Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-04-27


The allowance Of the Galphin claim oy Tue
Administration of Gen. Taylor, excited more
comrsp,. and was the subjec, of more vtupera
tion aud abuse at the hands Of Democratic jour
nali.t. than any or all the other acts of that
Administration The extraordinary display of
yirtuous Indignation manifested upon that occa-
sion bv the opponents of Gen Taylor, brought
down on the heads of his Cabinet perfect farore
ofopposi,ion throughout the country. which even.
,uated in the inglorious retirement of the whole
batch of them. The principal parties implicated
in that memorable tran sacton, were, Mr.. Craw
ford,-a, that time Secretary of War; Mr..
Philip Clayton, Second Auditor of the Treasury.
Since Mr. Crawford's retirscy we understand he
has identified himself with the party which at one
time pursued him with such malignant feroclty
Our present purpose, however, is simply TO refer
70 the marvellous change which seems to have
been effected in the views of the Democracy with
repnrd 10 Mr. CLAYTON, which can only nc
count Tor on the hypothesis that change of pol
itics effects change in the moral principles OF
the man. Clayton at that time professed TO be
a Wing; at the time of this writing be has doiled
his leprous garments and is clothed 10 the puro
habiliments of Democracy. At the date OF
the passage Of this Galphn claim Mr.. Clayton
received the fullest credit for his active inter
ference in its behalf, without which, the Donoo.
racy allege, it would not. under any oircumstan'
oes, hive been allowed; aud it was further
charged by the same party. that he renlzed IRON
il a handsome fortune Whether these allega-
lions be true or false have no means of deter
mining, but are rresstably led to one OF two con
illusions; either that Clayton was guilty OF pee
ulation or that he was shamefully slandered by
the party with which he now acts III guilty OF
the charge preferred against him. he OF course
was unworthy the post he then filled aud is not
very fit subject for future proferment Assam
ing that he was innocent, we think that he has
made sad exhibition of manness IN accepting
Office at the hands of those who lately seemed
intent upon the destruction of his fair name.
As our readers are doubtless aware, the Buoh
anan administration have promoted Mr.. Clayton
from the position which il was asserted had been
disgraced by his incumbency, to the most mia.
entail and responsible Office in the Treasury De
partment. next to that of the Secretary. no
table fact in connection with THE promotion OF
the chief of the Galphinists" is the allowance
by the new administration, so soon after its IN.
duclion into Office, of a claim chieh had been
repeatedly rejected by Mr.. Guthrie, the late Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury. correspondent oi the
New York Herald, in letter to that paper. holds
the following language IN regard to the proceed
ings Of this rusty guardian OF the public purse;
popular inquiry is directed to the question wheth-
er the true theory OF Mr. Clayton singular advance
ment has yet been understood And II Is mere than
limited that the design Of his first appointment rs
Auditor, his retention under poor Pierce, aud his
peculiar promotion under Mr. Buchanan 10 n posi-
ton where as an officer pres umed u be familiar with
Indian accounts, he might prompt the action Of his
superior, whom rests The responsibility OF finally
deciding various ugly appeal cases was the JOINT
product Of various parties and interests engaged IN
trnmping up aud getting through TIE treasury large
and profitable Indian claims. 1t Is suggested Wheth-
er the California beef claims of Fremont, W01cncrnt
Mckee, Barbour, Beale &c; similar claims III oregon
Utah. and New Mexico the Greek ard Meuomonee
land Claims heavy assumed liabilities 20 grow ont
OF governmental action IN Washington Territory and
at Fort Benton and Laramie: the eoims Of ". 6.
and O. W. Ewing against the Shawnres and other
tribes, and their 100000 project against te Memo
iRonees yet to be preferred and the thoetand and
other similar propositions to tttNser to mdfd-
uals the public moneys and those rghlUlly belong
ing TO Indians did not all consriro 10 secure the
services of willing tool TO audit and supervise the
allowance Of such claims and accounts
There are other suspended claims, amount
ing to several millions of dollars which it is pre-
sumabIe will meet but little difficulty in passing
the authorship of such official as Mr.. Philip
Clayton has been represented by The Democracy,
TO be.
Now the inquiry naturally arises in this con
neetiop, if the transaction in question involved
the Taylor administration in such irretrcvabe
disgrace as its opponents alleged. can the APP
pointment Of the chief agent in this extoriion, to
more responsible position, augur determine
ton upon the part of this administration TO guard
sacredly the treasury over which he presides,
from the depredations of the miserable pecula-
tors who are ever banging about the puriieus of
the national capitol If the Democrats were
sincere in their structures upon the character of
Clayton, and the transactions to which we have
referred, they have evnced singular oblivious
ness, or an utter disregard of the public opinion
VIII oh they contributed to form but few years
since. We must judge them by that standard of
moral qualification which they have set up, and
in no case admit that passing from one party to
another will renovate mans moral nature We
commend the chalice they have poisoned TO their
own lips.
AQuiek Kan.
The Mary RUSSELL has arrived at Norfolk
from Cardiff. Wales, with Iron for the Norfolk