The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-06-14
Isaac. CoMER. Sect.

HE GALPHIN CLAIM.-l ne Oller up
position of those who have lost their of
ices by the election of Gen Taylor. runs
INTO extremes and leads them to commit
acts for which honest men would blush.
To those who depend upon "head'quar-
ters" for opinions and sentiments, we
have little to say. They are led into
error from their very simplicity, and
blindly follow the lead of men who have
been deprived of post Office or a $780,.
600 job Of public printing, from the SIM
pie fact that nature has mt granted to
them sufficient brain to work out a course
for themselves.
The GalphiR allowance is case in
point. Without knowing anything about
it. without even reading tho report of the
majority of the committee they give pub
licity to the false and sanderous charges
of their leading party papers, and when
asked for the grounds of the faith that is
in them, they simply tell you that they
have read the charges in the Statesman
or Union, and further they know nothing
about it. 1t is an easy task to be led by the
nose-it saves labor and expense-yet it
does not indicate an independent think
er or a Just mah-and IS hardly proper
trait in the editor of 4 public journal.
The Galphin allowance has been made
the subject of virulent abuse of private
character by portion of the public
press, without any foundation or evidence
save the testimony Of anonymous scrib-
blers. The charges were made and cir
culated while the affair was in the hands
Of an investigating committee. 1t was
single act. the justice eff the claim was
matter Of opinion, even a Locofoco
committee exonerate the parties from
improper motives in its allowance yet
it is siezed hold Of as pretext for an
assault upon the administration, as a
great crime, by those very persons who
winked at the Mef1s Of Swartwout and
Price, of Yontz. Barney and host Of
other Locofoco defaulters.
We have ma0s the above remarks as
an introduction to the following portion
of an article which originally appeared
in the Baltimore American. The very
violence of the attack will eventually
prevent it from doing harm, but the fol-
lowing lays down some mutal principles
which it would be we'll fnr the young
opposition" to ponder overt
What is the history of the Ga'phin
aIlowancel So far as the present ques'
ton is concerned, it lies in NUTSHELL
The claim originally meritorious in q
high degree, was made douOly respecta'
BILE, by revolutionary sacrfices-by pat
riouc services-by long years of vexa'
tous aud unjust delay. The Congress
of IS4s did themselves much honor, by
providing for its settlement at last But
even it 1t had been unjust as it was just
that Congress left the question of i'll
righte BUSINESS no longer open. They re
cognized it explicity-they conceded it,
justness they left nothing for the Secre
iary of the Treasury to do, bot to "ex
anime and adjust" it, and "to pay the a
mount which might be found due" on it
Under the act of Congress. Mr., Wake
paid the principal. leaving the question
of interest expressly open. This pay
ment of the principal. in the opinion o
the whole Committee and of every on,
else, was "iu conformity with law anC
precedent" The payment of the inter
est, is declared by majority of the Com
mittee to be, in their Judgment, in con
formity with neither.
Now, the first thing that strikes plaiI
mind, in view of the report of the com
mittee. is the enquiry, What has "pre
ceden," to do with question: The ac
of Congress refers 10 no precedents di
rectly or inferentially. 1t legislates 70
the particular case, ON its own merits
directs the Secretary to pay-not princi
pal merely, but all that may be foun'
due" For this, he is To "examiue anc
adjust" what9 Not the claim for prin
cipal-bu: 1.-The claim" absolutely, in
volving both principal and interest l
he finds the interest due" and yet i
forbidden by law and precedent to- pa.
it, how can he pay the principal which l
"due," to the same extent. and for thu
Same reasons, and none otherl He il
not told to hunt precedent" in order Il
see whether he can pay what is due
but to find out what is "due," reall!
honestly, bona fde "due." as between
man and man, and to pay it whatever i
may be. If all the precedents in the
executive archives were as strongly ad
verse, as they are demonstrably favora
BILE t0 the payment of interest, in such
case, the Secretary would have beef
bound to disregard them, and pay the in
terest notwithstanding, if he found j
"due"
Upon what principle are the supposed
precedents for the non-paymeut of IN
terest by the United States supported
7 Upon the theory,it ii any, that the Unite'
States are always ready, willing and able
to pay her debts, and the creditor wh'
ne elects to demand what is due to hin
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