The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-18
MOUSSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.

ht,h he
80 af ,be Whole ON the state of the Union the
,nea.age of the President of the United States In
relation to the navigation OF the 81. Lawrence, &c'
and the correspondence between secretary Clay
ton and Mr.. Bulwer in relation to reciprocity be-
tween the United States and Canada, together with
the bill on that subject reported from the Commit
tee ON Commerce.
The motion was ordered to be entered ON the
Journal.
Mr.. DANIEL moved that the House go into
Committee OF the Whole on the private calendar
REPORT ON THE GALPHiS CLAIM.
MIR BURT rose TO what might be question OF
privilege. He desired to make report from the
select committee appointed to inquire into the con-
duct and relations OF the Secretary OF War with re-
gard to the claim Of the representatives OF George
Galphin, and other circumstances connected with
il, under the instructions Of the House.
MIR. DANIEL said that he did not yield the floor.
MIR. BURT said that his was question OF priv
The SPEAKER remarked that, in his opinion,
The report was in order, and could be considered as
a question of privilege
its labors, and had directed him 10 make report
He felt be his duty 10 say that, ON some OF the
questions involved under the resolution OF the
House the committee had not been able 10 agrees
and on certain questions, those particularly which
relate the payment OF the principal and interest
a diversity of opinion existed. Members OF the
committee had prepared their views IN writing, IN
support of the conc usons which they had come,
and which are expressed i'll the resolutions accom-
panying the report. He asked the House to adopt
the following resolution, which he now sent to The
Chair, viz:
That the written arguments OF the different mem.
bers of the committee the subject of the pay
nent Of the principal and interest Of the claim of
the representatives of George Galphn, be printed.
Mr.. b. was instructed by the committee to say,
further, they ask that their report be laid on the
table and printed; and soon as the report and
documents shall be printed, they would feel II to
be their duty to move TO take up the report for the
purpose OF its being referred considered by the
House.
Mr. CONGER desired TO know when it will be
in order to call up the report.
The SPEAKER replied: Al any time, as privi-
legged question.
report read.
Messrs. BRICK and DISNEY, of the select com
mittee also sent up reports or opinions to the
Clerks desk.
Mr.. BROOKS took it for granted that the ques-
ton Of printing was proper matter OF discussion
before the House, and on this, and questions con-
nected with II, he proposed TO make few remarks.
He took this course because public documents,
which are sent to the public printers go "to that
bourne whence no traveller Ger returns.'' If the
report should be engulphed as it is, 1t will un-
doubtedy rise again, and its spectre will appear,
not in our day, but after We have gone home to our
constituents.
Mr. ING Z said that if tue question was to be dis
cusscd, the report had better be read.
Mr.. CARTER. Will the gentleman suspend his
remarks?
MIR. BROOKS. will keep within the bounds oil
order.
Mr. CARTER move that the report be read
is not in order TO discuss the report until 1t il
read
The SPEAKER overruled the point of order.
MIR. BROOKS resumed. If gentlemen had at frs
insisted upon reading the report, SO that all th
facts could be thrown before the country, he woulC
not have risen to make remarks; but now that il i
entombed, lost, and gone, he would cndeayor I,
prevent misrepresentation of the facts should th'
publication be made hereafter.
Mr.. BURT certainly had no objection to the read
ing of the report He felt it to be his duty to in
qure of the committee what disposition should be
made of it, and they did not request that the report
should be read but they thought proper TO ask that
il be printed and il was because the committee felt
that il did belong 10 them to ask that the report
be read
Mr.. BROOKS said he had no doubt of what the
honorable gentleman said; and that If the public
would wait for the publication, without comment
elsewhere, he would not have risen TO speak the
present occasion. As il is, the report cannot b,
suppressed TO the country, and he intended to loot
ito survey its height and breadth, and in it
worst and best forms. He then commenced enter
ing into a history of the claim, when
Mr.. CONRAD interrupted him, by expressing
the hope that the gentleman, on the motion 4
print. would not discuss the merits Of the report
The SPEAKER said that the gentleman from
New York was in order.
Mr.. BURT desired 10 make a suggestion-tha
the time should not be taken from the gentleman
Mr.. BROOKS would have objection TO the
reading Of the report, after be finished his remarks
II nc should yield the floor, he not certain that
he could regainit He resumed the history OF the
Galphin claim, which, he contended, should not
have been paid by the Government. The payment
oi the interest left a legacy of mischief by
the last 70 the incoming Administration.
He had the opinions Of all the Attorney Generals
lntercst had been allowed in some few cases, but
as a general principle, the Government aversc
90 the measure. While Mr.. Monroe was connected
with the Government, he would not allow any o
Its officers 10 touch his accounts, although seventy
eighty thousand dollars was due 70 him. MIR
Monroe said that such Investigations should Away
be made by Congress- before the eye Of the public
Delicate az he was, he was assailed. The fact tina
Governor Crawford was connected with this CLAIM
ought 10 have been proclaimed in voice Of thun
der through the length and breadth OF this land
and then, If the Attorney General had given al
opinion in his favor, and the Secretary OF tn
Treasury had paid the money, they would hay'
known what responsibility they we're assuming
IL IL commended that this fact must have been known
but the only ground is, that they found power o
attorney from Mr.. Crawford, and two letters q
Mr.. Walker, unfortunately urging Mr. Walker e
settle the claim.
Mr. whittlesey testified 10 these facts; but from
the testimony Of the Secretary Of the Treasury anc
the Attorney General, they never Investigated thu
case, Sr II they had they would have seen thos'
papers and the report Of Mr.. Wise the subjec
of the claim. These officers had no knowledge o
IT, II they had, they never would have ASSUMED
the responsibility Of allowing interest. However,
loud may be the storm, the voice Of truth will b,
heard. There have been attempts made elscwher,
TO connect the President OF the United States. Thi
subject had cost him Mr.. b two months inves
tigation. lie had read seventy five volumes. Hav
ing 30 little do, he took up this subject for tn
sake of occupation. IL Is clear that the Presiden
has never given the facts examination. Tbos
who intend to assail the President had better at
tempt to tear out the stars Of heaven, for bis fam
~ as immortal.
Mr. BURT said that il was not for him TO con
lecture az 10 what source the grstleman from New
York had applied himself. Il was enough for bin
say that the gentleman (who in his labor Of Low
has told what successes he has had) had not the All
Of any member of the select committee. IL was nc
for him 10 conjecture as 20 whence the gentleman
derived his information. He supposed that gentle
that side could be at great loss 10 conjec
ture and ascertain. IL concern Of his (Mr
BURT's) nor of the committee how the members
the Cabinet stand towards the President, no,
the President stands before this claim. II was 70
the House and the country; and he desired III
House and the country 10 know that the committe
have performed the duty imposed by the House
and he moved that the report of the committee b
read.
The report was read accordingly. It states thS