The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-06-07
GaIphin Claim.

nose connected with its allowance as 'swind-
ers," the Republican will not allow itself 10 4
robe the merits of the subject, at all, but :
Foths nionstruusly in idle generaiities 1t T
loes not intimate to its readers that the inves- '
igaton oil Il e claim was submitted to a De- r
nocratic Committee; il does not tell lis read
Prs that the same Committee reported that
Pie justice and equity of tile claim could not
be doubted; it does not seem willing to let its s
readers know that Democratic Congress
virtually assumed the payment of this Gal
phin Claim in all its length and BREADTH
No, such a recital would not satisfy the Bit
terness of its feelings toward every thing that
partakes OF Whiggery; such course would
be doing Wing administration justice. while
it would be doing violence TO the feelings of
raving locofocos.
THAI our readers may have their memories |
refreshed concerning this Galphin transact
tion as connected with the present admins
tration, we enter into a brief investigation of
the matter.
The Democratic Committee of the Senate
TO Nom the claim was referred, after giving
all the evidence pertaining to the subject a
full consideration, after making themselves
familiar with all the circumstances connected
with the case--reported Il bill, not only favor
ing the justice and equity of the claim, but
authorizing and requiring the Secretary of
the Treasury TO examine aud adjust it, and
TO pay the amount which mi ght be found due.
This bill of a Democratic committee passed d
Democratic Congress and became a law.
Some Democrats are contending with con-
siderable warmth, that it was the principal
of this claim which the Democratic Commit
tee pronounced just and equitous, but the
grounds they take have been proven supreme
ly absurd, and entirely untenahle To say
that Congress in passing the bill reported by
the Senate Democratic Committee, intended
the investigation of a claim which had actu-
ally been paid three quarters of century, Is
most ridiculous and totally an Unauthorized
assertion. If Congress contemplated the
payment OF the principal only, why should an
investigating committee be appointed TO ex-
0mine and adjust, when the amount Of that
principal had been ascertained to a farthing.
and actually paid? If Congress had not de-
signed full investigation of the claim for in
teTeSt, it could have at once authorized the
payment of a specified amount, for the
amount of principal was well known. To
say that Congress in passing the Committee's
BILL intended to authorize the Secretary OIL
the Treasury to investigate and pay the
amount which he might consider unpaid OF L
claim l0hich had been paid seuenty-fre gears
is to say that Congress-Ihe enlightened
American Congress, where democracy St
wonderfully dOminates-has most deplorably
stultihed ITSELF But such is evidently no
the case. Facts, acts and appearances ar
indubitable evidence that it was an nvesIi
cation of the claim for interest which was de
sired; that il was the justice and equity OF tn
claim for interest which tina Senatc's Demo
cratic Committee decided, and not of the priI
cipaL Congress, then committed to the d
creton of the Secretary of the Treasury, III
question OF interest. If IN his judgment il
terest Is fo2nd to be due, Congress made
his duty TO pay it,
The great hue and cry which democra
have been raising throughout tie country,a
said to be founded. in part, on the allegatIc
that this claim for interest was rejected
the last administration. The allegation
untrue The question, instead OF being r
ircted. was left open for further considerable
The matter came into the hands OF Mr.. Nj
Culloh, shortly after his insralment in off
as First Comptroller, but before his revit
WIS brought to completion he went out
office. Subsequently he completed it, a
filed it with his successor in office, by who
accompanied with his own report, which W
against the claim, it was committed to
Secretary of the Treasury. The matter W
then referred to the Attorney General, W
gave a written opinion tavorIng the allowar
and payment of the claim. These are ass
tons which recorded facts prove-assertic
whic!.cannot be gainsayed facts, the misrep
sensations Of which have lead some to C
denim the course OF the administraton-fti
over which democratic presses have bluSte
most furiously.
Honest differences of opinion concerning
payment of interest by the Government,
der any circumstances, may exist, but W
the authority OF the opinion of every Attorr
General for the last half century, with
practice Of all administrations where sim
cases were involved it will be nice maj
TO establish the fact that the allowance OF
terest on the Gal phin claim, wasan act vi
out precedent, or that any exception to
general rule in such cases, was adopte,
doing So No such fact can he established
Na;tbar can au0ht he exnosed which will ,