Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-15
DIR. Gardiner.

The Washington Star has the following
remarks on the extraordinary trial Of Gar
diner:
"We apprehend that there is no question
in the minds Of any among US, except lmme.
diate personal friends Of the deceased, as to
the Justice of the verdict Of the jury, who
have in this action vindicated the majesty oi
the law, after a delay Of years, though it has
been. The present Government of the Uni
ted States, in carrying out the determination
of ex.President Fillmore, to sift this matter
to the bottom, deserve the thanks of all who
desire to have our public affairs conducted
on the principles of integrity which all con.
ccive necessary to be preserved in transac'
tons between man and man.
"Public justice require its punishment
and Washington jury, in the face Of the
most remarkable effort, on record to screen
It's ostensible chief perpetrator, declared him
guilty on the testimony adduced. We re,
peat, there cannot be said to be difference
of opinion in this community as to the fact
Of his guilt. lie was sentenced to ten years
imprisonment at hard labor, and died within
few hours after being surrendered into tile
hands Of the United States Marshals Off
GERS, under circumstances which, as far as
known while we are pennng this article,
warrant the existing public impression that
he committed suicide to escape the punlsh'
meht awarded by the court.
The circumstances attending bis trial
prove him to have been man of extraordi'
nary nerve and sagacity. One who, had he
pursued right paths with the boldness, ener.
gy and shrewdness he evinced in committing
The devious fraud, and subsequently in de-
Tending himself against the prosecution OH
that account, might have been anything in
public estimation at which he could reason
ably have aimed. His remarkable talents,
as developed in the course of the trial, gene
rated for him sort OF public sympathy,
which in all civilized countries surrounds
men of genius even in the perpctralion OF
crimes. The abiding good sense OF the
American public, however, will not permit
that sentiment to be carried to the extent ol
forgetting that he has died thus tragically in
cause at which the minds of honest men
should revolt.
We are free to cenfess, that we hope that
all the means to that end at the command OF
the Government will now be directed to the
unravclling Of the whole history of the Gar,
diner transactions, SO far as persons ol
nominal high standing who were connected
with the original obtainment Of the money
from the Treasury, who have not yet been
formally prosecuted, may have been directly
or even indirectly involved in the affair. We
are not among those who can believe that
lawyers Of great experience, and with intel:
lects admitted (on account Of what they had
previously achieved in other cases to be ol
the very first order, could have managed the
Gardiner claim for years, without, 10 great
er or less extent, obtaining knowledge of its
true character. The ends Of public justice
require, if there he laws which may author
ize such an investigation, that all such per-
sons implicated in the original case be pros
ecuted to the end. Their turn comes next
The mere reclamation Of the portion of the
fraudulently obtained money, which has beer
| enioined in the hands Of third parties, we
apprebend has not been the main object oI
,he Governments proceedings; though thai
follows the verdict rendered yesterday. The
main purpose was to make an example o.
this fragrant transaction. Tho laws hand
has fallen hard, indeed, upon the nomina
principal. Those who used him, however
vet go "unwhipt Of justice" Shall they es
cape much longcrl
On the Gardner award $42s,75o was
rraudulenty abstracted from the Treasury
s23s, 600 of which has been enioined-tc
be probably returned into the Treasury
The deceased, DR.. George A. Gardiner, also
drew from the Treasury Sl53,O0O on tn
claim of Dr.. H. Mears; $4,000 of,@whict
went directly to his own endowment MIR
Mears, who is in Mexico, having been in
dicted, boldly admits that his claim was ;
shameless fraud, and unhlusbinsly de6es tn,
Government Of the United States; ther'
being no extradition convention or treat,
between the two governments under which
be can be demanded of Mexico for trial un
der indictment in this country.
THE RIGHT JURY.-A man out West
indicted for stealing bacon, went to law
yer aud told him his case. The lawyer
strange to say advised him to settle; bu
tho man said no--he had a right to be trie'
bv = Jury and LAWYER 10 defend him. Th