The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-15

claim, 10 which stipulation inserted In
the last Cherokee treaty, as sent TO the United
States Senate to be ratified?
ANSWER by Mr.. Forsyth:
al have been interested in the Galphin claim
since 1927 1928, counsel for the representa-
tives OF Galphin, and expect whenever il Is paid,
portion of the sums recovered.
Question by Mr. Wise to Mr.. Forsyth;
''2. Do you know whether any person or persons,
connected not with the State Department, or
interested not in said Gaphin claim, offered
reward in money, goods, or other valuable con-
celebrations, to Cherokee chief, named John Ross,
to assent to the stipulation, as to said claim in
serted in said treaty.
answer by Mr.. Forsyth do not.
Question by MIR. Mann to Mr.. Forsyth:
so. Has the Galphn claim, in any manner, been
officially before your department for examination,
pending the negotiation of the late treaty with the
Cherokee Indians?
ANSWER by Mr.. Forsyth:
"The Department of State, since it has been
under my care, has had no concern with the Gal
phin claim, other than in certifying some docu-
ments among the files of papers relating to time
anterior to the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton. All the business of Indian treaties is trans
acted in the War Department, to which, during
the administration of it by Major Eaton, deliv
cred statement Of the Galphin claim, ,ch a
uieo TO haze IL prooided for, by some subsequent
arrangement with the Creek Cherokee Indians
This statement having been mislaid, another state
ment was substituted for it, by the parties inter
ested, during Gov. CASTS administration. While
the treaty was negotiated here, the representatives
of Galphin had an agent Judge Underwood) in
this city, who applied to me to urge the President
to admit the claim, which Underwood said the In
dians wished to see paid declined any CONVEX
sation with the President the subject, because
my contingent interest. Gov Cass told me he
thought the claim JUST, but doubted whether it
should not be paid by Georgia, and not the United
States. The President, as Governor Cass informed
me, refused, ON that ground, to permit an article
respecting it to be put into the treaty. And when
the treaty was considered and decided upon in the
Cherokee country, the agents of lphin procured
from them the article it went to the Senate.
The claim not admitted to form part Of the
treaty, but it was before the Senate its own
merits. The original demand was $4,000 A law
of Georgia promises to pay six per cent. interest
had further connexion with the insertion of the
article in the treaty, otherwise than advising the
representatives of Galphin, before inserting it, to
procure from the Indians urgent application for
the payment of the claim; and all the converse,
tons l had on that subject, prior TO the treaty,
Il applied to Major Eaton and Gov. Cass, to exam
inc the claim, and furnished of forming a
just opinion Both were informed ofmy personal
interest, and that what said proceeded from that
interest. While the treaty was before the Senate,
Il conversed the subject with Mr.. Preston of
South Carolina, Mr.. Brown of North Carolina
and Messrs. King and Cuthbert OF Georgia, and
perhaps with others; but to one, without
a distinct warning that spoke in the character
of course, for the parties, having contingent in
'terest. My appeals to them founded solely
on the justice of the claim, and the hardship Of
the condition of the claimants
[Note-In note, MIR. Forsyth states the
amount of the claim to be E9,79l los 3D., and not
f9,O00"l
General JACKSON, then, thought the Galphin
claim Just one, but was of opinion that it ought
not to be paid by the United States, but by Geor-
gia. He went 50 far, however, as To send to
the Senate treaty, containing provision for
its payment out of the proper funds of the
United States, provided it should appear that
either the United States OF Georgia had derived
benefit from the lands originally assigned to Sc
cure It's payment. Can any one doubt, then,
that if Congress had, during his administration,
passed such an act as that which was passed in
1913, and by which the United States assumed
the liability of Georgia-can any one doubt, we
say, that, under those circumstances, Gen. JACK
SON would have caused the whole amount, prin-
cipal and interest, to be promptly paid? And
being paid, and Mr.. FoRsYTH, the Secretary of
State, receiving his portion of it, does any one
believe that single word would have been
uttered against the proceeding by the Union.
or any other Democratic newspaper, OF Demo
cratic member of Congress? After the report
and proceedings of Mr.. WIsE's committee were
published, and the facts laid before the public,
did the editor of the Union and the leaders and
presses of his party, denounce the conduct Of
Mr.. FORSYTH, in prosecuting this same Gal
phin claim, whilst Secretary of State, or the
conduct Of Gen. JACKSON, in transmitting To
the Senate a treaty containing provision for
its payment by the United States? Not at ALL
Their most virtuous and honest Indignation was
all reserved until the same claim should be paid
under Wing administration; and that, too,
after Congress had assumed the liability of
Georgia and directed its payment