The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-15

The Harrisburg Telegraph publishes the sub
joined extracts from the report of select inves-
tigatng committee of the House of Representa-
tives, in 1886, of which the Hon. III. A. WISE
was chairman. These extracts show that Mr.
FoRsYTH, while Secretary of State, and having
personal interest in the Galphin claim, applied
in person 10 Gen. CAss, then Secretary Of
War, to examine the claim, and furnished
means of forming, as he thought, just opinion
in regard 10 it.; that Gen. CAss conversed with
Gen. JACKSON, then President of the United
States, on the subject, who thought the claim a
just one, but doubted whether il should not be
paid by Georgia, and not by the United States;
that on that ground Gen. JACKSON refused to
permit article providing for its payment by
The United States To be inserted in the treaty
of New Echota, concluded with the Cherokee
Indians in 1885; that in that treaty there was,
nevertheless, an article inserted providing for
the payment of the claim out of the proper
funds Of the United States, provided the United
States, or the State of Georgia, had derived
benefit from the lands originally ceded by the
Indians to secure the payment of the claim, and
with the understanding that if the Senate dis
approved Of such article, il might be rejected
without impairing any other provision Of the
treaty. or affecting the Indians in any manner
whatever; and that the treaty with that article
Senate for the ratification Of that body. IN his
report, Mr.. WISE says:
at is the duty Of the undersigned, also, to pre-
sent the facts OF another transaction, which in
wolves the Secretary Of State. Reference is made
TO the facts simply, without comment or the ex-
precision Of opinion A treaty or pretended
treaty was concluded at New Echota, Georgia,
on the both day Of December, 1885, by General
William Carroll and John y. Scbcrmerhorn, on
the part Of the United States, and the Chiefs head
men. and people, as was said, Of the Cherokee
tribe Of Indians. Whilst the commissioners of
the United States were acting, application was
made 10 them TO insert an article in that treaty,
binding this Government to pay claim common
ly called the GALPHIS CLAIM.
"IHcre a synopsis Of the claim is inserted in the
documcnt.l
can article was inserted (the 20th) embracing
the claim, To wit:
"ART 20 The United States do also hereby
guaranty the payment Of all unpaid just claims
upon the Indians, without expense TO them, out Of
tho proper funds Of tho United States for the set
Element Of which cession ccssions Of lands has
or have been heretofore made by the Indians in
Georgia: Provided, The United States, or the State
Of Georgia, has derived benefit from the said ces-
sion or ccssions Of land, without having made pay
mcnt TO the Indians therefor. II is hereby, how.
ever further agreed and understood, that IL the
Senate Of the United States disapprovc Of this ar
iiclc, il may be rejected without impairing any
other provision Of the treaty, or affecting the In.
disns in any manner whatever"
Tho treaty was sent by the President TO the
Senate with that article in ii. The Senate May
TO- 1886, refused TO advise and consent 10 the rati
fcaion Of that article, by a vote Of % 10 H.
What caused the Senate TO reject il thus decidedly
is not known, except what appears on its face
that il singuarly enough stipulated with the In
disns that the United States would pay its own or
Georgiss debts out Of the proper fund Of the Uni.
ted States.
February 18th the Hon John Forsyth was called
before this committee, and the following exaini-
nation Of him as a witness took place
Question by MIR. Wise to Mr. Forsyth:
81. Were you, or not, personally interested in
a certain claim, commonly called the Galphin