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

inquiries proposed by the committee. From this
statement il appears that he became agent coun-
sci for this claim by power of attorney executed
by Milledge Galphn, executor OF Thomas Galphin,
who was the SON and executor Of George Galphn,
the seventh OF February, eighteen hundred and
thirty three. BY agreement with the party on the
twenty. third OF May, eighteen hundred and thirty
three, he was entitled to receive for his services,
without any other charge to his principal one half
OF the whole claim, of such part OF as should be
realized. A supplemental agreement by the par
ties, explanatory of the foregoing, was entered into
on the nineteenth of January, eighteen hundred
and thirty FIVE by which it stipulated that the
pee unary advances and professional services OF
Gov. Crawford should be the consideration for one
half of the nett profits of the claim, and that all add
vances to, contracts made by him with the other
| persons concerning the claim should be deducted
from the 10 be realized from the claim before its
/ division. Governor Crawford endeavored to OBJ
| tain payment of the claim by the treaty OF New
Echota, with the Cherokee Indians, in eighteen
hundred and thirty-fve. Failing in that il was
presented TO the Legislature of Georgia in eighteen
hundred and thirty seven, and continued to be
urged before the Legislature of that State until
eighteen hundred and forty-two.
Governor Crawford was member of that body,
avowed his interest in this claim, and urged in
debate its payment, but declined to vote upon it.
In May, S4S, he arrived in this city, on his way to
the Philadelphia convention, and remained about
day. and his return from Philadelphia he reached
this city In the morning and departed for his resi-
dence in Georgia that night. He did not again
visit this city until after the passage of the law, and
was absent from it when the bill passed the Senate
and House of Representatives.
In February, ls49, he again came to the city.
In March following, he entered upon the duties
of Secretary Of War, and from that time he took
steps to prosecute the claim for interest, until
he was urged to do so by his principal As his
interest was contingent and secondary he did
not think he could refuse TO have it urged de-
sired. About the middle of May, eighteen hun
dred and forty nine, he disclosed to the President
the condition OF the claim, and his relation to it;
/ that he had been prosecuting it before Congress,
and elsewhere, since 1885, that it had been allowed
| by Congress, was pending before the Treasury
Department, and he had an nterest in it. He did
not state the character amount of the claim, the
extent of his interest in it, or the name of the
| claimant; did he enter into any Of the details
of the claim The President replied that in his
opinion, none of the pre- existing individual rights
| OF Governor Crawford had been curtailed by his
acceptance of office. He employed Judge Joseph
| Bryan to prosecute the claim, and promised him
three thousand dollars if the claim should be al
lowed and paid He supervised and aided in pre-
pairing Mr.. Bryan,s arguments in support Of the
claim, but denies that his interest in it at any
time before the payment of the claim made known
| to any officer Of the Government who Was charged
with its adjustment, by his authority, with his
| consent.
On the sth day of May, Governor Crawford ad-
dressed communication to the committee, in
forming them that he desired to state a converse
ton Of his with the President in March, 1850.
From this statement it appears that, in the latter
conversation, the President had the impression
from the first conversation, that the claim was be-
,
ry was indistinct, the matter having passed
from his mind until the claim attracted public
notice; that the President told Governor Craw-
ford although he did not recollec to have been told
r by him, that the claim had been allowed by Con-
gress, and pending before the Treasury De-
parment; yet he did not see, if he had been :
formed, how he could have given any other opinion
than he had given; that being at the head OF the
War Department, and agent Of the claimants, did
not deprive him of the rights he may have had as
such agent, would have justified him in having
. the examination and decision of the Secretary of
5 the Treasury suspended The President added,
that, in his opinion, if the claim just one un-
der the law of Congress, it should have been paid,
Il matter who were the parties interested in It..
e and that this was due TO the credit and good faith
d of the Government.
IS The decision of the question of interest the
o claim by Mr.. Walker, the late Secretary of the
G Treasury, urged by Governor Crawford, and
some of his friends insisted Oh il with so much
: earnestness induced Mr.. Walker to conclude
that Governor Crawford would be member of the
present Cabinet Governor Crawford alluded to IT,
on one occasion, in conversation with the Attor-
{ ney General, as one in which some of his Georgia
friends concerned, but only to ask him o-ex-
anime il at his leisure He alluded to it three or
four times in conversation with Mr.. Meredith, be-
fore its decision, but only TO ask that il might be
c decided without delay. Mr. Johnson, MIR. Mere
4 dith, and Mr. Whittlesey, testified that Governor
c Crawford did not by any act or expression make
known to them his interest agency in the claim,
they informed of il by any other person
3 whilst il undecided, and there is evidence
: before the committee To the contrary.
The bundles Of papers relating TO the claim was
g sent by the Comptroller to the Secretary of the
o Treasury, and by him to the Attorney General.
Amongst them was the power Of attorney, already
n referred to; another from Mledge Gaphin to Gov
ernor Crawford dated December 80, lS4s and one
i or two letters written by Governor Crawford TO
!, some officer of the Treasury Department in the
month Of February, 1s49. Neither Of these papers
stipulated any compensation for his services. Judge
Joseph Bryan appeared on all occasions the
{ agent and counsel Of the claim, and submitted all
e the arguments in support Of it. No other person
was known TO the officers of the Government as
I agent or counsel for IT,
y The committee have not been able to discover
any evidence that Governor Crawford ever availed
, tons IT established between himself and the other
members of the Cabinet, 10 influence the favorable
4 determination Of this claim.
# The claim the subject Of Cabinet de-
liberation, and it is due 10 candor and TO truth that
the committee should express their conviction that
nothing has been disclosed by the testimony TO in
. duce them 20 believe that the Secretary Of the
Il Treasury, the Attorney General was aware, un-
n til the claim adjudcated that Governor Craw-
i ford had any agency or interest in IT, There was
Il nothing unusual in the circumstances attending the
adjustment or payment Of the principal interest
e OF this claim any departure from the ordinary
e course Of business in the Treasury Department.
. The report shows that the principal Of the claim,
|; S43,5ls 80 was paid in March, fs49, and states
II how il disposed of, and the following state
o ment is appended, viz:
o Statement Of the interest on he GGlphin claim.
, Interest on S43,5ls 80, for 70 years months and
IL days. III, 3oZ ~
= Less for Joseph Bryan. g.. 5000 on
e ,1ss 1854 SO
= Less one halfunder interest with G.. w.
y Crawford Observation-Disclosures. A,l76 "a
S94,l76 "a
: Less commissions Of DR. Galphin
: ecutor Of George Galphin, p. c. 4,70S 81
;. ss9,467 81
: One. third due Ann Medge, exccutrix,
. under award, &c................... 29,s22 81
: Balance to heirs Of +. Gaphin: S59,645 %
&c OF Mrs Milledge's portion executrix,
paid 10 her son and agent Tin CASH. $50 90
In treasury draft, mo. 6925) 1852 o.
q s29,s22 81
% OF DR.. Galphn, az executor, &c.
In cash. .................s... ,UOO "
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