The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-04

you. In 1870 the General Government passed
what is known as the Assumption act. That is,
the General Government brought into general
account the contributions of each State, either to
the general Defence the particular defence of the
common country, during the common struggle of
the war for our national Independence At this
time Galphin was dead, and Georgia had not paid
pay for the lands she had taken possession OF ana
disposed of, but she had not paid the debt, ana
did not bring it into the account on the settlement
under the Assumption act of $780, Inc se'uel,icn.
under the Assumption act, was thought lor io :,
time in Georgia to be final settiemeh', anu tnas
she could not 90 behind it. Well, IN 1882, the
State of Virginia came before Congress, and pre-
scented claims to large amount, under these cir
eumstances: She stated that just before the war
closed she had by law, promised to all officers of
certain grade and class, certain annuities for life
If thew would enlist in the service of the United
States during the war; These men had never been
called into service before the termination of the
revolutionary war. But they had enlisted, and
claimed their pay according to contract. Virginia
resisted, and finally the courts compelled her to
pay those claims, and the State then came and
asked Congress to reopen the Assumption act of
$780, or at least to pay these claims upon the prn-
ciples of that act; because she said that her liability
TO officers was of the nature as the advances
for the particular defence that she had made, and
which had been brought into the Assumption act
of 1870. Congress, in 1882, assumed the liability
and paid it and in doing that, Congress did right;
because Virginia, in $780, did not know that she
was liable, or would be liable, for these claims
You paid under that act nearly million of dollars
perhaps more.
Now, then, the representatives of Galphin came
and asked the General Government to pay them
E9, 79i l5s. 3D., with interest at six per cent;
which was the liability or debt of Georgia. incur
red for the particular defence of that part of the
common country not included in the act of 1870,
just as they did the Virginia claims, and ident-
cally upon the same principles of equity and Justice
and right. In 1886, the Senate passed resolution
requesting the President of the United States (Gen-
eral Jackson) to write to the Governor of Georgia
to get all the information in his possession upon
the subject. In January, 1887, General Jackson
so wrote; and Governor Schley, of Georgia. po-
litical friend of General Jacksonanswered the in.
quiries soon after, and amongst other things said
that there is Justly due to The heirs Of George Galphin
the srm of nine thousand sere hundred and nnet,one
pounds fifteen shngs and fire pence sterling money Of
Great Britain, &c., &c; "and the only question no,o
u.s. cheter Georgia the United States ought to PAY
the money" The claim, like many others, remained
for several years; but in August, lS48, Congress
passed law requiring the Secretary of the Trea-
sury "to examine and ADJUST it, and sto pay the
amount which may be found due to Medge Gal
phin, executor of George Gaphin, out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriately
and in pursuance of that law the principal and in
terest of that debt was paid. That sir is Galphin-
isrn!-ts height Its length, its breadth and depth.
There it stands in all its naked deformity. Look
upon it, examine it. scrutnze it, and tell me where
is he scindle," and who have been the s,oindIers.
When the was last presented to Congress,
whose hands was it put into? Into the hands of
George McDufie, of South Caroline. Who pre-
scented it! George McDufie! Did he want to
commit a fraud against your Treasury Was he
swindler? 1t went before committee, and who con-
III. A Ill
Berrien, Westcott, and Webster. They made
report to the Senate, and spread it before the
country in lS47. The bill passed the Senate. There
was no formidable opposition, because the grounds
upon which it was presented and sustained were
too clear, as believe to be avoided. Here was the
act of Georgia obiging her to pay that debt-as
solemn debt as ever was contracted. 1t was for
particular defences, and was put upon precisely
the same grounds of assumption as the Virginia
claims and no one could escape the force of the
reasons.
In ls48 it was before the same committee in the
Senate. That committee was composed of the same
gentlemen who constituted the former committee,
with one two exceptions-a committee of able
and practical men. They reported again in favor
of it. Were they the "Gaphins y who perpetrated
this monstrous frauds The distinguished Senator
from Michigan, General CAss,] when Secretary OF
War, said that there no doubt but that the
claim was just, and the only question was, which
should pay it, Georgia the United States. Was
he of the swindiers? aa
Early in 1S4S, the bill came into this House,
and was laid upon your table. The report was
printed, and the case referred to committee of
this House. l have before me the names of that
committee, and they are all honorable men, and un-
impeachabe. One of the gentlemen upon that COM
mitee Mr.. Pettit] is nominated by his party, |
see, to be Senator from the State of Indiana. Was
he swindler' Did he think it was great fraud
Was he trying to cheat the public? Is he one of
Il L H. = - -
write the history of this Administration Do you
want to write the history of the Administration in
the blood of General Cass, of Mr.. Forsyth of Gov
ernor Schley, the blood of the Judiciary Commit
tee in the Senate, and in the blood of the distin
guished individual to whom | have just alluded!
Are all these men Galphins' believe the gentle
man from Ohio said that they, the sc Galphins,''
were buried so deep that the hand of resurrection
would never raise them up. But the Democracy
in Indiana, it seems, has impaired new life to one
of them-has g galpanised" him, at least by send
ing him to the Senate.
heard gentleman inquire how this Galphin
claim passed through this House say it passed
this House by the unanimous vote of every man
in it. when any mans voice could have pre-
vented it. 1t stood upon its own merits. No
speech was made in its behalf. 1t had advocate
but the plain, Short strong argument of the com
mittee. Their printed report lay upon your desk
for six months. 1t was taken up and acted upon
receive the unanimous support of every man in the
House. Your Journal shows this fact. 1t passed
in August, l848. Were all in this House then
GaIphins! 1t was passed, and carried to Mr. Polk
for his signature. Did not he understand all about
Galphin' Was not Mr.. Forsyth feed attorney,
and did he not prosecute it while Secretary of State
under Jackson? Did not MIR. Wise report then,
that this phin claim was about $50, 900? Was
not Mr.. Polk, as speaker of this House at that
time, conversant with all these facts? 1t is to be
presumed that he was. At any event, he signed
the bill two days after it passed. Is he, too, one
of this famous family of the Galphins? Mr..
Walker, his Secretary of the Treasury, paid the
principal, but did not pay the interest, because,
he stated in his testimony, he did not have time to
investigate that point. But he said-and mark it,
that whatever Galphin's debt was, this Govern
ment, by the act of l848, had assumed it fully.
The act of Georgia of l780, pledging to Galphin
s9,79l lbs. 3D., with interest at six per cent. per
annum, was not before him. But who can say,
with that act before him, he would not have paid
the interest according to his testimony? For he
said, whatever the debt was which was due to
Galphin, the act of 1848 had assumed. And who
can say that go, 79l l5s. 3d., with six per cent.
interest, not due to Gal phin by the act of
Georgia of 1850? If any man is bold enough to
do so, let him do it. My time will not permit me
s1,hi