The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..

HoUoE oF REPRESENTATIVES,.
! MIR. BISSELL asked. but did not obtain, leave 10
present a memorial from Miss Dix, asking an APP.
preparation OF land for the benefit of the insane.
NATIONAL IsDEpEsDENcE.
Mr. MORSE said that he rose 10 make privi-
| legged motion, and that while the House were in
good humor he desired to take vote. before talk
ing about Galphin, California, Africans. To-
morrow being the Fourth of July, the anniversary
OF American independence, lac wished 10 celebrate
1t by being free from angry political discussions of
House adjourns day. it adjourn to meet on Sat
urday morning. He hoped that the House would
| do II with a unanimous sage"
| Mr.. JONES said that the gentleman proposed To
adjourn for two days; and lac moved 10 strike out
the word Saturday" and insert Friday"
MIR. PUTNAM moved an amendment, viz: that.
our national independence, every man throughout
! the Union be free.
| The amendment Of Mr. JONES was agreed to-
| yeas 81, NAYS 50.
! The yeas and nays were ordered on agreeing To
| the motion as thus amended.
Mr. JONES wished to make an inquiry of the
Chair II the motion should be voted down, would
II be IN order, at subsequent period Of the day, to
move to adjourn until Saturday.
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative
The question was taken, and the motion that
when the House adjourns it adjourn until Friday,
was agreed to-yeas "a nays ~.
CLAIMS AGAINST HAYrI.
Mr.. HOLMES asked leave to introduce a resolu-
ton instrucing the Committee Foreign Affairs
To inquire into, and report 10 the cxpcdiency of
placing at the disposal OF the President of the United
States such naval forces rs may be necessary en-
iorcc the just claims against Hayt.
MIR. JONES objected TO the Introduction of the
| solutions and, therefore. y was not received
GALPHiS CLAIM.
The House resumed tho consideration of the re-
port OF the Select CoInmittec appointed to nvcst-
gate the conucxion and relation of the Secretary
of War to the claim OF the representatives Of George
Galphin
amendment of Mr.. ScmENcK to the amendment Of
Mr.. TooMBs, which declares that there is cvi-
dcncc submitted by tl.e committee to which was
referred the letter OF the Secretary OF War, asking
can CATION OF his conduct in relation to tie
claim Of the representatives OF George Galphn
which impugns his personal and Official conduct as
an officer of the Government, in the settlement OF
the said claim by the proper officers Of the Govern
ncnt.
And Mr.. ScnsscK's amendment to this ia as fol
lows:
Prorided, hopeuer, That This House il not to bc
understood approving his relation To that claim
III continuing TO be interested in the prosecution of
it, when it was to be examined, adjusted, and paid
by one Of the departments OF the Government, he
himself being, at the tiIne at the head of
another Of those departments; but the House cou-
siders that such connexion and interest of a mem
Der OF Il Cabinet with e claim pending aud prose-
cuted before another department, would be dan
gcrous as.a.preccdent, and ought not TO be sane
toned.
MIR. McKlSSOCK spoke in support of the business
of the claim, and the payment oi the principal and
interest. The law, lie said, this: wherever "A
debt Is due when the time of yinent arrives, in
tercst follows the principal, as legal incdent-as
the shadow follows the substance. lie entered into
IA legal argument IN support of these positions.
Mr.. CARTER obtained the floor, and gave way
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, who modified
his amendment TO the substitute of Mr.. ScHENcK,
submitted by him yesterday, foows: Add to the
end OF the said substitute the following words, viz
"And consequently, that the House also totally die
scnis from tho correctness of the opinion expressed
by the President of the United States To the said
Secretary Of War that his (the said Craw ord) be-
ing al the head OF the War Department and the
agent of the claimants, did take from him any
rights lac may have had as such agent, would
have Justified bin IN having the examination and
decision Of the claim by the Secretary of the Treas
ury suspended"
Resoioed further That this House decidedly die.
approves of aud d.sen,- 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 safne.
Mr.. SCHENCk modified the substitute submitted
| by him yesterday ~ read a. follows:
That there 10 no evidence submitted by the
committee To whom was referred the letter Of Geo.
w. Crawford, asking ian investigation" into hi-
conduct in Reverence o the claim of the representa-
| tisos Of George Caiphin, which inpugns his per-
.onsl or ofhcial conduct In relation to the settle
incnt OF the claim by ihc proper officers Of the Gov
ernrnent; pocsded ho,oere, that this ilouse is not
~ be understood approving his relation TO that
claim, in continuing TO be interested ia the prose
cutiou of IL, when IL 10 be examined, adjusted
aud paid by one Of the Departments OF the Govern
ment, he hinsclf being at the time at the head
Of another of those Departments; but the House
considers uiat such connection and interest of a
member Of the Cabinet with a claim pending and
prosecuted before another Department would be
dangerous as precedent, and ought not 10 be
sanctioned.
Mr.. CARTER thought that the mourners over
Galphin would have conveyed his remains TO the
tomb, without singing rcquicms over them. But
the Wing party had come TO the conclusion 20
make virtue OF necessity, and now brace up this
Cabinet with their conduct appertaining to the mat
ter. IL had been demonstrated to the public aud
tho conscientious feeling of this body tat il is
corrupt, and the verdict has gune forth and become
fixed in the heart Of the people. There some
thing 40 monstrous and repugnant to the dictates
OF common honesty. that no man can review this
subject without revolving at IT, And this will be
found Ia be the opinion Of the unsOphisicated portion
Of the American people. The tirne Of the House
could not be better spent than ia erreting out the
lniquitcs Of the Administration, and drawing
tighter the cords Of restraint AZ 10 the merits OF
the claim: one hundred and twenty five thousand
dollars OF the public money had gone into the peck
cts of Mr.. Crawford, because, three quarters of
century ago, George Gslphin patriot What
cOnne1ion had Mr.. Crawford 90 Gaphin's patriot.
ism' He takes from the representatives Of Gal
phin half OF their pstriInony. Galphin an
indian trader. The business Of these traders j. TO
step the frontier line 10 the Indians SOIL
and cell them cakes and whisky. He believed that
Gaphin a whisky patriot.
dr. BURT assured the gentleman that he was
totally mistaken as TO the character of George Cal
phin. lie a South Csrolinian; some of has de-
sccndants are South Carolinians. More h norablc
aud purcr blood never flowed IN human veins. lie
| (Mr b. knew not whether they were his enemies
or his friends; but il his duty 10 do them jus-
tee There were mo jost grounds for the imputa-
ton the patriotism or private virtues VI George
Galphin The gentleman totally mistakes his char
aoter. Mr. u. desired 10 correct the gentleman in
another particular. George Galphin died in 1850,
and he had slept in his grave more than ten years
when application was made Of Georgia for the
payment of the claim.
Mr.. CARTER replied that he had no doubt that
! the blood was honorable az that Of any other
body but IL not more so. Blood generally
circolstcs through shc arteries and vcsns Tho
idea Of high blood, and all that Of stuff had no
| effect upon hn. Although Cslphin may have
/ been patriot 81 the revolution, he gave to the
world doubtful evidence Of IT, There start
/ ling fact, which the tax payers of this country
| ought Ia know, namely the claim came stealing
into this House at bate hour 81 the long session Of
| 1915, aud the minds OF members we're diverted
from the subject II ought 10 be known that Of the
sixty members Of tliis House who members Of
the Congress that pssscd the bill not one had risen