The Portland daily press., 1876-03-15
Futrid "reminiscences.
FoRMER ooRRUPTIoNs, CRIBERIEs, AND DEFAL-
CATIONS.

A correspondent of the Washington Star
has been looking up the "putrid "reminiscences
past administrations, all of which are
worthy of note at the present time. He begins
as follows:
Gen. Andrew Jackson died June s, 1845. In
letter dated the " Hermitage, April 8, 1916, %
addressed to ST. P Blair, Esq" he says: "This
may be the last letter may be able to write
yeu, but, live or die, am your friend, and ,aeU-
er deserted one from policy"
This was literally true, and it characterizes
his whole life. be, too, was sorely tried. But
the world might clamor, his political oppo-
nents might denounce them as guilty of every
crime in the Newgate calendar,-as in the case
of A. j. Donelson, his private secretary. of the
elder F. P. Blair, Amos Kendall, and others;
il had no effect upon Andrew jackson; he did
not for q moment waver in his support; be
clung only The closer to his friends-his ''pets,
or ''favorites," as they were contemptuously
styled by his opponents. And this really great
quality,-this steadfastness of faith,-of per
sonal friendship,-so applauded in Andrew
Jackson by the old Democrats as "Roman-
like virtue."-as one of the grandest elements
of 'hero, the present Democracy anathe-
matize in Gen. Grant as weakness-a crime
threatening in its consequences the ruin OF the
nationi
Their duplicity now in denouncing, ,Belknap's
crime is equally transparest-as transparent as
was that which characterized their policy in
1850, when the notorious ''Galphin swindle"
shocked the country. Gen. Zachary Taylor
was President; Gov George w. Crawford,
Secretary of War. George Galphin, the origi-
nal claimant, has been dead seventy years;
he died in $780, Prior to 1773 he had been
licensed trader among the Georgia Cherokee
and Creek Indians, which were indebted to him
for goods, and bis original claim was against
Great Britain; but under subsequent treaties
and acts the claim was presented by Galphin's
heirs to the United States for adjustment.
1t had been again and again rejected, and
law for its settlement was finally passed in
$40. Gov. Crawford, before becoming Secre-
tary of War, had been sixteen years acting
sinco 1833-as representative and agent of the
heirs and it was charged that he bad sought
place in Taylors cabiDet as o means of lnhu-
encing the adjustment of the claim. The
principal for $43,518.97 was paid under the law
of 1849 by Folks administration; and the in
tertst for the seventy-three years, three mouths
and twelve days.-nearly five times the original
claim-was paid by the Secretary of the Treas
ury under Taylor.
Elisha Whittlesey,-the ''old Watchdog Of
the t1easury,-as Comptroller, pronounced
against the origiDa claim as we'll as against the
interest. Nevertheless the interest was allowed
by Secretary Meredith, under opinion of
Attorney General Reverdy Johnson, and with
the knowledge and approval of President Tay-
lor, after being apprlsed by Secretary Crawford
of his interest in the claim.
Secretary Crawford received of the principal,
as his fee, S21 ,4Ol. 9Sa, and Of the amount of
interest S94 176 Am all $115,176.42b.
A great clamor-a pretended cry of indigna-
ton, amid a general jubilee, was raised by the
Democracy throughout the country. An in
vesligatlon was had by the House, but Secre-
tary Crawford froZe to the money and resigned,
There was no Impeachment. Nothing but an
ecstacy as disgusting as that which they mani
tested 10 1876, when Charles j. Iagersol ex-
posed Daniel Webster's misappropriatIon, W ben
Secretary of State, of portion of the secret
service fund in negotiating the celebrated Ash
burton treaty.
The old Wings did not fail to remind the in
dignant Democracy of their own repulsive rec
ord.
Gen. Lewis Cass, after Gen. Jackson, was
the great "rhunderer" of the party. Under
Jackson, Cass was Secretary of War. Cass'
collection, as extra allowances, illegally, of
$66, 900, and his organization of conn pany for
speculation in Western lands are notorious.
Were they credtable? As Secretary of War,
Gen Cass had advantages which no mere citi-
zen could bave. He had opportunities of Sc
curing for bis company monopoly of the most
choice tracts of land; to learn when theS would
be put on the market; to secure them, and
then to raise their price, and. to sell them to
purchasers forced to buy. 1t is well known
that in Western land speculations Cass amassed
his ample fortune.
Now. Belknap speculated in traders licenses
by which the soldier was swindled. Cass in
land by which the adventurous and hardy emf
grant was pluQU6r6Q! w nose WAS tD6 greater
crime? Did Cass elicit from the Democracy
any manifestation of horror-even of indigna-
tion? Did Gen. Jackson demand his punish
ment? Did not both, in effect, indorse and APP
prove it? Gen. Jackson subsequently made
Cass Minister to France The Democracy
made him first Senator of the United States,
next nominated him as their candidate for the
Presidency, and then made him Secretary of
State. Under the Democracy Belknap would
be in the line of promotion.
Col. Richard M. johnson, (the slayer of
Tecumseh, and a Democratic Senator of the
United States under Gen. jackson, the ''Great
Cabinet Pacficator' and confidential friend)
was, during Martin Van Buren's Administra-
ton. Democratic Vice President; a leader of
the Democracy! He, as Vice President, also
Buckner's for removing the Chickasaw In
dians Says the report of the House Commit
tee which, in 1912, Investigated the matter:
"The whole amount thus paid TO Capt