Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-10-21
POLITICAL.
The Gaiphin Ciairn.

Edison B. OLDs, and others. Delivered
in the House of Representatives, Ang
18th, 1852. #@ aa
A few words, Mr.. Chairman, upon the
subject of the "Galphin Claim" 0ur
opponents are flooding the country with
publications on that subject, well calcu-
lated to deceive an unsuspectng people.
This was claim, on the part of the heir.
OF Galphin, for money expended by the
ancestors in Georgia during our reyolu,
tionary struggle. will not go into its
interesting details, but will state that this
expenditure, at the time when our fore
fathers "lought, bled and died. for our
Hberues. brought down upon the head OF
that patriot the vengeance of old Eng.
land. Such was his efficiency in the
struggle for independence, that resolu.
ton passed the British Parliament attain.
| ting him for high treason, and setting a
price on his lead as an outlaw and reb.
ell. But, sir. neither the justness of the
claim, nor the interesting associations
connected with il, are matters of any
consequence for my present purpose. l,
! is sufficient, for the purpose of heading
the Democratic leaders In their effort to
manufacture party capital out of it, to
say that the Journals before me show
(which no Democrat will deny) that the
bill allowing the claim passed the Thir-
liesh Congress, aud that not single
Democrat opposed its passage. :.
Mr.. Hail. deny that. | did not
vote for il. .@' &'a#"s'5 a#@s s a.a
Mr.. Campbell.-The record NAV no,
show that you did. There was no per.
son TO raise voice against it Your
voice, sir, if raised in opposition to il,
would have defeated the bill.
Mr.. Hall--Thatis mistake. Ii was
passed under suspension of the rules.
Mr.. Campbell--I say that, under the
rules, when it was acted upon, single
voice in opposition could have killed the
bill. addressing Mr.. Stephens, of Geor.
gia, am not correct! ea}
Mr.. Stephens, lin his seat.) You are.
Any member objecsing, would have de.
feated it.
Mr.. Campbell-Then, sir, charge
home upon the Democracy, as have a
right to do by the record, the RESPONSE
bility of the measure--at least their e,
qual share of it.
! The bill allowing this Galphin claim
was signed and approved by Presiden
Polk. The principal was paid by Presi
dent Folks administration. The ques-
tion of allowing interest upon it was lef
open by that Administration. 1t was Ia
ken up as unfinished business by the
! Taylor Administration. The question
was one of doubt. Secretary Meredith
submitted il to the Attorney General, the
| legal adviser of the Government upor
all doubtful questions, who made an able
and elaborate report, showing that inter.
est should be paid. Robert j. Walker
MIR. Folks Secretary of the Treasury
states in his testimony before the com.
mlttee OF Investigation on this subject
that such was the character of the ques
tion of paying the interest, that he. up
on the opinion of the Attorney Genera
would have paid it. Thus, Mr.. Chair,
man, do |, by these official documents
cast back upon the Democracy The res
possibility of this claim. $50
Mr.. Florence-l desire to ask the
gentleman single question. Has it no
been the practice always, both in Con
gtess and in the De Department, to refuse
the payment of interest upon any claim!
Mr.. Campbell-No, sir. By no means
| Mr.. Florence--I thought that s-sucf
was the case. .,.
Mr.. Campbell--Not at all. TIE hon,
orable gentleman from Pennsylvania on
ly shows that he has not examined the
documents III this case, and is therefore
not "posled up" } ss
shall not now discuss the propriety
of Secretary Crawford, in entering Gen
eral Taylor's Cabinet whilst he had q
contingent interest in this claim, nor re.
pei the charges of my colleague agains
him. He has friends enough on. this
floor competent, fully, 10 that duty. On
that subject it is proper to say that the
very gentlemen who defended that Sec
retary's course during the last Congress
Nessrs. Toombs and Stephens, o
Georgia, are now giving no ..aid anc
comfort" to the cause of General Scott
as my honorable friend before me sir
Stephens will at any time testify. Oh
the contrary, the weight of their influencs
seems to be thrown into the scale o
/ Franklin Pierce.
Mr.. Chairman, having thus. as con
ceive, cleared away the stigma which
our opponents have attempted to cas-
upon the Wing cause, by reason of thes,
claims, shall now charge back alon.
their line. The fruits of all their indus
try and efforts to convict Wings of fraud
on the Treasury, dwindle into these in
significant and frivolous charges of &c al
phinism" and "Gardenerism." The,
vanish before the light of truth. as chal
by the mighty whlrlwind. But let u
look into the integrity of that party i
whom my colleague would have the peo
pie in1rust the keeping of their Treasu
ry.
DISHONESTY OF DEMOCRATS WHEN Il
: r f - . M 4as ga =