The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-17

! On me GdtphH CidiW, deurered IN the House
Of Representatives., Juiy 6, 1850.
| The report of the select committee, made on the
letter of the Secretary of War, concerning the pay
ment of the GalPhn claim, being under considcra-
| ton
MIR. STANLY said regret, very much, Mr..
Speaker, that the House refused to lay the table
| the report of the Galphin claim voted in a small
minority to dispose of this matter by laying it on
the table, and did SO with the view Of enabling the
| House to proceed with the public business.
The appropriation bills, which indispensable
for the support of the Government not yet acted
on. California is still cruelty kept out of the Union
| Thousands OF aboring men in our country are beg
glng us to protect them from the effects of the Brit
| ish tariff of lS46-a tariff which we are informed
| gives great satisfaction to England Hundreds of
honest claimants are duplicating us to act upon
bills reported for their relief All these matters
are demanding our attention, while we vast
ing our time in ridiculous efforts to make, or to
prevent making, party capital out of the Galphin
report. Let the Government stand st-let Cali
fornia wait-let the British lion compacently
smile at the folly of the Americans, who, boast
ing OF their freedom, are making themselves as
dependant on England as if we were still her colo
nieslct honest creditors suffer-the Galphn claim
alone demands all our patriotic consideration. If
gentlemen on the other side of this hall, who have
elected their Speaker and their Clerk, and have
control here will insist in thus spending time, it is
| becoming and proper that we look into other mat
tiers OF improper conduct among their friends.
But first few words on the Galphin claim.
regret, as every gentleman in the country must,
of this claim while he held his place in the Cabinet
1t is matter of taste and of delicacy, about which
| we may differ, as it seems we do differ. But !
think there is opinion nearly unanimous that it
was not becoming in Mr.. Crawford to act
| agent of this claim while he III the Cabinet
As member Of a party, his conduct was incon-
siderate, if not unkind, towards the other members
of the Cabinet. But no honorable man has imputed
any thing dishonorable to Mr. Crawford. His con-
duct has been unfortunate and unwisc, but his in
tcgrity stands fair and unimpeached
| The Wing party more to blame for this
act of his than the Democratic party is for Mr. Van
Buren's bad conduct, or for the ndelicacy or inn
propriety which marked the conduct of General
Cass, in obtaining sirty eight thousand dollars for
extra allowances, which Congress never authorized
to be paid, for his forming company, while in
the Cabinet, TO speculate in public lands. Neither
the conduct of Mr.. Crawford nor of General Cass
has been criminal. Both, in my Judgment, have
been unjustfable. As Secretary Of War, General
Cass could have advantages which citizens of the
country could not have. He had opportunities of
enabling his company to monopolize the choice
tracts of land, to know when they would be in mar
ket, and then to raise the price and sell them set
tiers who were compelled to purchase. The Wing
party have not endorsed and never will endorse or
sanction, MIR. Crawford's conduct. The Demo
cratic party made General Cass their standard
bearer, ''unanointed and unaneled, >, with all these
sins his head. When they shout &c all phin, Gal
phin," not justified in retorting. Sixty ght
thousand dollars extra aallowances-spcculation in
public lands! do not intend to assal General Cass
personally. ! only refer TO well known facts. No
Whig, who has any self respect, or any regard for
public opinion will violate all the decencics of life
by uttering caumnies in relation to this gentleman.
And he who imputes dishonesty To either MIR. Craw-
ford or Mr.. Cass merits and will receive the con-
| tempt of all fair minded men. They will both com
fort themselves with the reflection
"'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through"
1t is only to be regretted that they did not further
reflect, that
"Things done well,
And with a exempt themselves from fear
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be feared" q.
They are to be blamed for a bad example; they
forgot that call things are lawful unto me- but al
things are not expedient"
A few words more on the Galphin claim
The act for the relief OF Gaphin lie in the follow
ing words
'Beif enacted SC, That the Secretary ofthe Trea-
sury be, and he is hereby authorized and required
TO examine and adjust the claim Of the late Gorge
Galphin, under the treaty made by the GoUnnor q
Georgia Uih he Creek and Cherokee Indians
in the year seventeen hundred and seventy three
and TO pay The amount tohieh may be found due Il
Milledgc Caphin, executor of the said Georg,
Galphin, out Of any money in the treasury not 9th
| erwise appropriated.
Approved August Ii, lS4S."
| The wrong in this case, if any wrong has beer
| DONE was in passing thi. act. do not understanc
it is denied that George Galphin had a claim. Il
is admitted that tnder he treaty referred to, the
claim of Galphn was admitted to be due Ther
the act of Congress authorized and ''regured" the
Secretary of the Treasury TO adjust the claim Gun
der the treaty made by the Governor of GeorgiG
with the Creek and Cherokee Indians, in i773,' ,
and ''to pay the amount which may be found due .
The Secretaries who paid the principal and inter
est (Mr Walker and Mr. Incredibly were not tC
be blamed for obeying an act of Congress. Con.
gress is to blame, not the Secretaries, If blame
rests any where And let il not be forgotten, Mr..
Speaker, that Mr.. Polk approved this bill; he
seems to have been informed of the merits Of the
claim How this is can be explained, perhaps
by the honorable member from South Carolina, the
chairman of the Galphin committee, (Mr. BURT, }
when he addresses the House. That gentleman
now thinks "that the claim of the Representatives
of George Galphin was not a just demand against
the United States" The gentleman did not think
so in August, ls4S; for / have before me letter
published evidently by authority, from Gcorgis
paper, which, as part Of the history Of this case
J will read to the House.
Here is the article which Mr.. S. had before him:l
From The augusta (Gd) Chronicle and Sentinel.
"THE GALPHIN cLAIM-MR. BURT.
'You requested to publish the following let
ter. The original has been sent to Washington:
'WAsHISGToN, August ID, lS4s
"'DEAR SrR: ] have the pleasure TO say that th,
bill in which you are Interested has just been sgnec
by the Speaker of the House. and will be approved
J by the President.
7" With great respect, your obedcnt servant
| "'Dr. M. GALPHIS. ARMlSTEAD BbRT..
"Frail memories require remembrancers. They
are now supplied, because they refreshing.
"The bill for the relief of Galphin passed Sat
urday, the 18th of August IL approved on Tn,
l4th, (Sunday intervened.) Whose Seifer wal
ploughed with in the mean timeN The wilr of the
then President spoken of as a fixed fact Hi,
approval known in advance, or the guessin 9
close as TO have astonished the artistic skill
OF the East.
, "As dolphin Of the woods and wild boar of tn,
seas, we subjoin the following resolution;
"'That the claim Of the representatives Of Gorge
Galphin was not a just demand against the United
States
"Verily, tho pleasure Of as seidifcd in 80. j
had vinegar twang, and fit only for common
picking.
'ln good sooth, the 'wilp Of the President wa
pinched, in lSis, into approved form. In 1851
IL has been snubbed smashed
! "Oddsbodkins! Mr.. Burt is clever ON a congrat
ulation and resolution. Let us be thankful, ant
watch, OMEGA"
MIR. BuRT (Mr. STANLy yielding the floor for
explanatory desired to say single word, and NJ
{ more. II was family in his remembrance that sucl
letter as the gentleman from North Carolina haC
read hastily written by him at his desk in thi
ball, for the purpose of saving the mail, But h
considered IL due TO the President to say that h
had never had word with that high functionary OF