Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-13

c.a.r]
of the Gaphn claim, either agains the State of Georra
against the United States So far regards the validity
Of the claim against the United States me that
the action Of the last Congress precuded the inquiry into that
question When that Congress directed the claim to be ex
amned and adjusted and the balance due to be paid that
ton settled every thing except the amount to be paid Under
the ordinary rules to be applied legislation in regard 10
claims before Congess, this Government committed itself
then to the recognition Of the justice of the claim some
amount Possibly with the lights before me, and with
the fuller and better understanding have of its merits,
might not vote for its allowance it yet before
US Tor the first tme but that do not undertake
any TO say, for is not necessary to revive that question
Inc next question, whether interest should have been al
lowed as well as principal, appears equally 10 to be col
i 20 ou proper inquiry am not myself going TO ask
or consider what may have been the practice in
regard 20 ne allowance of interest claims. II is sufficient
Tor me TO KNOW that under the law directing this claim to be
examined adjusted and paid. it became question for the
secretary Oh the Treasury to deermine in the performance Of
his duy what amount should be paid and whether interest
should be computed that amount Under the advice and
opinion OF the Attorney General that officer decided 10 pay
and has paid, the interest as well principal.
possible though would not, without much heaton
differ from gentlemen, learned, able, and upright as am
sure both those officers yet il possible that if il had
been submitted to me- might have understood the law
Of he to be such to authorize and require that paw
ment of interest. But such difference of Judgment If il
might have existed have bearing the issue now 10
be tried regard the question: whether any thing 70 be
paid TO Gaphns representatives. having been denitivey
determined by the action of the legislative department and
think, whether right wrong, the question whether in
should be allowed has been equally settled by the pro-
per executive depamen-he officer to whom it refer
red These are not points now, therefore, said, for
investigation At most they can only be regarded fur
nshing guide principle be followed precedent
avoided in future of legislation by Congress- or Of
construction by accounting officers.
Thus then, dispose of these two questions. The last
Congress recognised the claim, and directed it to be adjusted
apI lot9n 1f
ment devoved and whose conduct believe be above all
impeachment questioning, allowed and paid what they be-
eved intended by the law But beyond these there lies
another, third question: which confess gives all the
difficulty have in relation the subject, presents itself
here for consideration. This third question: and
which deem be the important question, the question:
the question for to investigate and determine the ques
ton which the Secretary Of War has referred by his let
ter WHETHER "n his relation to this cam his conduct has
been within the rule Of propiey moi We called
on to say whether the Gaphn claim just demand, .
which the last Congress should have allowed We MT
asked to give opinion to the obligation of the Gorn
ment to pay interest And though the committee were
charged by the resolution of the House extend their nves
legations into those particulars still insist that far those
and all the debate upon the report with has
sued went beyond the record and beyond the necessity and
the proprey of the But, sir it is dsrentvey differ
ent-and cannot but regard it question Of far deeper
importance and implication, when am inquired of whether
believe it to be proper that the Secretary of War; while
holding Office the head Of of the Departments of the
Government should prosecute be interested, Mr. Craw
ford in the prosecution of claim against the Govern
ment And being thus inquired Of, say will not shrink
from my duty OF answering and am compelled to declare that
DO not think that proper Such is the which shall
propose by my amendment is the which shall be
constrained to give in some shape by my vote. do not
wish TO enlarge upon the evils that arise from the recog
milton, as practice, of the act relation which thus con-
denim. All that wish say the subject is this that do
think the head Of Of your Departments should have
claim depending and be interested in its prosecution before
any Of the other Departments Of the Government Of
which he is component part. And answer the question
that way, without reference to whether there be any
rupton fraud in The conduct Of the officer in the
in which, in the by which, the claim may be
prosecuted allowed. Such circumstances might aggra.
sae the wrong, but do not qualify it, Il due, however, in
his to say, that find nothing in the testimony which
induces to believe that there any fraudulent practice
esoed to to procure either the passage Of the law originally
the allowance of the claim under the law after had been
passed do not believe that the Secretary War;
han any other officer Of The Government is shown by the
testimony submitted have done that which, any
right view, should be regarded criminal corrupt fraud
alent in connexon with this transaction And my opinion
Of the improperly, therefoefor wish be distinctly
based entirely upon the conviction, from which
cannot escape in the light which regard the thing, that
improper, whether claim be good bad whether the
amount to be allowed be much little whether be ques
ion regarding the principal interest in whatever form the
claim be presented it improper any and every and
Ill for the head Of Department to be concerned in the
prosecution of claim before any Of the other Departments Of
he Government
uton which now send TO the Chair and which offer as
substitute for the resolution proposed by the gentleman
rom Georgia. move it in that form amendment TO
lis amendment understand that the gem eman from Geor
ria proposes to strike the series of resolutions reported
the committee and to substitute his propose to amend
lis amendment by substituting the which now Offer
The SPEAKER. The Chair understands the amendment
# the gentleman from Georgia be add his resolution 10
he series Of resolutions reported by the committee.
Mr.. SCHENCK. My resolution will still be insorder,
hen, a substitute
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Ohio offers the
olowng substitute for the amendment proposed by the
Gentleman from Georgia
Resolved That while this House, after 6 full investiga-
on does find impue the Secretary OF War
ny corrupt conduct fraudulent practice in procuring
allowance and payment of the claim of tho representatives
George Galphn yet does not approve his relation to
nat claim this that he continued be interested in the
aid by the departments OF the Government he him
elf the time holding Office the head OF of those
apartments
The resolution having been read
Mr.. SCHENCK said, il he to follow his ncli-
alton only he would call the previous question: but he
eieved several gentlemen dsrous of addressing the
Iouse, be would refran from demanding it.
EMIsRATroS TO AMERIcA.--The latest accounts from
'orway state that preparations being made grand
:ale for emigration the United States ssThe number Of
ersons who propose expaang themselves in order 60
nd try their fortune in America is estimated 900 per-
,n being two per cent. Of the entire population Of the king
From one commune alone, that Of Loeag in the
nce of Akershans, which contains s. 1875 inhabitants 663
ldivduals about embark for New York"