Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-06
DEMOCRATIC ANTECEDENTS OF
BELkNAP'S CRIME.
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 We EpkCT ~ IHe ESsqT:
General Andrew Jackson died June s, 1915.
In letter dated the Hermitage, April 9,
1885," addressed to ''F. L. Blair, Esq >" he
says: "This may be the last letter may be
able to write you, but, live or die, am your
friend, and neUeT deserted one from policy -
That was literally true, and it character
ICES his whole life. He, too, was sorely tried.
But the world might clamor-his political
opponents might denounce them as guilty of
every crime in the Newgate calendar-as In
the case of A. j. Donelson his private secre-
tary, of the elder +. p. Blair, Amos Kendall,
and others: II had no effect upon Andrew
Jackson; he did not for moment waver in
his support; he chung only the close to his
friends-his "pets,' OK JdOOTlteS," as they
were contemptuously styled by his oppo-
nents. And this really great quality-this
steadiness of faith-Of personal friendship
so applauded in Andrew Jackson by the old
democrats as "Roman-l ike virtue'-as one
of the s'grandest elements" of a "Hero"-the
present democracy anathematiZe In General
Grant as q weakness-a crime-threatenin e
in its consequences the ruin of the nation
Their duplicity now in denouncing Bel
knap's crime is equally transparent-as
transparent as was that which character
Used their policy, in 1850, when the notorious
"Galphin swindle" shocked the country.
Gen. Zachary Taylor was President; Gov.
Geo. w. Crawford Secretary OF War. Geo.
Galphtn, the original claimant, had been
dead 20 years; he died In 1880. Prior to 1878
he had been a licensed trader among the
Georgia Cherokee and Creek Indians, which
were indebted to him for goods and his orig
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, but a
law for its settlement was finally passed in
1S49. Gov. Crawford, before becoming Sec.
rotary of War, had been 16 years acting
since 1S3S-as representative and agent for
the heirs; and IL was charged that he had
sought a place in Taylor's cabinet as a
means of influencing the adjustment of the
claim. The principal for Si3, 5lS97 was paid,
ton; and the interest for % years, 3 mon tbs,
and II days, amounting to the enormous
sum OF sl91, 352.S nearly five times the
original claim-was paid by the Secretary of
the Treasury under Taylor.
Elisha WRittlesey-ihe" old watchdog of
the Treasury"-as comptroller, pronounced
the interest. Nevertheless the interest was
allowed by Secretary Meridith, under an
| opinion of Attorney General Rsverdy John
SON. and with the knowledge aud approval
of President Taylor, after being apprlZed by
Secretary Crawford of his interest in the
claim.
Secretary Crawford received OF the princi-
PAL as his fee, S2l,i0l9SH, and of the amount
ofinterest, S9i, 176.44-in all Sis, JIG AK.
A great clamor-a pretended cry OF In
dignation, amid genuine tubilee-was
| country. An Investigation was had by the
House, but Secretary Crawford froze TO the
money, and resigned. There was no i'm
| parchment! Nothing but an ecstacy as dis.
| gushing as that which they manifested in
1876. when Charles J. Ingersoll exposed Dan
| lei Webster's misrepresentation, when Secre-
tary OF State, OF portion OF the secret ser
vice Iund In negotiating the celebrated Ash
| The old wings did not fall to remind the
indignant democracy Of their own repulslve
| record.
General Lewis Cass, after General Jack
son, was the great "Thunderer" OF the party.
Under jackson, Cass was Secretary Of War.
| Cass's collection, as extra allowances. ille-
Company for speculations In western lands,
AS Secretary OF War, General Cass had adj
yant S which no mere citizen could IN naS We
company monopoly OF the most choice
| tracts of land; to learn when they would be
| put ON the market; to secure them. then to
chasers forced to buy. It is well known that
In western land speculstions Cass amassed
| his ample fortune.
| SEES, by which the soldier was swindled
Cass In land by which the adventurous and
hardy emigrant was piunderedi Whose was
the greater crime? Did Cass's elicit from the
even Of indignation9 Did Gen. Jackson de-
| mand his punishment Did not both, In
effect, endorse and approveit? Gen. Jackson
az
| United States, next nominated him as their
| candidate for the Presidency, and then made
him Secretary OF State. Under the democ-
racy Belknap would be In the line OF promo
Col. Richard M. johnson, (the slayer .oi
| Tecumseh, and democratic Senator oi
the United States. under General Jack
conndentiaI friend) was. during Martin
Van Ruren,s administrstion, demo