The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-16
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
Oar Washington Correspondence.

Our washington CorrespOndence.
WASHINGTON, May IA, 1851.
ahc Crescent City Expsition--Ihe Florida Claim
Opinion Of the Attorney General, &C., &c.
In the telegraphic despatch Of Monday, contra
dieting the report ofthe chartering of a steamer,
only intended to deny that any had been chartered
to cruise along the Southern coast" that it had
reference to the Cuba or Southern Carolina move
naents. The whole fouadation Of the matter wa ;
an inquiry by the Quartermasters Department, as
20 whether vessel could DO procured if needed, to
convey some troops, at present stationed near New
fork, to other posts but it being afterwards de-
cidcd not TO make the transfer, the matter was
dropped AS for Cuba, South Carolina, or the
Mexican boundary, they had not the most remote
connection with those circumstances.
20 much has been written about the Florida
Claim cases. now prosecuting before the Treasury
Department. and 50 little truth has been elected in
thc inquiry, that bret statement of the facts, if
not Important on any other account, will, at all
events, be interesting for their novelty They have
been represented rs involving the same principle as
in the "Galphn case !" but such is not the fact.
I he Galphin case was the payment Of interest on
a claim for debt, the amount of which had been
certained and afterwards interest allowed till it
paid. The Florida claims under the treaty exc
suted with Spain in 1919, in which the United States
bound itself to cause satisfaction to be made for in
uries, If any which, "by process of law shall have
been established to have been suffered by the
Spanish officers, and individual Spanish inhabitants
BY the late operations Of the American army in
Florida" The claimants ask that, in ascertaning
heir losses certain amount OF interest, by way OF
"a mages shall be allowed This, it appears, has
always been allowed, and the recent awards OF the
1Mexican Commissioners are an instance directly in
ooint. il will ut once be seen that the allow
tnce Of " damages' in the shape Of interest is
very different matter from the ascertanmept, as
the Gaiphn case, of the indie btedness Of the GO
eminent, and then adding interest to it-then, in
act, allowing interest upon interest.
The opinion Of the Attorney General already
made up but not yet promuged, is, it is said,
hat the ascertainment Of the amount due the
laimants ''by process Of law" means by the deci-
ion Of the Florida federal courts: and that the
erritcrial courts of Florida not having been sufi-
lent tribunal, it is necessary either that the
bould 60 back to tho federal court there. or that
aey should be submittedfor the action Of Congress
large number of the cases have been decided
irora5y upon by the territorial courts, before
lcrida was admitted as State; but the Attorney
eneral is Of opinion that such tribunals were not
)mIetent courts.
y appears to be merely a question Of time, the
ght under the treaty to claim damages or ''inter-
T. not being doubted or denied.
The great fuss with regard to Collector Lewis is
mere bag Of wind. he wonderful discovery of a
crct plot between Governor Johnston and the
resident by which Scott is to be headed, &c., is a
ere fantasy, laughed at on all sides here That
nator Cooper and his friends are bitterly opposed
Lewis, il hey ond doubt; but that the wing party
pa the administration are all to 60 to the devil be-
use Of the Philadelphia collectorship, is small
I Of hunbug. Who cares a straw about Lewis
his enemies, out of the city Of "brotherly love-"
You have been misinformed to Postmaster
.neral Halls afhnities for Seward. So far from
ing his friend, it is mater notorious here, that
r. Hall carries his dislike to Seward even to per-
nal hostility. He is decidedly and beyond all
ubt the most anti Seward man in the cabinet.
understand that the Assistant Secretary of the
easury. Mr.. Hodge, will leave here for New
TX ard Boston tomorrow, upon business con-
cted with the Department., Mr.. Corwin having
umeJ yesterday the duties OF his office.