The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-21
The question was taken, and decided as follows
yeas SO, nays 90.


THE oALPHIN REPORT.
MIR. T0OMBS moved reconsideration of the
vote by which the House, on Friday, made the
port in the Gaphn claim the special order for the
fourth Tuesday in June, and ordered il 10 be print
cd. He then maintained that the claim was just,
and that it was the duty of the Government TO pay
it as well as the interest. There had been some
talk about the bill being struggled through Con-
gress. II was reported in the Senate unanimously
and, after full investigation, it was unanimously
reported to the House by of its committees; and
il passed the House unanimously, because there
was no objection. Ii went TO the President, and he
signed it, The connexion of MIR. Crawford with
the claim commenced in 1888; he went into the
contract for onehalf Of it. He pursued the course
becoming gentleman and faithful agent up TO
the day he came here after the law was passed. and
the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr. Walker) was
urged by friends Of Mr. Crawford to settle the
claim.
He then communicated the fact of his interest in
the matter TO President Taylor, and employed an
agent, who prosecuted the claim to the consumma-
ton The gentleman from New York (Mr.
BRooKs) had charged that Messrs. Johnson and
Meredith SO base and 80 vile that, if they had
known the case, they would not have allowed it.
He would have them decide wrong, rather than
seem to have done wrong. The principle of the
gentleman was, that Wing officer should not
have given such decision, for fear of jeoparding
the great Wing party. But he (Mr. To- did not
stand such morality. The Attorney General
did his duty He was not guilty of deciding against
a Just debt Mr. Il. said he had known Governor
Crawford for many years, and would stand by his
integrity and honor personally. The resolution
under which the committee acted was to inquire
into the conduct and relation of the Secretary of
War with reference to this claim, and they only
express opinion as TO the principal and interest
Of II. They left out the other part, like the oms-
sion OF the character of Hamlet in the play by par
tcular request
Mr.. BURT, chairman of the committee,) was
sure, when the gentleman came to look into the re-
port and resolutions, and see the duty which was
"a. fha fna-a
no occasion for the remark. He would find that
the letter of the Secretary of War referred to
the committee, charging them with the duty of in
curing into his conduct and relations with refer
ence to the claim; they were not required to ex-
press an opinion, except on the subject of the pay
ment of principal and interest. The understanding
of all the gentlemen on the committee was, that the
House required them to express an opinion TO
whether the principal and interest were paid in
formity with law and precedent.
MIR. TOOMBS remarked that the resolution re-
quired an inquiry into the relations and conduct of
the Secretary, and the committee came to no con-
clusion these facts but to other conclusions
He intended to supply the omissions and to ask the
judgment OF the House and the country as to the
conduct of Governor Crawford.
Mr.. CONRAD, Ia member of the committee,)
said that Mr.. Crawford was agent employed by
the claimants, and received stipulated portion of
the amount; and the committee certainly did not
think themselves called on or justified in pronounc
ing opinion to the delicacy proprety of his
conduct. they were required TO report the facts
concerning his relations to the claim
Mr.. TOOMBS said that he had made no COM
plant. He thought that there had been an omis
sion, and he intended to supply it, and should at a
proper time, when the question comes up, ask the
honest judgment of every man in the House in
lation to the subject and he apprehended that
there could be but little difference OF opinion before
the House and the country as to what that judgment
will be. He had this occasion risen to reply to
the gentleman from New York, (Mr. BRooKs,)
and n f1f finae elaH M ha hPar nm na
whole question. In conclusion, he repeated that
the claim originated in 1878, was due to patri-
otto man, soldier of the revolution, and it was
rightfuliy paid with interest
Mr.. BROOKS obtained the ilosr, but gave way to
Mr. CONGER who said he was unwilling that
an impression should be made in this House or in
the country that his colleague, Mr.. BRooKs,) who
on Friday addressed the House. stood alone in the
opinions which he had ayowed. He would remark
to the House and to the country, that for one, in
the vote which he should give, he would stand
by and sustain his colleague. He was unwilling
that the gentleman from Georgia should argue this
question on the ground that his colleague (Mr
BRooxs) stood alone in the opinions which he had
expressed. Before the House came to decision, at
least before he called to give his VOTE he should
desire an opportunity Of expressing his views. He
now desired TO say, In answer TO what the gentle
man from Georgia had assumed, viz: that, in
passing the law, Congress recognised the validity
and justice Of the claim-that he dissented from
any such construction drawn from the passage
OF the law So far from recognising such prin-
ciple that, he supposed that the entire merits
of the claim committed TO the Secretary Of the
Treasury, and he to examine into its validity;
and 50 far from desiring TO cast blame censure
on the Secretary of War, he went to the fullest er
tent of answering the action Of ex- Secretary Walk
err, Mr. Meredith, and the Attorney General.
Mr.. BROOKS said that there two questions
involved in this matter; higher could not come be-
fore the House. The first Is, whether the Secreta-
ry Of War can act AZ claim agent while holding
fffaor
officers pay four times the amount Of the claim
while Congress is in session, when called on 10 adj
just the principal. II 80, there is for Con-
gress and in vain do the people elect and send here
their representatives, IL the accounting officers are
overruled by the Attorney General, and distribute
money without an appropriation by Congress The
principal of 43 500 was appropriated by Congress,
and Slsl 600 was appropriated elsewhere by the
construction of the Attorney General, overruling
the Comptroller Of the Treasury. There is no
occasion TO have House Of Representatives 10
hold the strings, IL this is TO be the princi
pie We may pile Pelion on Ossa, in the way OF
revenue bills, and could not raise money enough
30 pay such claims. Congress only intends TO pay
interest when il is stated in the law and not by
the construction of the accounting officers and the
Attorney General. Mr.. b. said that he should like
10 go before the people to discuss this. If we give
by law a hundred thousand dollars, at the other end
III the Avenue n million might be appropriated.
We are the custodiers Of the public money.
He repeated now, as be did the other day, that II
wa tne duty OF inc ocCrcthfy Oh war, Wuhe SPEAK
ing for his Georgia friends 10 say that he himseli
was deeply interested 10 tho amount Of $4,000.
If the school Of morals in which he was educated
not as elevated as that Of the gentleman from
Georgia, (Mr. ToomBs,) II was his misfortune, not
his fault; and both must GO before the public and
appeal TO them az judges OF their common morality.
Mr.. BUTLER, Of Pennsylvania said that his UNI
Outstanding was, that when questions arise TO
the law, the Attorney General submits his consruc-
ton Of IL, and that the construction binding
act Of Congress.
Mr.. BROOKS replied that opinion Of the At
torncy General was as binding as the law Of Con-
gress. There was no power 20 appropriate money
but by the representatives Of the people. They
hold the pursc-strings. Nor did he hold that the
Attorney General can override the accounting Off
GERS Of the Treasury. The principle is monstrous,
and ought 20 be tolerated no longer.
Messrs. CONAN and G. BUTLER, in a low tone,
each made inquiry. but we did not hear with
distinctncss what Il was, nor the response which
given.
MIR. KAUFMAN said that this was an interest
ing family quarrel, and nc did not wish TO inter
fere with IT, He wished 10 give notice Of rcsolu-