Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-04-18
The GaIphiu Claim.

II is some time since stopped thinking or main
tanning everything right that Is done by men Of our
own party or wrong that Is done by opponents The
vernal season in which that right in eyes has
passed away, and the conviction that there are two
sides to Political as well as other questions has
been pretty firmly established in mind. Having
long aud justly reproached our antagonists for their
slavis. urquestnning support of whatever was COM
mended to them Democracy we mean not 10 stand
condemned by own doctrines, but to speak the
truth without partality concealment.
The Galphin Claim 50 called, has been and still
is very Justly the theme of public inquiry and dis
cussion. So far as the facts developed, they
to be substantially follows
1. That this is very old claim, (none the worse
for that,) growing out of certain transactions to
which one George Galphin, certain Indians and the
ROYAL Government of Georgia parties, In
near l773. before the breaking out of the Revolution
airy War;
2 That the State of Georgia recognized nor
provided for the claim which originally for
lands, but, having disposed of most of her wild
lands the federal Government, turned the cla mant
over TO that Government for satisfaction;
3. That this claim, though venerable and well
backed, never admitted by our Government till
! 1916 Whereabouts. when bill was got through
both Houses directing the Treasury Department to
audit and settle it on terms of justice and equity;
L. That it ,cas so audited and settled under Secre-
tnry Walker. and the full estimated of the
original claim paid to the heirs assigns of the
IeyIginn claimant. the sum being about $40 900;
.. That this duly pocketed but the claim
still prosecuted Tor afteIwnrd revived) for interest
on the amount accorded for the seveny-six years
intervening since the origin of the demand
! 6. That ex-Gos. George w Crawford of Georgia.
now U. S. Secretary at War, formerly the agent
of the claimants in prosecuting their claim, though
| he no longer appears as such on The record;
z. That Mr.. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury.
directed the proper officer of his Department re-ex-
anime this claim for interest, and that officer (Con-
troler Wbttlesey) did SO, and reported that there
nothing due the claimant, according to the prin
cples established by the Government for the settle
ment of claims;
g. That Mr. Meredith permitted or directed an ap-
peal to be taken from this decision to the Attorney
General (Reverdy Johnson) who reported in (dror of
the validity and equity Of the claim; whereupon,
: 9. Secretary Meredith directed iis payment. and il
has been paid, to the amount of some $4,000.
Such are the essential facts in the case, report
! ed in the newspapers. We do not see them directly
confronted materially sofieRed. Yet insist
that the fair fame of the parties concurrng in or
niving at The passage Of this second claim impern-
lively demands full explanation clear refuation.
This, ii must be considered is not the first caper of
its kind The Double Mileage so outrageously fob
bed by most of the Senators holding from the
last Senate this whereby several of them pocket
ed from 81 900 TO 50 500 each for an imaginary
journey from Washington to their homes and back
again between Sunday morning March Ash, and Mon
in all distracted from the public purse on the
strength of unrigheous aud all but unprecedented
decision of Senator placed in the Chair to decide
this claim contrary the Vice Presidents ascertained
judgment-this dark transaction remains unexplained
and uncorrected Mr.. Controller Whitilesey disal-
lowed the amount; Mr.. Meredith referred it to the
Attorney General who reversed the Controllers decis
ion, and thereupon the account ordered TO be
passed by tie Secretary of the Treasury. Ii Is idle
for the laws provide auditing offices, aud the Pres-
dent to select upright and capable men to I'll ihem
if their righteous decisions TO be oyerruled and
the public chest stove in after this fashion.
! We await with anxiety some full explanation of
this Galphin business II it be cleared up,
one will welcome the fact with a heartier pleasure
than we but if it cannot be, it is morally impossible
that the Cabinet should remain unchanged. The pub
lie confidence cannot be commanded by men gar-
ingly unfaithful grossly incompetent, some
must have been. or this revived claim, as it ap
pears, could never have been passed.-N Y Tribune,
| Wing.