The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-04

and Clayton to come up to the scratch WI Aen
the test vote was taken. was strikingly fore
in their speeches upon the bill ], and
their trimming and lodging between IL e North
and the South. Gen. Cass, however, IN yester-
day morning, explained his absen' .e, and re-
corded his vote like man : or the bill
Whether he did so from Cabine 4 consultation
or otherwise it is, perhaps, ct our province
to inquire The fact that Aad he remained
among the dodgers or the . bsentees terrible
blow would have been give a thereby to the bill
in the House may probab' y help to account for
the sober second thor Ightn which brought
him to the rescue.
There are others, a. Isentees or dodgers, not
on the sick list, but present in COED health at
Washington and So fne Of them no doubt were
in the Senate char Aber, at the time Of the vote,
or close by. in g ome adjoining room-who still
remain among the dodgers They have thus
proved thems elves very small potatoes
Smallest Of Congressional small potatoes.
The Senator who lodges vote upon such
q question as this Of the Nebraska bill
is fit subject of public dcrision. He
reminds us Of that cunning little wild
duck called the dipper The Congress
ional dodger, in fact, is q dipper. He will
sit quietly in the water, within point blank
range of the sportsman and watch him load
his gun but the instant the trigger is pulled
the dipper is missing. He goes down, but
comes up after the report, precisely in the same
place, as bold as ever. But how this sort of
lodging under water is to benefit the dodgers
in their Presidential aspirations, North or South
it is difficult to imagine. Let any Of these
dodgers be nominated by any party for the sue
cession, and the simple cry Of clipper" will
do the business for them most completely.
Mark the prediction-no Nebraska dipper
will be elected President or Vice President in
1856
In q more serious point of view, Messrs.
Everett, Clayton, and Others in lodging this
Nebraska vote, lodged grave official and con-
stitutional duty. They have been faithless to
the constitution, faithless to the States they
represent, to the people and to the country.
They have set bad example q vicious and de-
moralizing example Of cowardice and disregard
of their obligations to the country, which
ought to be held up as q perpetual judgment
against them before the bar Of public opinion.
They either believed the bill constitutional or
unconstitutional. right or wrong, just or unjust,
wise or pernicious, In honor, in honesty
upon every principle Of manly integrity to
their oath Of Office and their official obligations
| from every consideration OF individual can
dor and propriety-from every consideration Of
public justice. they were bound to vote for the
bill or against the bill because Of the tremen-
dous issues involved in it. In ordinary cases
the occasional absence Of Senator may be ex-
cu.ed; but where the issue comprehends the
question, in all its magnitude, of the Unien or
the dissolution Of the Union--where the ques-
tion is intended to fix the landmarks of the
constitution it is q crime to dodge the respon-
sibility, which ought not to 60 UNPUBLISHED.
The bill goes to the popular branch Of Con-
gress next, and from the portentous closing
scenes Of excitement in the Senate, we may
count upon speedy and most terrific explo
sion 10 the House. But, stand or fall, let every
man face the music. Let us have no more
lodging.
The Gardner claim Fatal and Terrible
Ending OF the Case.
Our telegraphic advices received yesterday
| from Washington. and elsewhere published in
this paper, bring to us the information ofthe
sentence of DR.. George A. Gardner to ten years
imprisonment at hard labor, in the peniten-
tiary of the District of Columbia, upon q ver-
dict of his jury, of guilty of forgery in the
matter of that magnificent Mexican claim, upon
which he recovered from the Treasury Of the
United States the sum of four hundred and
twenty seven thousand and some hundred and
odd dollars. But the fatal and terrible finale
Of his case followed close upon the Judges
sentence; for the criminal, few hours after
was found dead in his cell, doubtless the
result of poison retained about his person
to meet the contingency. Thus ends the
career of young man scarcely twenty light
years of age, intelligent, educated, and capable,
under good counsels, of high and honorable
achievements.
Our readers are familiar with the history Of
this Gardner claim. The treaty of peace of '48.
with Mexico. set apart $3,l25, 900 for the salts
faction Of the claims of American citizens
against Mexico for damages to their business
transactions in Mexico on account of the war.
A Board Of Commissioners was appointed to
adjudicate these claims at Washington, and
their awards were made final and conclusive.
Among the claimants under this head was
DR.. George A. Gardner, formerly Of this State,
and Of a highly respectable family. He de-
handed half a million for damages incurred in
the suspension during the war, Of the working
Of q certain rich silver mine in the State of
San Luis Potosi, in Mexico, and for the total
loss Of said mine, and all his investments
therein. He had resided for many years in
Mexico, practising his profession as travelling
dentist; he had acquired the language of the
country; and from his travels and observations
was thoroughly conversant with its geography
! IL hd la.ad II !: !: