Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-06-13

The Galphin swindIe.


the doings of his cabinet is not matter Of much I'M
porance; their his acts. lie Is the responsible
head Of the government, elected by the people but
under the administration of the present weak and I'M
bece President, who signs whatever is brought 10 him
without inquiry, whether it is land patent or a
Postmaster's commission; who excuses himself IN
all cases Of complaint, by saying that he was out
voted by the cabinet the acts Of each member Of
such administration becomes matter of Importance,
and should therefore be carefully scanned by the
American people. That readers may understand
more fully this hoary-headed claim which contribu-
ed largely to ill the pockets Of George W. Craw-
ford, Secretary of War, propose to give brief
history of the whole iransaclinn,-a transacilON
which has maniled the cheek of every honest man
everywhere, with the deep blush of modification and
shame.
The history of this claim is fully set forth in the
report of the committee, signed by the democratic
members, and in the arguments of Messrs- Disney.
J. Mann, and Featherston. But we have thrown all
these aside and taken the statement of witness
who cannot be charged with being prcjudiced,-we
alude to the able and independent speech Of the Hon.
James Brooks. a whig member of Congress from the
city of New York, aid Editor Of the Express, a
leading whig journal in that city. Mr. Brooks. at
great labor, has collected Of evidence, throw
ing food Of light this nefarious transaction.
The claim had its origin in the colony of Georgia,
before the revolutionary war, whilst that colony was
under the British Crown.
George GaIphin was an INDIAN trader from I761
to I773. He had sold goods to the Creeks and Cher
okees beyond their means TO pay. By treaty be-
tween the Indians and the British Crown, held at Au
gusia in l773 they ceded to the British government
tract of land lying in Wilkes county, Georgia. for
the purpose of liquidating these claims. The claim
of Galphin then originally against the British
Crown. Its payment depended upon certain contin-
gencies-1st, the sale of the land I'd, the risk of
their selling for enough to poy the claim and by
the way, unless they were more successful in selling
Georgia lands than Indiana has been, it would have
paid but small moiety Of the original claim. The
lands not sold; and the of Independence
having divesied the British Crown Of all control over
them, the claim was paid from their proceeds.
The State of Georgia contended that these lands
her property by right of conquest, and che
placed in her Golfers the proceeds. Not one cent
ever went into the National Treasury. George Gal
pbin, the original claimant, died in 17S0. His heirs
first presented their claim to the British government
and urged its payment. Their claim however
rejected In 1893 it was presented 10 the Georgia
Legislature. The Senate made favorable report, and
placed the payment of the claim on its only Just
ground that the State of Georgia bad appropriated
the lands to her use, without regaLd to the Gal
phil lien and was therefore, bound to pay the debt
There was no in,imatiOn that the General Govern
ment was liable for either principal interest. But
that report, like Legislative reports often are,
permitted sleep the sleep of DEATH until resurrecteG
by the hand of oficous and interested agents. The
Legislature took no action. In 1913, committee
reported that it a good claim against Great
Britain but not against either Georgia the United
States. In the mean time. DIR. Thomas Golphin. sor
and administrator of the original claimant, died.
the duty Of prosecuting this ancient and orejectec
claim devolved on Milledge GalpIn. the grandson o
George Gslphin. Thus this claim of an Indian
pedler .bequeathed from sire TO son." In 1888, q
joint resolution passed the Legislature of Georgia
directing the Governor 10 institute commission, tc
investigate this and other claims. The commission
ers reported against it's payment, and that report
concurred in by the Legislature. With all the facts
before them, resolution insiructlng their member:
in Congress to use their influence procure the pay
ment of this claim by the General Government wa,
defeated by large majority. After a Struggle o
half a century, with zeal worthy Of better cause
they did not despair and their final success proves
the value Of that marked trait in the American char
acter, perseverance. After several Intellectual at
iemps to procure its recognition by the State o
Georgia. it presented to Congress; but prior t.
this. in 1885, believe, the celebrated New EchotI
treaty was made with the Cherokees. At this, as
all Indian treaties. there much figuring pro
cure the recognition of old claims. The most con
spicuous among them this celebrated ''Gialphin'
claim. Mr.. Forsyth then Secretary of State, WA
the attorney But how different was his conduc
from that of Secretary Crawford To every on,
with whom he spoke, he said he spoke as the aiior
ney of the parties, and they receive his state
menis no, as a cabinet officer, but interested
attorney. AT this treaty. John Ross. the head chic
Of the Cherokees. swears before Mr.. Wise's cee
brated investigating committee, in 1887, that at
tempt was made by Crawford the present Secretary
and Mr. Hunter, to bribe him, to have a clause in
serted in the treaty. binding the United States pa
the claim. Such was the attempt at tamPering tia
Ross refused sign the treaty; and a treaty wa
subsequently made and signed by John Ridge. il
which this claim was recognized. The conduct 0
Ridge relation this treaty, caused "A violent rup
ture between him and Ross, and resulted in dIvi
sion Of the tribe and finally the trngical death
the former. But on the ratification of the treaty, tn
Galphin clause was stricken out in the Senate BY
large majority. Bought into the treaty made wit
Ridge the Senate refused to ratfy the contract an
here ended their efforts procure its payment by tn
British Government, the State of Georgia, tn
Cherokee Indians. Rspndiated every where, th
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