Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-08-16

i
do not understand it is denied that George
Galphin had a claim. 1t is admitted that
0ader the treaty referred to, the claim Of
Galphln was admitted TO be due. Then
the act OF Congress authorized and '' re-
qmred" the Secretary of the Treasury to
ADJUST the claim :: under the treaty made
by the Governor oI Georgia with the
Creek and Cherokee Indians, in l773,"
anu " to pay the amount which may be
found due" The Secretaries who paid
the principal and interest (Mr. Walker and
Mr. incredibly were not to be blamed for
obeying the act Of Congress. Congress is
to blame, not the Secretaries, if blame rests
anywhere. And let it not be forgotten,
Mr.. Speaker, that S1r. 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 Chair
man of the Galphin Committee, lMr.
BURT,) when he addresses the House
That gentleman now thinks that the
claim OF the representatives Of George
Galphln was not a just demand against the
United States" The gentleman did not
think so IN August, 1913 for | have be-
fore me letter, published evidently by
authority, from Georgia paper, which, as
part OF the history of this case, | will
read to the House.
Here is The article which Mr.. s. had
before him
From the Augusta (Ga) Chronicle and Sentinel
1.-THE GALPHIN CLAIM-MR. BURT.
9" You are requested to publish the following
letter. The original has been sent to Washing
ton:
"' WASHINGTON, August IA, l84s
"' DEAR SIR: have the pleasure to say that
the bill IN which you are interested has Just
been signed by the Speaker Of the House, and
will be approved by the President.
"' With great respect, your obedient servant,
"' ARMISTEAD BURT.
"' DR.. III. GALPHIN.'
" trall memories need remembrancers. They
are now supplied, because they are refreshing
" The bill for the relief of Galphin passed on
Saturday, the 10Th of August. ltwas approved
on the l4th, Sunday intervening) Whose
'heifer was ploughed with in the mean time =
The will of the then President was spoken of
as fixed fact His approval was known in
advance, or the guessing was so close as to have
astonlshed the artistic skill of the east.
- As dolphin of the woods and wild boar of
the seas we subjoin the following resolution:
"' That the claim Of the representatives of
George Galphin was not just demand against
the United States
Verify, the pleasure of '43 acidi6ed in so
1t had vinegar twang, and fit only for common
'pickling.'
"In good sooth, the 'will' of the President
was Pinched, in 1913, INTO an approved form
In 1850 II has been snubbed or smashed.
"Oddsbodkins Mr.. Burt is clever on a con-
graduation and resolution. Let US be thankful,
and watch OMEGA"
Mr.. BURT (Ir. SrANLY yielding the
floor for explanation desired to say a single
word, and no more. Ii was family in his
remembrance that such a letter as the gen
ueman from North Carolina had read was
hastily written by him at his desk in this
hall, for the purpose of saving the mail.
But he considered it due TO the President
to say that he had never had word with
that high tunctionary on the subject and
that he had no peculiar means of informa-
ton. What he wrote was mere express
sion of opinion.
Mr.. SrANLY. But the gentleman had
evidently watched the progress of the bill
with interest. As Mr.. Polk had vetoed
the French spoliation bill, he might with
rs much propriety have vetoed this for
Mr.. Polk was Speaker, if | mistake not,
in 1886, when the lphin claim was dis
cussed in Congress. The gentleman from
South Carolina evidently thought the claim
an honest one then, for he raised no obiec-
ton, as he might have done. He seems
to have been acquainted with the passage
of the bill and informed his friend the
bill "'cH be approved by the President -
for he watched its progress with parental
oEcItude-watchcd when. the Speaker
signed the bill, and informed DIR, NJ Gal
phin that the bill "lciU be approved by
the President. The inference is irresist-
able, that the chairman of the Galphin
committee had informed Mr. Polk of the
merits of the bill !; that Mr.. Polk thought
the claim was just and ough; to be paid
and that he personally and officially ap-
proved the bill.
Then, as far as this is party matter,
Mr.. Polk, who approved the bill-Mr.
Walker, who examined and paid the prin-
cipal-and the chairman of the select
committee, who stands high in the estima-
ton of his party, who is chairman of the
Committee on Military Allairs-these three
distinguished Locolocos are as thoroughly
g Galphnized' as any three Wings can
be, in or out of the Cabinet. Let it be
particularly observed that, in his testimony
before the committee, Mr.. Rober, ]. Walk
er said of the Galphin claim, s. the facts
being of peculiar character, the claim for
interest remains an open question" And
he also said, " that if he entertained ser-
Gus doubts OH question of law, and de-
mandcd the opinion of the Attorney Gen
cral on that question, he would abide by
his opinion The attempt is now made
to give this matter party aspect-to
blame the Whin nnrtN for II I'hn nnn