The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-07-20
The Galphins.


The Gaiphins.
The wing press must now cease its defence OF
the conduct Of Mr. Secretary Crawford and the
Wing cabiue: in the Galphin business, and admi.
without, reservation the charge made by the de-
mocraiic press that fifth Of million Of dol.
lars have been Illegally and shamefclly abstract
ed from the treasury by Mr.. Crawford, with the
consent and conniyGnce Of the ether members Of
the cabinet. The bald assertion that it is al a
"locofoco calumny," party malice" viii no longer
answer. The peeulaters have had fair trial and
stand condemned by friends as well AS foes in con.
gress. At the instance Of their own friends, a
committee of the house was raised to inquire into
the alleged Galphin frauds. That committee,
composed about equally of wings and democrats
after long and thorough investigation, reported
TO the house series Of resolutions, in which the
conduct of Mr., Crawford Mr. Meredlth-in short
Of the whole cabinet, was unqualifedlg condemn
ed as contrary to law and precedent Wegive the
resolutions below, together with the action of the
house upon them in their order,
The House proceeded TO the consideration Of the
following resolutions;
LIST Rescired, That the claim Of the repre-.
seuta;ives OF George Galphin was not a JUS, claim
against the United States,
Cd Rssolrsd, That the act Of Congress made
it the duty of the Secretary Of the Treasury 10
pay the principal Of sand clam, and it was there.
fore paid in conformity with law and precedent
3d. Rcsolged That the act aforesaid did not
authorize the Secretary Of the Treasury to pay
interest on said claim. and its paymen: was not
IN conformity with law and precedent
To these Mr. Toombs, of Ga, offered m amend.
ment, to the effect that mo evidence had been pre-
scented to the committee to impugn the personal or
official conduct Of Mr. Crawford !" and Mr.. Schenk,
a wing member from Ohio. offered an amendment,
to the amendment, which provided however,
tha; the house did not approve Of the Secretary's
continuing to be interested in the clam when. It
was to be examined and passed upon by the cabi'
net, and that such connection OF members of the
! cabinet with claims prosecuted before them was
dangerous as i precedent and MOTTO be sanctioned"
The question was taken on Mr Schenk' amend.
ment thus unqualiiedly csnsuring Mr. Secreta'
ry Crawford and i, was carried by vote OF l5s
agans; 95.
The vote was next taken on this mixed apology
and condemnation OF the secretary, the amend.
ment as amended, and it was rejected go to So.
Mr. Thompson then moved an amendment ex-
pressing the dissent of the house from the opin-
ion expressed by the president, that his being n
member OF the cabinet, did not deprive Mr Craw.
ford of the right still TO act the agent Of the
Galphin claimants" and this amendment thus cen.
surfing the president, was adopted by vote of9l
to Sc. 1t was, however. afterwards reconsidered
and rejected
Mr. Thompson also moved tho following amend.
ment:
THAT this House decidedly disapprovcs ofand
dissents from the opinion given by the Attorney
General in favor OF an allowance Of interest on
said claim, and from the action of the Secretary
( OF the Treasury in payment of the same claim
This was agreed to by yeas ll9, nays 66.
And then ths resolutions above were seve.
rally taken up and agreed to, the first by l42
yeas to 40 nays; the second by liz yeas to 60
nays, and the third by lis yeas to II nays
Thus on the trial asked by themselves, the Gal.
phln cabinet are found guilty and condemned
The disgrace, the crime of having robbed the
treasury outright, is fastened upon those to whom
the law had committed the very seals of its vaults
No wonder Fillmore is unwilling to have inter
course with such cabinet