 1t did not appear in the evidence
that Mr. Corwin had any knowledge that false testimony
and forged papers be used in the prosecution of
the claim. and the committee did find any law which
prohibited members Of Congress acting agents
sci for claims against the Treasury He then explained
the provisions Of the BILL and urged the proprety Of its
adoption
The question was then taken the various amend
ments offered the BILL and they severay adopted
Mr.. SWEETSER moved TO lay the bill on the table
and on this motion demanded the yeas and nays which
were ordered and being taken resulted Yeas H. nays
las
Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs HOLIDAY
JOHNSON Of Arkansas, MEADE, MILLsoS, Polk, STANTON
Of Kentucky, STRorHER SwEETsER, TooNBs, WEIGH and
WHITE Of Kentucky
Mr. POLk, when his was called stated that he
voted in the Affirmative being unwilling to cast mpu
tation upon the body Of which he a member.
The bill was then read the third time and the question
being on its passage
The House adjourned.