The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-03-23
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.

o0'eo INC dii&lrS OF Government, there
were no corruptionists among its Cabinet
dlgnltarles or subordinate appointees, as
serts an unbushing falsehood. A CORES.
pondent Of the Washington Star, whose
experience III public life extends back over
a period OF quarter of ii century gives the
following interesting "reminiscences of the
good old Democratic days." beginning. a
| little out of the regular historic order in
1890, when the notorious "Galphin swim
die shocked the country:
General Zachary Taylor was President
Governor Geo. w Crawford Secretary of
War Geo. Galphin, the original claimant
had been dead seventy years he died in
lio0. Prior to 1873 he had been L.
cened troder among the George Cherokee
aud Creek Indians, who were indebted to
him for goods, and his original claim was
against Great Britain; bat under subsc-
qucnt treaties and acts the claim was pre-
scnted by Galphin's heirs to the United
States for adjustment
1t had again and again but a law for its
settlement was finally passed in 1919 Gov
ernor Crawford, before becoming Secre-
tary of War, had been sixteen years acting
since lS3i-as representative and agent
Tor the heirs and it WAS charged that he
had sought place in Taylor's Cabinet as a
| means OF influencing the adjustment of the
, claim The principal for 81 l3,5l6 81 was
paid. under the law of 1919, by Polk 5 ad-
ministration and the interest for seventy
three months and twelve days, amounting
to the enormous sum of Sl9l ,352 81
nearly five times the original claim-was
paid by the Secretary of the Treasury un-
der Taylor.
Elisha Whittlcsay-the 'oll watch dog
of the Treasury'-as Controller, pro
nounced against the original claim as well
as against the interest. Nevertheless the
interest was allowed By Secretary Meridith,
under an opinion Of Attorney General
and appcroval of President Taylor, after be-
ins apprised by Secretary Crawford of an
interest i'll the claim.
Secretary Crawford received Of the prin-
cipal as his fee 81 ,40l 9S!, and Of the
amount of interest; S94,l16 Hin all
SIl5l76 i2!. An investigation was had
by the House, but Secretary Crawload frozc
to the money and resigned. There was no
impeachment
General Lewis Cass, after General Jack
son. was the great '.Thunderer' ofthe party
Under jackson, Cass was Secretary of War.
Cas,' collection, as extra allowance, Illegally,
Of Sos, 900, and his organization Of com
pany of spectators in Western lands, are
notorious As Secretary of War, CasS had
advantages which no mere citizen could
have He had opportunities Of securing
for his company 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 land specula-
tons Cass amasscd his ample fortune.
Now. Mr. Belknap speculated in traders
! licenses, by which the snldier WAS swindled;
Cass in land by which the adventurous and
hardy emigrant WAS plundered. General
Jackson subsequently made Cass Minister
10 France The Democracy made him first
Senator of the United States, next nomina-
ted him as their candidate for the Presi-
dencv, and then made him Secretary Of
State. Under the Democracy Belknap
would be in the direct line of promotion.
Col. Richard NJ. johnson (the slayer of
/ TecunIseh. and Il Democratic Senator OF the
United States, under General Jackson the
great Cabinet p2cifcator," and confidential
friend), was, during Martin Van Buren's
administration, Democratic Vice President;
leader of the Democracy. He as Vice
President also had his little speculation
in claim of Capt. Buckner's for removing
the Chcka-saw Indians. Says the report
Of the House committee which, IN 1862,
Investigated the matter
The whole amount thus paid to Capt.
Buckner was Sl46, ,293 80; Of this amount,
the sum Of S37, ,749 was, beyond doubt, i'm
properly paid If the committee have been
correct in the view they have taken of this
case. the Chickasaw fund has sustained a
loss of Sl22 ,243 80 attributable to the
want of prudent economy and falthiulness
on the part of those connected with its dis
bursement. and the accounting officers.
Col. johnson was ''the only man" who
prosecuted the claim before the department;
that while Vice President He at first de-
niahded that "Buckner purchase for him
farm in Arkansas, and some negroes, pro
vided lie got the money Buckner de-
clined. But while the two were riding to
the department the day the S37 ,749 was
improperly paid, Bnckner agreed to tend
Johnson $4,000 The requisition was OBJ
tanned and paid, and the Democratic Vice
President cot the $4,000. Were the
Democracy shocked at this exp posure No;
but in 1913 they voted Col. johnson slO,-
900 in payment Of an old Indian claim.
In 1884, w p. Harris, a receiver Of pub
lie moneys at Columbus, Miss-indorsed
by his Democratic Representative In Con
eress John I. II. Claiborne) as lone of
the main pillars of the Democratic cause,
"of dihused and deserved popularity, as
zone of the earliest and most distinguished
friends of the Jackson) administration III