New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-12
Precedenes for Belknap.

The Washington correspondent OF the
Philadelphia Press furnishes the following
historical "reminiscences:
A gentlemen of long residence in this
city, and familiar with the great scandals
of former days, presents an array OF inter
esting facts. we'll to be remembered by the
people at this juncture. He says: I'm 1850
the notorious 'Galphin swindle' shocked the
country. General Zachary Taylor was
President; Governor George w. Crawford
Secretary of War. George Galphin, the
years; he died in 1850. Prior to 1913 he
had been a licensed trader among the Geor-
Ola Cherokee and Creek Indians, which
were Indebted to him for goods. and his
original claim was against Great Britain,
but under subsequent treaties and acts the
claim was presented by Galphins heirs to
the United States for adjustment. 1t had
been again and again rejected, but law
tor its settlement was finally passed IN lo49.
tary of War, had been sixteen years acting
since lS33-as representative and agent for
the heirs, and it was charged that he had
sought q place in TaylOrs cabinet IS a
means of influencing the adjustment OF the
claim. The principal for e43,5lS 81 was
paid, under the law of l749, by Folks ad-
ministration, and the interest for seventy
three years, three months and twelve days,
amounting to the enormous sum of $l9l,.
352 s7-nearly five times the original
claim-was paid by the Secretary OF the
Treasury under Taylor. Elisha Whites
sey-the "old watchdog of the treasury
a. Controller, pronounced against the
original claim as well as against the inter
est. Nevertheless, the interest was al
lowed by Secretary Meredith, under an
opinion Of Attorney General Reverdy John.
son. ana with the knowledge and approve,
of President Taylor, after being apprisedl
by Secretary Crawford OF his interest in
the claim. Secretary Crawford received
the principal as his fee, $2l .40l 9sl4, and Of
the amount of interest $94,116 din all
4ll5,l76 4211. An investigation was had
by the House, but Secretary Crawford held
on to the money and resigned:
General Lewis Case, after General Jack
son, was the great "Thunderer' OF the
party. Under jackson, Cass was Secretary
Of War. Cass' collection. as extra allow
auces, illegally, of SIS, 900, and his organi-
cation of company for speculations IN
| Western lands are notorious. He had OPP
portunities of securing for his company q
| monopoly of the most choice tracts Of land,
| to learn when they would be put on the
| market to secure them, then to raise their
price, and to sell them to purchasers forced
to buy. 1t is we'll known that in Western
! lana 6peCuldIlOus NdSS dMdsSCu uio dhiPAO
| fortune. Did Cass elicit from the Demo.
| cracv any manifestation of horrOr-even o.
| Indignation Did General jackson demand
| his punishment! Did not both, in effect,
| indorse and approve it? General 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
L Ro,l no in hQ
| line of promotion.
| Colonel Richard NJ. johnson (the slayer
| of Tecumseh, and a Democratic Senator OF
| the United States under General Jackson
| the s'great Cabinet pacifcatOr" and conf
| Dental friend), was during Martin Van Blu
| ren's administration Democratic Vice Presi
dent. He, as Vice President, also had his
speculatiOn-in claim OF Captain BUCK
ner's for removing the Chickasaw Indians
Saws the report Of the House committee ir
| 1919: 1.-The whole amount thus paid to Cap
tain Buckner was $l46.293 80; of this
amount the sum of $37,749 was beyond
doubt improperly paid. IT the committee
| have been correct in the view they have
taken of this case, the Chickasaw fund hal
sustained loss of $l22, 2i3 80, attributable
to the want of prudent economy and faith
fulness on the part of those connected Will
it's disbursement and the accounting OH
! Cer6. NOlOu01 OOuubUu W G6 VAO oAty A0ssA
who prosecuted the claim before the de
partment-that while Vice President. HI
at first demanded that Buckner purchase
for him farm in Arkansas, and some ne
groee, provided he got the money. Buck
ner declined. But while the two we're rid
ing to the department., the day the $37 a.
was improperly paid, Buckner agreed tt
lend johnson SIS, 900. The reauisition wa
obtained and paid. and the Democratic Vic
President got the $4,000. In le4s he wa
voted 1000 in payment Of an old 1ndial
claim.
In 1884, w. P. Harris, a receiver of pub
lie moneys at Columbus. Mississippi-in
dorsed by his Democratic Representative il
Congress- John F. H. Claibornel as one o
the main pillars of the Democratic cause, o
diffused and deserved popularity, Is one
the earliest and most distinguished friend
of the [Jackson] administration in Mlsalf
sippi, a. one whose family and connection
are extremely influential, and who are al
cooperating with ne in the arduous strue
gle against the enemies Of Democracy-wa
known to be defaulter. Was he remove
or punished Never. In March, 1884, tn
Secretary of the Treasury complained &
his conduct; in August, 1885. be threatene