The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-24

fore judicial tribunal, where both sides will be
would not be understood, from any remarks
which / have made, as expressing belief that
this claim is well grounded. think there are
many suspicious circumstances about it. Wit
nesses have testified before the House that many
of the papers were forged, and swear in good set
terms that there 10 foundation for this claim of
their own knowledge.
will not, upon an er parte examination of this
sort, Especially where the number of witnesses
introduced upon another occasion, and before an-
other tribunal, ia about equal, and for aught
know equally reliable in regard to the character
OF this clam,) undertake to say that the Gardiner
claim IS either well or ill founded but do con.
cur with the committee in the fullest manner in
saying that, so far as the testimony before the
House Is concerned, ii was naked fraud upon the
treasury, supported by perjury, and sustained by
forged papers.
But the legitimate business of this committee
was to inquire into the connexion of the Hon.
Thomas Corwn with this claim, and the character
OF that connexion. had not anticipated such an
inquiry, and such discussion upon the bill itself
know little of the rules of this House, less OF the
chances of reaching any thing. did suppose,
perhaps, that in the process of time, perhaps while
| l was member of this body, this report OF the
committee would be reached for the action of this
House. But did not suppose that such an illegiti
mate discussion this would spring up unon this
BILL To that subject will address a few consid-
eratons.
The resolution was an assault upon the Secretary
| of the Treasury 1t was introduced and accompa
MED by speech from the gentleman from Ohio,
| (Mr. OLDs,) which, according to my recollection
ofit-I have not seen itsince-"brcathed threaten
ings and slaughter to the Secretary of the Trca-
sury. How far what was stated in that speech is
supported by what has since been found by the
committee, the House will judge. The best COM
rnentary upon that attack will be found in single
paragraph of the report itself 1t is in these
words:
"No testimony has been adduced before the COM
mittee proving, or tending to prove, that the Hon
Thomas Corwin had any knowledge that the claim
Of the said Gardiner was fraudulent, that false
testimony or forged papers had been, or were to
be, procured to sustain the same
have but very slight acquaintance with the
Secretary Of the Treasury. He is not my friend,
and have no purposes connected with private
friendship to serve by any action of mine in this
matter. None on earth but the purposes of truth
and justice. Neither am | his foe, and therefore
have no personal grudges private griefs to graf
| ify Can the gentleman from Ohio (Mr OLDs)
say as muck If had, should think it was not
the best evidence of high courage to assa the Sec
| rotary of the Treasury when and where he had no
opportunity to reply am, however, constrained
to say that think it would be very high evidence
of that "better part of valor'' which is discretion
to omit doing SO where he could reply; for it has
been more than limited of that distinguished gen
tleman that, if he would, he could sbfte like ser
pent and sting like adder.''
think we degrade our Government, and bring
reproach upon our institutions, by our wholesale
and indscriminate abuse of public men. No
sooner is man candidate for public station,
than those who opposed to him. politically, and
are connected with rival party associations begin
to assal hid This could be tolerated.; but when
man ia holding high official station we are quite
too apt to follow up this line of attack and impute
to him corrupt motives, because forsooth he dill.
iers from US upon party questions. 1t seems to
me that it would be we'll if party feelings would
not lead us to overstep the bounds of fair disc usson
or violate the common courtesies of life. do not
suppose, because an individual in public station
NJ ho rs yyoI
other side, politically, from me-that therefore
am permitted to impute to him improper motives.
My duty rather is, in the absence of evidence, to
believe that his motives are as pure my own.
Now, a few words more in regard to the con
nexion OF the Hon. Thomas Corwin with the Gar
diner claim, and shall have DONE The claim of
Dr. Gardiner was presented to the Board of Com
mssioners on the 30th of November, 1859. The
claim was for loss of property in certain silver
mines, in consequence of his expulsion from the
State Of San Luis Potosi, in 1916. On the 18th of
March, 1850. the claim was adjudged TO be valid
one against Mexico, under the 26th article Of the
treaty OF 1881; but the amount of the claim was
not then ascertained; and the question of law
was determined by the Commissioners according
to their custom. TWAS proper subject of inquiry,
and the amount to be allowed was to be ascerained
upon further examination. If this claim was a
valid one, 1t became the duty of the Government,
under the 18th article of the treaty of February,
lo4o, to pay it, On the 18th of April, 1851. the
Board settled the amount to be allowed They al
lowed to DIR. Gardiner S 32I $50, and they allowed
w w. Corooran, gnee of one tn part Of
this claim, the sum of $1U7 ,lS7; making in all, for
the Gardiner claim, $42o,747, and that amount
was paid to these parties out of the treasury A
portion OF the money deposited by DR.. Gardiner
in other hands is now held by an Injunction,
prayed out upon application by the United States
The amount thus held is on deposit with Corcoran
Riggs. ($93 .OOO,) which is subject to letter of
credit of $4,000, and another lien of $4,000
There Is also enjoined in the hands of Life and
,r Companyin the city OF New York, $3.50 600
hoa orp1nr Il
the hands of individuals, and are reached bv the
process which the Government has prayed OUT
Now, the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Cor
win, then member of the Senate, was employed
6y General Waddy Thompson, the attorney of
Or. Gardiner, upon an agreement on the part of
thompson to pay him five per cent. on his own
fees, which fees to be fifteen per cent upon
the sum allowed Waddy Thompson was the
original counsel for DR.. Gardiner; he became ac-
quainted with him in Mexico, while he (Thomp-
SOM was accredited as our Minister to that gov
eminent. He undertook the prosecution of this
claim for a compensation of fifteen per cent upon
the sum to be allowed by the commissioners; and
he employed the Secretary of the Treasury then |
a member of the Senate, upon an agreement to paw
him five per cent out of his own fees which ia one
third OF MIR. Thompson's fees for prosecuting the
claim. NOW, whether be was induced from one |
or another to employ Mr. Corwin to |
assist him In prosecuting that claim, seems to be
matter OF little consequence. Whether it was be. |
cause of the superior int llectua power OF Mr., |
SorWin, or the personal influence which he had |
been enabled to acqulre-whether it was in conse-
quence OF the station to which he had attained by
his own merton whether for any other cause, |
probably could not be very we'll settled by CON-
mlttee OF this House, by the House itself nor is
1t, In my judgment, of any importance to inquire
The engagement was made in May, 1S49 In
June, 1850, the Mexican Commission, as it is
called, adjourned to meet again in the month of
November, of the same year.
AT the time when the Board adjourned Mr. Cor.
win mad acquired an interest in this claim in con
nexion with Mr.. Robert G. Corwin, by purchase
He was induced to make that purchase by Robert,
his relative, and Gardiner found it necessary to
make sale of portion of his claim, to meet the
expenses OF its prosecution. The Board had then
come to no definite conclusion as to the amount to
be awarded, and did not do 80 until the month of
November In the succeeding year. During the
recess OF this committee, Mr.. Corwin was rendered
seat In Mr.. Fillmore's Cabinet. He was unwil-
ling to take it while he was interested in claims
before this Mexican Board. Gov. Young, of New
York, now deceased, desirous that he should take
seat in the Cabinet interposed to negotiate sale,
and the sale was negotiated, of all MIR. Corwins in
terest In these claims, which first the Gardiner
claim, and then thirty six other claims, pending
before this Mexican Commission He made sale,
through Governor Young, of all these claims,
thirty seven in number, before he received the
appointment of Secretary of the Treasury, in the
month OF July, 1850. He sold them in good faith,
and he sold them Internationally.
Now, what does the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
~ nN MA l. L