The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-23

Troop or Galphins.
The enormity of the Galphn claim, implied in the pay
ment OF nearly two hundred thousand dollars Of interest,"
most of which accrued before the claim was even pre-
scented against the United States and in the fact that The
owner OF one-haf OF it is cabinet minister, con-
irving and urging its allowance while holding that high
and honorable position, has astounded the public mind,
and Withdrawn its attention from claims Of less magni.
tude. but Of equal enorty, devices for punderDg the
public treasury Many other claims refused by former adj
minstratons and allowed by this, have recently come
to light, involving, in estimation as fragrant viola
ton of all honest principle in their allowance as the
Galphin claim. or course, as the particulars OF these
transactions, far they preserved on the records
and files Of the government, within the keeping Of
the administration. and therefore beyond reach, we
are indebted to industrious correspondents, writing from
this city to distant papers. for the history Of many Of
them And inasmuch as the Galphn swindle has been
laid before the country all its deasdetas repulsive
and sckening to every honest mind-we have deemed il
proper to collect together list and descriptions far as we
can obtain Them OF the other extraordinary claims that
have been allowed by the present cabinet. We begin
with the
Francia Claim.
This claim was rejected by several former admnisra-
lions, and was finally allowed and paid by the Hon.
John NJ Clayton. Secretary OF State under the admins
traton Of General Taylor. We indebted 10 cor
respondent of the New York Herald for the following
succinct statement of facts connected with this claim by
which il will be seen that il is totally without founda
ton--wholly Fictitious and rotten" declared by Col
Russell:
Inhabitants of West Florida about the year 1910,
revolution against the Spanish and were
Qurnfl v nas
the Secretary Of State 10 examine the accounts of tho
the tpey had d. e.e.ed amd cay e Reuben
kemper came To Washington the agent OF the claimants
then Secretary Of State and allowed with The exception
one claim pasporlog 70 for arms and munitions Of
Henry de Ia Franca Reuben Kemper the agen, or
the government This claim was rejected by Mr. Adams
did give up. He bought negroes and settled on
plantation Red River, and there got Charles Mu
holland administer upon the estate aforesaid DE
la Fnncs, Ia fictitious peronl and bring against
him CkemPeD for Sl775. alleged to be due said De la
Colonel Gilbert @ RUSSELL OF the army, a resident of
Mobile and now IN this city, second in command
Rouge, at the time Mohosnd brought suit against KEN
per- in the court at Alexandria, for the alleged sum of
si775 He says thai General Joseph Walker now govern
OF louisiana the foreman of the jury that jury
al first declined TO bring in verdict but subsequently, did
ntefes per cent from the 9th OF November Isio IN
I'll paid but that execution issued collect the money,
kempsr wanting only the Judgment offs for his vouch
er at Washington.
Colonel Russell refers to General Jesup, who
company Of the oh regiment TO cya: sibIey, an old and
much respected citizen Of Mobile and to all Of oldest
and most respectable Inhabitants of Mobile Baton Rouge,
and Pensacola, to justify him in his declaration that
never was known IN either place. At the time referred
arms OF any munitions OF war OF any kind delivered by
anybody at either place named Ksmper, anybody
else, IN be hall OF the government.
Colonel Russell declares the claim be wholly fictitious
and rotten from beginning TO end and that, Mr. Clayton
VIII ask fJr committee 10 examine into the subject, with
power TO send for persons and papers, he will prove il be
Of STATE ia s and Sy s ~n head. a my
same department Mt Buchanan refused allow Il, and
M Claytons clerk tM, Hun,erJ to whom Mr. cayton bad
referred the subject and the connected win H.
aooa. % report % b, Pncpal adversely when all at once
edS. legal opaon @os oSnsS Ia. s0a Sc
claim ought 10 be PAID and IL pad-the principal,
SIZE with interest at six per cent (no ten) from 5h Of
have Colonel Russers authority for referring to him
Johnson and Clayton in this transaction call for an
investigation
The claim, with the interest, amounts to about
$4,000
The next in order is the
Benson Claim.
We indebted to the same correspondent OF the
Herald for the following account OF this claim, which
also appears TO have been allowed and paid, wholly
without warrant or authority by the present Secretary
Of the Navy and in the very face OF the fact that the
two law officers Of Mr. Folks administration had decided
that i had neither law nor equity to sustain il:
The history OF the Benson claim runs thus Under the
Tyler admtnisiraton, A. g. Benson, 40, Of New York.
had contract for taking freight pablo vessels In the
Pacific, semsnnuay, ihres dollars per barrel and to
carry out emigrans 10 Oregon, not exceeding specified
nuibcr free OF charge. Tue expire when
notice 20 that effect should be given After the election Of
Mr. Polk the presidency, bat before Mr. Tysrs term
had expired, believe Mr. Benson asked have a
Tor the contract TO last for years. entered said
Iact This was refused, but consent obtained IN Il
iae conise, should run on 70, sn months or that Mf
terminate.
Mr. Bancroft soon aer entering upon the duties OF his
az secretary Of the Navy, caused 10 be given
TO Mt Benson IN conformity with Mr. Tyles previous d
RON mat date Within that period made
WIN any one for light the Pacific, but public
snp carried out the supplies Mr. Benson applied to MIR
bsncro Tor damages, 70 be pad principles olaw and
eqoiv These alleged damages were refused by Mr.
Bancroft Mr. Mason, and Mr. President Polk. The
was submitted TO the law officers, Mr. Solicitor Gilleu and
NJ Attorney General Toucey who decided that there was
no law or equity that would justify the allowance OF the
claim.
On the last day the last session Of Congress- Joint res
onton gided through that body, authorizing the Secre
tary oil the Navy sse Nj Bcnsons demands relative 10
The Pacific 6eghage and alleged damages "npon prnc
pies oflaw and equity"
OF course the Polk ton was the day TO
retire rom Office the question OF damage coald be re-
bad already decided there was no aw or equity justify
tue claim 81 Il was taken up by Mr.. Secretary Preston
VINO, eltef getting the requisite legal opinion from h
heveidy Johnson, that " ought to be allowed, approved
who were the agents and atoneysf Ay there Is the fnD
How many OF the old rejected claims winch have been re-
opened aud paid by members of this cabinet have peen
paid 70 relatives and avorites principals OF attor
them
~ have 4.