Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-29
The Calphin Claim.

circles, iate'y, on account vi t"e PoS ''"t
of the above claim by the Federal Govern
meni, and, as we have not hitherto alluded
to it, we give the following brief history oil
the case for the information Of those of our
readers who see no other paper.
The claim is brought by the heirs OF
George Galphin, an Indian trader, Tor
certain lands in Georgia. conveyed to him
by the Creek Indians, which lands were
subsequently ceded by the United States to
Georgia. By this treaty Of cesson' the
US. undertook 10 exiinguish all the Indian
titles. This point is not disputed: the only
question is whether Galpbin's claim is an
Indian title, under the meaning of the
treaty.
Ex Gov. Crawford, Of Georgia (now the
Secretary at War; undertook, years ago,to
secure this claim, on condition of receiving
one half of the whole claim or of such part
Of it as should be paid. From 1893 until
the time of his appointment as Secretary at
War, Mr.. Crawford has urged this claim.
! In 1895, he endeavored to obtain payment
by the Treaty of New Echota, with the
Cberokees. In 1887, he presented the
subject before the Legislature of Georgia.
and continued to urge it, without success,
until 1912. Nothing was accomplished .ill
Is4s, when an act Of Congress was OBJ
tanned, authorizing the Secretary OF the
Treasury "to examine and adjust the claim
OF the late George Galphin. under the
treaty made by the Government oil Georgia
with the Creek and Cherokee Indians. IN
the year l773." and to pay the amount
found due. This was done. and the prin-
cipal Of the claim, amounting 10 between
$4,000 and $50, 900, was paid under the
approval OF r.. J.Walker, then Sec'y ot the
Treasury. Interest was also claimed, but
Mr.. Walker not having time TO examine
that point, left i, among the unfinished bu-
sness Of his Office, 10 be disposed of by
his successor.
When Mr.. Crawford became Secretary
at War he desisted from personal efforts to
secure the claim. In May, ls49. he dis
closed to President Taylor that he was
interested in a CLAIM which he had been
prosecuting before Congress and elsewhere
since 1888. He did not, however, state
wha, the claim was, or the amount Of his
interest in it. The President replied, tha,
in his opinion, none of the pre-existing
individual rights Of Gov Crawford had beer
curlailed by his acceptance of Office.
Mr.Crawford then employed Mr. Bryan
for $4,000, to prosecute the claim, anC
assisted him in preparing an argument ii
support OF it. Whiilesey, the Auditor
; of the Treasury before whom the case
came, decided asains, it. The matter was
then laid before Mr.. Meredith. the Sec'y o
the Treasury, who sough, the opinion o
the Attorney General, Mr.. Johnson, whicf
, was favorable. The claim for interest
amounting TO over SlsO,0O0. was ther
paid. Mr.. Crawford's share OF the princi-
S pal was s2l ,4OI 9s and q the so years
interest, S94,I76 44-total, Sll4, sos 40.
When the affair became pubic.i created
some stir in the House of Representatives,
. as well as elsewhere. and a, the request OF
Mr.. Craw ford, committee Of Nine, five
Democrats and four Whigs) was appointed
to investigate the matter, and report 10 the
House. The Committee performed that
duty, and reported week before last.
Mr.Crawford AYERS that no officer of the
Government who was charged with the
adjustment Of the claim, was made acquain-
ted with his interest in the claim Judge
Bryan managed all the business pertaining
to ii-and the Committee say they have
not been able;to discover any evidence iha,
Secretary Crawford availed himself Of his
official position, or Of the social relations it
established between himself and other
members Of the Cabinet, to influence the
favorable determination OF the claim. 1t
was never the subject of Cabinet delibera-
ton, and nothing has been disclosed by the
testimony, to induce them to believe that
the Secretary of the Treasury, or the
Attorney General. was aware, until the
claim was. .ad Indicated, that Mr.. Crawford
had any interest in it.-Such is the state
ment of Mr.. c., and The majority report
The Burt report, as well as The Disney
report differ widely from these conclusions,
and say ,ha, Mr.. r.Meredith and Mr.Johnson
must have known Mr.. Craw!ord's interest
in the claim, though not perhaps the exact
amount, from his manner OF urging it on
their attention. and from the papers in their
possession and that it was by direct ad-
ministrative influence that the claim for
interest, which amounts TO more than four
times The principal. was finally granted.
The Chairman Of the Committee, Mr..
Burt, and Mr.. Jackson,( Democrats, )sgned