Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-05-05
Al Alistellaneuus. g.
The Gardiner Claim. Defence of
Hon. TiiOTaS COrwin.

The virnlrnce with which the late Secreta.
ry of the Treasury has been assailpd by polit.
zeal enemies (Which, unhappiIy for our coun
try, too often means also personal enemies, J
has induced us to transfer to our columns the
>nhjoin"d rtter, which we find IN tie New
York Express We copy this letter. because,
happening to learn the source of it, and know
ing that the writer possessed the opportun.
ties for becoming acquainted with the facts
@hich he refers to. and is incapable of misrep-
rrsenting them. We place entire confidence in
his statemrnts;-C Ciacianati Gazeae
WAsHyGToN. March 8. 1854.
The tragical close to the prosecution against
Dr. Gardiner has revived all the old and re.
futed SANDERS against different distinguished
citizens in nnexion with that claim 1t miphr
have been supposed that ,hese idle tales and
rumOrs would have been definitely silenced
by the various statements which have been
published. aud partic ularlv bv the publication
of the report if the investigating committee of
Congress- with the testimony taken by tha,
committee, which exhibits a full and clear his
'orv of the case, so far as the gentlemen al
ludrd to are connected with IT,
The following is a synopsis of the facts Of
this case so far AS the Honorable Thomas
Corwin is concerned. all Of which are fulIv
sustained by the report Of the committee Of
Congress and the accompanying testimony
anuex"d thereto:
|. That Mr. Corwin dvcsted himself of all
mt st directly ar Indirectly. as cuu l>el nr
otherwise, on that claim before he ent red the
| Cabinet Of N Fillmore in July. 1850.
2. Thn the uronfS in support Of the elan,
were neither completed nor laid b fore the
commissioners at the time Mr Corwin's cou
nection with the claim ceased; and one Of the
principa' documents in SUPPORT of it was nc
knowl"dged before and certified 10 by ,hr
American consul at Monterey, in Mexico. to.
wards The close Of August, 1850. six weeks
after Mr. Corwin had sold out his interest.
3 That the commissioners at the above line
! had taken no action. and come TO No decision
as to the pecuniaTY merits Of the claim. anI
did not make their award until the fpIl0winn
year
T. That Mr. Cnrwin had no interest, direct
or indirect, in that decision. and il did not
m kr to him pecuniary difference to the ex.
tent Of one cent whether the claim Of Gardi
ner had boen finally rejected altogether, OF
double the amount awarded that ihs commits.
sioners had fnallv agreed upon.
g. That no portion Of the money paid on this
claim from the Treasury was ever received nv
Mr.. Corwin. or that he was benefited by such
payment in any way. directly or indirectly.
All disinterested and candi minds think,
will agree that Mr.. Corwin in the whole bust.
ness was guided by high sense of proprietv
and delicacy. which should shield him from
unmerlted censure which has been so unspar.
insly heaped upon him
The investigating committee of Congress,
in their report, page 7. say:
"The Hon. Thomas Corwin resigned his
seat in the Senate and accepted the appoint.
ment ofthe Secretary Of The Treasury. in July.
1850. III The same month and prevnus In
going into the Cabinet of President Fillmore,
as Secretary Of the Treasury. sal of his
fee. interest in. and also Of h half If the one
fourth part Of the Gardiner claim was negoli-
a'ed. through the intervention Of Gov. Young
Of New York, 10 Geo, Law, Esq. From this
tim' the said Thomas Corwin refused to act
rs counsel. or rorsut with the other counsel
"ho had been associated with him in relation
te the same. and toak no further part in tn
Gardner claim. The assignment Of bis fee in.