Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-05-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, May II
ENArE-Not in session to day.

committee appointed 10 investigate tne con.
duct of the Secretary of War relative 10
the circumstances connected with the Gal
phin claim. He said the committee had
closed their labors and directed him to make
their report. He felt. it to be his duty to
say, that on some questions involved with
the resolution, the committee have not been
able TO agree, and ON those particularly
which. relate TO the payment Of principal
and Interest Of aths claim diversity Of o.
pinion exists. The members of the com.
miltee have prepared thier views, in wri-
ting, in support of the conclusions to which
they have come and which are expressed
in resolutions accompanying the reports.
He asked the House to adopt the following
resolution. ......
Resolved, That the written arguments
Of the different members OF committee on
the subject of the principal and interest to
the representatives of Geo. Galphin be
printed. -.-..
Mr.Burt was instructed by the commit
tee TO say further, that they ask their re-
port to be laid on the table and printed,
and so soon as the report and other docu-
ments shall be printed, they would feel it
to be their duty to move to take it up for
the purpose Of being referred or considered
by the House.
Mr.. Conger asked when it would be in
order to call up the Report.
The speaker said it would be in order
any slime as privileged question.
MIR. Carter would like TO hear the report
read.
Mr.. Brooks would take occasion to dis
cuss the matter of public printing. lie
took this course, because the public docu-
ments which 90 to the printer never re.
turn.
-as@ WASHINGTON, May ls.
HousE.-The Report after giving mi.
mute history Of the claim, concludes sub
stantially as follows:
The Committee deemed it their duty to
request Gov. Crawford to appear before
them, and make such statement rs would
enable them to understand his connection
with the claim. lie madea written state
ment, and answered their inquiries, from
which it seems he became agent for the
Claim by power of attorney executed by
Mr.. Galphin, (executor ofThos. Galphin,
decensed-who was son and executor Of
Geo. Galphin,) } in Feb,-ls33 and agreed
In May Of that year to receive half the a.
mount recovered, in full OF his services;
subsequently, all his advances and expen.
ses were also TO be paid to him previous to
this division.
He endeavored TO have the claim allow.
ed in the Cherokee Treaty at New Echota,
in l935-and afterwards, by repeated ap-
plicaton to the Georgia Legislature, from
1887 till ls42-declining to vote on the SUBJ
ject when he was a member of that body,
on account of his interest.
He was in Washington city one day, in
passing through. in May, ls46, and not
afterwards till the law relative TO the claim
was passed. -".
In Febua-y. 1s4e, he again came to
Washington, and in March, entered upon
his duties as Secretary of War-taking no
pains to prosecute the claim for interest
until urged so to do by his principal.
In May, 1s49, he disclosed TO the Presi.
dent the condition of the claim and his re-
lation to it-thot he had been prosecuting
it before Congress and elsewhere since
l843-it was allowed by Congress and
pending before the Treasury Department;
but did not state the character norsamount
Of the claim, extent Of his interest or the
claimants name-nor any details. The
President said no pre-existing right was
curtailed by his acceptance of his Office
He engaged Judge Jos. Bryan to urge the
claim, for SO, ,OO0-should he get it allow
ed, supervising and aiding him in preparing
arguments in its support.
MIR Crawford denies that his interest in
the claim was, at any time before its pay
ment, made known to any government
officer charged with its adjustment by his
authority or with his consent.
In a conversation with the President in
March, 1850, (after the matter was pub
licly spoken of, he said his impression was
that the claim was before Congress, al The
time of the former conversation-althoug
his memory to this was indistinct, as he
had thought no more of it, until it attracted
public attention. He told Mr. Crawford
that although he did not recollect his tell
ing him it was before the Treasury Depart
ment, } he did not see how, had he been SO
informed, he could have given any other
opinion, or the fact of the agent being Sec
retary of War would have justified his hav.
ing the action Of the Secretary ofthe Trea.
sury suspended, he expressed an opinion in
favor Of the justice of the claim, and said
that (urder the law of Congress,) it should
have been paid, no matter who was inter-
ested, and that this was due to the credit
and good faith of the Government
A decision of the question Of interest on
the claim, BY Mr.. Walker, late Secretary,
was urged by Gov. c. and friends SO earn
estly, as to induce Walker to believe he
would be one of the Cabinet Gov. G.
mentioned it to the Attorney General as
claim in which some of his Georgia friends
were interested, and urged its examination.
He alluded to it in conversation with Mr.
Meredith three or four times, but merely
to ask its early examination.
Messrs Johnson, Meredith and Whittle.
sey state that he neuer, by any act or ex.
preston, made known TO them his interest
in the claim, while pending-and thsfe IS