New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-04-03
The GaIpbin claim.

The GaIpbin Claim.
IL is some time since we stopped thinking or
maintaining very thing right that is done by men
Of our own party or wrong that Is done By oPpo
nsnts The verna season in which that wds right
IN Our eyes has passed away, and the conviction
that there are two sides TO Political well as to
other questions has been pretty firmly established
in Our mind. Having long and justly rcProached
our antagonists for their slayisb unquestonng sup
port Of whatever commended 10 them as
Democracy. we mean not 70 stand condemned by
our own doctrines, but to speak the truth without
partially or concealment
The Galphin Claim, so called, has been and
still is very justly the theme Of public inquiry and
discussion. So far az the facts are developed, they
seem 10 be substantially as follows
l. That thi. is very old claim, mono the worse
for that growing out of certain transactions to
which one George GalPhin certain Indians and the
Royal Government Of Georgia were parties in or
near 1873, before the breaking out Of the Revou
tioDary War;
2 That the State Of Georgia never recognized
nor provided for the claim which was originally
for lands but. having disposed of most OF her wild
lands to the Federal Government, turned the
claimant over to that Government for satisfaction
g. That this claim. though SO venerable and well
backed, never was admitted by our Government
till 1916 or whereabouts when bill was got through
both Houses directing the Treasury Department
TO audit and settle it on terms Of justice and equity
4 That it ras so audited and settled under Sec.
rotary w alker, and the full estimated amour, o.
the original claim paid to the heirs assigns
OF the original claimant, the sum being about
$4,000
s. That this sum was duly potketed but the
claim still prosecuted Tor snerwsrd revived for
,nfeTest on the amount accorded for the seventy
elk years intervening since the origin Of the de-
nsnd
g. That ex Gov George w. Crawford Of Geor
gia, now u S. Secretary at War, was formerly the
agent of the claimants in prosecuting their claim,
though he no longer appears as such on the record
7. That MIR. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury,
directed the proper officer of his Department. to re
examine this claim for interest, and that officer
Controller Whttlesey) did so, and reported that
there was nothing due the claimant, according to
the principles established by the Government for
the settlement of claims.
9. That Mr.. Meredith permitted or directed an
sppeal to be taken from this decision to the A,tor
ney. General (Reverdy Johnsonl who reported m
taror OF the validity and equity OF the claim where
upon
o. Secretary Meredith directed it's payment and
II has ben paid, to the amount Of some $4,000
Such are the essential facts in the case as re.
ported in tho newspapers. We do not see them
directly confronted nor materially soitoned. Yet
we insist that the fair fame of the parties concur
ring in OF oonnving at the passage OF this second
claim mperatively demands a full explanation or
clear reiutaton.
This, ii must be considered, is not the first
oaper OF its Kind. The Double Mileage 81 out
rageousg iobbed by most of the Senators holding
over from the last Senate into this, whereby sew.
eral of them pocketed from $1,000 to $4,000 each
for an imaginary journey from Washington to their
homes and back again between Sunday morning
March ath, and Monday morning, March Sth. o.
last year, so that $4,000 in all Was distracted
from the public purse the strength OF al un
righteous and all bat unprecedented decision OF q
Senstor placed in the Chair to decide this claim
contrary to the Vice Presidents sscertained irdg
ment-this DARK transaction remains unexplained
and uncorrccted Me-. Controller Whttlesey dis
allowed the amount MIR, Meredith referred Il u
tho Attorney. General, who reversed the Control
lers decision and thereup0n tho account was or
dered to DO passed by the Secretary OF the Treas
ury 1t is idle for the laws to provide auditing
ofSoes. and the President ~ select upright and
capable men TO gu them, If their righteous deer
sions are to be overruled and the public chest
stove in after this fashion.
We await with anxiety some full explanation
OF this 6slphin business IL it can be cleared ny
no one viii welcome the fact with heartier pleas
uro than We; but il i; cannot be- it is morally i'm
possible that tho Cabinet should remain unchane
ed The public confidence canuOt be commanded
by men 50 slAringy UinAithful or grossly moon
petent, as sosae oRe must have been or this re
vived claim. as il now appears. could never have
been passed