Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-09

discover the vacated SILVER mlnes Dut III Will
They succeeded in discovering the Mexican ae-
complete Of Mears and Gardiner and while there
obtained the correspondence, which, iii alleged,
lranspired between Gardiner and hts brother,and
their Mexican accomplish. The commission was
empowered TO bring witnesses back with them
upon such terms they might deem expedient
The commission returned with evidence enough,
apparently To carry conviction home TO every UNI
preiudicod mind. Ii was presented at the frnil OF
the case which afterwards ON. Much OF II
was ruled out. and all Of IL was so adroitly as.
sailed by the defense that the jury did not yield
their convictions TO what was brought before them.
They failed to agree, and il was understood that
nine we're for aequittdi and three, who fortunate
ly stood firm to their belief, were for conviction.
new trial was necessary. And in the in
term another commission was ordered to Mex
leo under Major AIordecai. The result of their
investigation snbstantiated the facts asserted by
the first in every particular. They bad more
over the atiested location of the mine elected
from the witnesses ON the first trial which was
alleged to be ten miles south of Lagunillos No
mine was found there, nor was there any know
ledge Of one. The nearest mines in that direc-
ton were fifty miles south of Lagunillas, obser-
yations having been made by Capt. Barry, val
liable and scientific member of the commission
M d conclusive testimony advanced by him as to
the fact.
Mr.. Charles +. Bowes, an American artist, who
was dispatched to Mexico after the return OF the
last commission to procure the boundaries OF
san Luis Potosi, returned with the most decisive
proof that the location of the mines in question,
was in Queretaro, and not in San Luis Potosi-
This commission also visited the location of
Mears' quicksilver mine. Ii was dscoyered-a
hole thirteen feet dcep-dug to order since the a
ward of SI53,O00 This hole was concession
to the liberality Of the United States and token
ofrcspect from Mears, To the outraged dignity
of his dupe But Gardiner did not even offer the
pretenee of n broken turf.
The commission learned while i'll Mexico, that
Mears had received from Gard ner the assurance
of success. That Gen. Pierce had been cleo
ted to the Presidency of the United States, and
his affairs were now brighter than ever as he
had friends who could influence the new Presi-
dent We suppose Gen. Pierce will hardly
ne I'd protection against such compliment as
this. II is due To him, however, to say that he
has used all his influ, nee and constitutional
TIA 'rity TO enable the prosecution to produce the
legal testimony available in the case; and much
is also due TO the public spirit of the Hon. jeff.
Davis, Secretary of War;
We should leave undone an inn ortant part of
our duty TO the public if we omitted to refer to
the late trial. This was conducted by the same
as the preceding; on the part of the pros
ecution by Phillip X. fendall Esq, L. $. dis
trict attorney, ond the Hon. Henry May. These
gentlemen have been intimately and laboriousy
associated with the case from its earliest devel-
opments.
Mr.. May, as has been already stated, had the
chief and responsible direction OF the first Mexi-
can commission, and has been exposed in his
special relation TO the prosecution, and his cuer
gctic indexbed and consistent performance of
luy, 10 the most virulent assaults from the friends
Ia h. Ia - .
lous irnnd, and the prompt conviction of the Of
fender has vndcatcd his zeal and accredited his
great professional skill and the resources of his
mind.
Mr.. Fondall, his colleague, has laborcd with
aeascless devotion i'll this important cause, and
has added to his fame by the signal ability with
which he has conducted his share of the labor
They hive together earned the respect and CON
hdence ot the government, and are entitled to
the same from the public at large.
Tho whole of this subject has been before
committee OF the Senate, who have yet 10 report
upon it, The people have right to expect at
their hands u deliberate and effective protest a
gainst all official connection with this fraud
There has been most reprohensible comming
ling OF interests III this matter, and with all the
charity the public may be disposed to exercise,
there will be prevailing doubt of personal integ
riy with respect to all the participants in the
Gardiner ,fRd, if the several amounts obtained
by the respective parties thereto not volunta-
riy restored to the treasury.
Moreover. if this voluntary restitution is not
made the public will expect the Senate to author
Use legal proceedings against all concerned with
out respect 10 service or person.
Such is n brief outline of some new and promi-
nent iacts connected with this celebrated cast
We have put them on record in the above form,
for the convenience of the readers of the
sun, ond to supply them with impress
sive history of an event which we hope will exert
a salutary influence upon public and political
morality thr, ughout the Union.
From the Stanton papers, we find that the
action of Governor Johnson in rescung Wilson