Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-15

| luz sia"uers anu Misrepresentation which hay
been so industrously circulated in reference to Nj
Corwin's connexon with the Gardiner fraud, Induce
us LAY before our readers the following extract
from communication which appears in the Ne,
York Express in defence Of that gentleman Thi
communication, the National Intelligenccr SAYS, wa
written by gentleman who possessed the best Cd
portunties for becoming acquainted with the fact
which he refers to- and is incapable Of misrcprcsent
ing them-and that "itp places entire confidence in hi
statements We publish this the more re IDLY, be-
cause 1t is both act of justice to Mr. Corwn an,
to the Fillmore Admnistration-which was the frs
suspecta fraud had been committed, and thercupo,
promptly instituted investigation to ferret il out
and expose the guilty parties The country will decide
from the lucid and satisfactory statement of facts her,
gwen that Mr.. Corwn stands fairly acquitted befor,
the world Of any participation in the guilt Of The
| Gardiner affair;
In the first place, though is very material the
merits OF the question at issue, Mr. Corwin
poyed by Gardiner, he to be paid by him. Gar
diner originally placed his case in the hands of Tie Hon
Waddy Thompson, OF South Carolina agreeing with him
as TO he leo for his services and was Mr. Thompson
who employed Mr. Corwin associate counsel aud was
to pay him portion OF his fec, without any addition
| al allowance from Gardiner.
These gentlemen with their other legal associates in
the case, McSsrs Curtis and ay were in the sprpy
1850, engaged in the examination Of it, and submitted
brief and argument to the Board of COMMISSIONERS who
made the usual preliminary decision that the nature of
the claim was one which IL sustained by proper proofs
OF the class entitled to indemnity under the treaty
with Mexico; but no investigation decision had as
TO the real merits q the claim the which it
| might be entitled.
progress at the death of President, Taylor in July 1850
when Mr.. Fillmore invited Mr.. Corwin take seat in
his Cabinet which was promptly but respectfully dccned
aud the reason assigned by Mr.. Corwin that he
engaged counsel in numerous more than thirty
of which the Gardiner claim one) before tn. Commits
sionerS under the Mexican treaty. and of deli
cacy he could not those claims before gentle
who held their commissions the will of the Presi-
dent whilst he (Mr. Cors n) of the confidential
advisers ofthe latter Mr. Corwn's political and personal
friends were, however, anxious for him enter the
Cabinet and in order his scruplcs finally in.
juced him. though with considerable reluctance on his
part sell out his contingent interest in all the claims
he represented before the Commissioners at valuation
to be made by dsntcrested parties.
In addition To Mr.. Corwins contingent fees in the nu>
mcrous cases he represented before the he
directly interested in the Gardiner claim having pur
chased portion and only portion, of oncourth of that
claim, IRON person to whom Gardiner had previously
sold IT, Mr. Corwins share in this fourth Of course
included in the sale of his other interest cases be-
fore the Board and the purchaser of the whole Geo
Law, Esq OF New York, whom the whole interest Of
Mr.. O. was duly assigned, and the purchase money was
PAID III cash without any reservation contingency what
ever Mr. Law subsequently sold out TO another capital
st of New York, who was the oSner tho same when
the final decision of the Commissioners was made and re-
ceived the amount awarded which until May
1851, uly ten months after Mr.. Corwin had ceased to
have any interest in the business. All these facts rs to
the negotiation of the SALE the details OF it, the parties
concerned in the negotiations terms &C. fully stated
in the testimony before the committee of Congress; aud
that Mr. Corwin made the sale and Invested himself Of all
his interest before hccntercd the Cabinet OF Mr. Fillmore
Il also proved that he only never subsequently,
appeared before the Commissioners but that he positively
refused consult with his late legal associates on
the subject OF the claim
Here allow NE to correc; the assertion so often made
that Mr. Corwn received $4,000 for his interest in the
Gardiner claim, when the fact il, less third of
that for the Gardiner claim after deducting the
original purchase money which he paid for his interest
the balance for his Contingent fees in the ether
before the board of which admitted in whole
in part aud entirely rejected either not COM
ing under the provisions of the treaty being sup
ported by sufficient testimony; and without being able
vouch positively for the fact, | understand that Mr.
Law, rather the person who the purchaser from
him. did not make any money by the speculation. The
following Is then recaptuaon Of the facts o. this case
far Mr. Corwin is concerned all OF which are fully
sustained by the report of the committee of Congress aud
the accompanying testimony annexed thereto
l. That Mr.. Corwn Invested himself of all interests
directly or Indirectly, counsel otherwise on thar
claim before he entered the Cabinet of Mr.. Fillmore in
JULY 1880.
. That the proofs in support OF the claim were neither
completed laid before the commissioners the time
Mr. Corwins connrXon with the claim ceased aud one Of
the principal documents support OF it was scknow
before and certified to 10y the American consul Mon
terry in Mexico. towards the close of August 1880 six
weeks alter Mr. Corw IN had sold out his interest.
3. Tha, the commissioners the above time had taken
no action and cone decision the pecunlry
merits Of the claim and did make their award until
the following year.
l. That hr Corwn had no interest direct or indirect
in that decision and it did not make him pecuniary
difference To the exen: OF whether the claim
Gardiner had been finally rejected altogether double
the amonnt awarded that the commissioners finally agreed
upon
3. That no portion of the money paid on this claim
from the Treasury was received by Mr Corwin
that he benefited 10y such plvmeat IN any way di
rcctly or indirectly
All dioinercsiod and candid minds, think, will agree
that Mr Corwn in the whole business was guided by n
high sense of proprcty aud decacy, which should shield
hun from the unmcrited ceusure which has been so
justly heaped upon him.
The investigating committee OF Congress in their re-
port page Z, say:
- The Hon Thomas Corwin resigned his seat in the
senate aud accepted the appointment of Secretary Of the
Treasury IN July, 1850. In the month aud previ
Gus 10 going into the Cabinet Of President Fillmore a.
Secretary Of the Treasury, sale of his fee interest in
aud also OF his hall Of the fourth part Of the Gardiner
claim was negotiated, through the Intervention of Gov
Young of New York, Geo. Law, Esq From this time
the said Thomas Cor~n refused to counsel,
suit with the other counsel who had been associated with
him in relation the same and took no further par, in
the said Gar liner claim. The assignment OF ha fee inter
est aud his Interest in the Gner claim and all his il.
terest in all other claims before the board Of commission
ets, (thlry.seyen IN number) executed by Thomas
CoESin TO Jacob Little, OF New York. and the money for
the purchase was then paid 10y George Law, whom the
assignment to jacob Little was transferred.
NO testimony has been before this committee proving
or tending Pror that the Hon. Thomas Corwin had any
kno"cdge that the claim Of said Gardiner fraudulent
or LhSt false testimony forged papers had been
to be procured to sustain the same. "
IL Will be recolleeted that majority OF the committee
were political opponents Of Mr. Cowin and that they
made all unanimous report.
John Mitchell and AbolltiOnism.
JOINS MTcnELLs views Of slavery, and the desire
expressed by him to own plantation in the South
we.stocked with "darkics,' have brought down upon
him the anathemas Of the whole Abolition crew,
whites and blacks 1t ha shocked their scnsibiIities
excnssYnly Ihnir hnnnn Lnun hnnI, u.ru...-l.. III