The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-05-06

of the parties in Mexico who were the ac-
completes in the fraud. Thescertificates of
our consuls at Mexico and Monterey to some
of the signatures Uor all Of the latter were
not forgeries) also prove the papers were
prepared there, and in particular the docu.
ment already alluded to, which the Ameri
can consul at Monterey testified before the
jury on the first trial, was presented to him
by DR.. Gardiner, in company with a Mexi-
can, in August, 1850, at Monterey.
The whole of this fraud was got up with
such consummat tie skill as was well calculated
to deceive the most astute, and the previous
and subsequent conduct OF DR.. Gardiner was
such as to carry strong conviction that he
was innocent. Long after it was denounced
as fraud, | was among those who, with
pretty general knowledge of the facts aud
circumstances of the case, had full belief
in the genuineness of the claim, belief
which was first shaken by the refusal of Dr.
Gardiner to accompany the commission ap-
pointed by President Fillmore to proceed to
Mexico and point out his mine. The infor-
nation brought back by that commission.
and the other proof produced on both trials.
leave no shadow Of doubt that it was one OF
the most bold-faced and audaCiOus imposi-
tionS ever practised upon this or any other
! government
The Union see, makes an attempt to
attach stigma, In consequence of the tran
saclion, to the Wing party, and the late
Whig administration. Ifthe rule is to hold
good that all frauds, peculations, and defal-
cations committed under any administra-
tion Is to attach to it or its party, | wonder
where the Democratic party would find it
self for all the peCCaditIoes committed un-
der its rule, particularly under the Van
Buren, dynasty?
The Union seems to forget that the re-
suit OF the recent trial, the exposure of the
! fraud. and the securing of so large portion
OF the money, is exclusively owing to the
promptness and energy of action by the late
Administration, upon the first information
that fraud was suspected.
The Treasury department, on the very first
inumation, took immediate steps for sccur-
ing the money which Gardiner, who was
then in Europe, had left behind him, as will
be seen by the correspondence in the pub
| Ished testimony before the committee Of
! Congress.
Mr.. Fillmore also directed the employ
ment of the Hon. Henry May as addition
al counsel In the case, and as one of the
commission to proceed to Mexico, and who,
with Mr.. Fendall, the u. S. District At
torney, has prosecuted the case with the
greatest zeal energy and ability until the
late result. On this point quote the testi-
mony of the United States District Attor-
ney, given before the committee of Congress,
in answer TO the following question from
one of the committee:
@. Has the Executive Department Of
! the Government exhibited promptness umd
diligence in the investigation of this mat
ter of Gardiner since there was suspicion
of fraud, and in prosecuting measures to
save the treasury from loss?
| A. Yes, Sir. 1t is impossible that the
Executive branch of the Government could
have shown more solcitude than it has done
to have this matter investigated, the cause
of public justice vindicated. The President
throughout has acted in the spirit of the in
structions which, as have stated, he gave
me at the beginning. Every facility for
promoting these objects has been given by
every officer of the Government whose Off
cial duties brought him in connection with
the subject; but none more cordially or.
more earnestly than by Mr.. Corwin, the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
| In conclusion. will only add that the
friends of Mr.. Corwin in this city are we'll