Washington telegraph., 1852-09-29

Stili continues to be rung against the admin
lstration, by all the Demagogues in and out
of Congress, aided and assisted by the Lo-
cotoco presses, we propose, in order that our
readers may fully understand the origin of
this groundless charge, to examine the sub
.loct, and as briefly as possible, to lay be-
fore them, the facts connected with the whole
matter
The claim known as the "Galphn claim"
was On the part Of the heirs Of a man Of
that name, for money expended by their an
cestor, in Georgia. during our revolutionary
struggle. 1t was expended at time when
our government required the aid and as
sistance of the purse and sword of every
patriot in the land and in this instance, the
expenditure, brought down upon the head of
this devoted friend of his country, the ven
geance of the British government. Indeed
"such was his efficiency in our struggle for
independence, that a resolution passed the
British parliament attainting him of high
treason, and setting price upon his head
as an outlaw and rebel Such was the
man, in behalf of whose heirs a bill passed
Congress during Mr. Polk's ad mimstration
allowing the claim, which bill was approved
by President Polk, and the prime pal paid
by his administration. The questbn Of in
tcrest, the payment of which by Gen. Tay-
lor's administration, has been the constant
theme Of mountebanks and juglerS engaged
in manufacturing political capital, was left
open by Mr.. Polk's administration and ia
ken up by the administration of Gen. Tay-
lor as unfinished business The question
being one of some doubt, Secretiry Mere
dith submitted it to the Attorney General,
the legal adviser of the government, who
made an elaborate report. showing that the
interest as well as the principal should be
paid Such was the character of this ques-
ton of interest, that Mr. Walker Secretary
Of the Treasury under Mr. Polk, stated in
his testimony before committee of investi-
CATION which was had upon the subject that
he, upon the opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral, would have paid it.
This is the history of the .'Galphin" p"
claim, OF which so much has been said, sung
and written by these unscrupubus tinkers
OF party tactics. Not a single Locofoco OPP
posed the passage Of the bill, as the records
show; not Cne of them opened their mouths
against Mr.. Polk for signing the bill or pay
ing the principal, and they would have con-
tinued as dumb as oysters or spoken in CRATE
ful addulation of the act, if Secretary
Walker had paid the interest as he testified
he would have done, under the decision of
the Attorney General.
This " Galphanism like many other
charges Of the ''wasteful extravaganza" Of
the Wing administration, which have been
made by the Obs and BoRLAND's ct I'd
o1euc genus of the Democratic party, turns
out to be matter which originated with
that party and with which they had as
much to do as the Wing party, and instead
of stigma. it proves to be bat an act of
simple justice, too long omitted
These selfconstituted guardians of the
public treasure, would, by misrepresenta-
tons, induce the belief that the Wing ad-
ministration are a pack Of unmitigated
"Galphinizers" while they are peculiarly
and happily constituted as safe repositories
of the peoples cash. They seem to forget
that but few years since, the people had
ample testimony of their extraordinary ap-
titude in that way. They yet entertain dis
tinct recollection of the financial ability and
care with which the SwARTwouTs, the PRI-
CEs, HARRIS and HAWKINS managed the
public purse. They have not forgotten the
expeditions facility with which thirty eight
Of these gentry eased the treasury of taco
mi/lions si.rty. .four Mousaud two ohundred
and nine doltars and eighty-sir CENTS
But in those days "Galphanizing" was un-
known, and rough stealing such as was
then displayed by the elite of the democra-
cy, was simply regarded as an evidence of
financial skill Then, he who stole $780,
900, passed for an honest man," and he
who robbed the treasury of only $4,000,
was regarded as frank and honorable" !"
and, according to his own letter, made the
Secretary of the Treasury happy"
PURITY OF THE BALLOT Box..-The de-
feated candidate for Sheriff in St. Louis
county. Missouri, HENRY 3. BELT. has piy.