Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-13
THE REPLY UNSATISFACTORY.
THE GALPHIN CLAIM.

President TaylOr's Secretary of War and
His Connection with a Cabinet Scan
dRI.
A correspondent of the New York Sun
at Washington resurrects the following
Renaissance of Taylor's administration
The Pan Electric scandal recalls the Gal
phin-claim scandal of President TaYlor's
administration.
On April 2, 1850, Secretary Crawford
addressed the following communication
to the Speaker OF the House, the Hon.
Howell Cobb:
SIR: My official connection with the
government authorizes me, in my judg-
ment, to ask ana to have acceded to me
by the House over which you preside, a
prompt and full investigation IN such
manner as it may think proper of my con-
duct and relation TO the claim of the rep
resentatives of George Galphin, which
claim has been adjudicated and paid at
one OF the departments OF the government
and is now attracting public attention.
Without any delay whatever a commit
tee Of nine was appointed by the chair to
take the subject into consideration.
The Galphin claim originated in this
way: Prior to the year 1873 George Gal
phin, the original claimant, was licensed
trader among the Greek and Cherokee
Indians in the province OF Georgia. These
indiana owed MIN money, amounting to
nearly E9,TI2 and 70 cover their debts
they ceded in 1873 very large tract OF
valuable land to King George ILL, so that
the proceeds OF the sales OF these lands
by commissioners appointed for the pur-
pose might be applied to the debts. The
conveyance was completed, and the COM
missioners began selling the lands and
paying first legal and trust expenses out
of it. Before any money had accrued for
Galphin the Revolutionary war broke
out. and the State OF Georgia, claim
ing these with other lands within It's do
main. began granting them with others to
patriot settlers. A few years later, In
1880, before the war closed, George Gal
phin died. In 1889 mis- son and executor,
Thomas Galphin, applied for indemnity to
the Georgia legislature, and received a
favorable report from committee, but
nothing else. Two years later he applied
for relief to Great Britain, but his appeal
was rejected on the ground that his father
had been a friend OF the American cause.
During nearly halfa century atterward
little more was done in the matter, save
that there were occasional appeals to the
Georgia legislature at long intervals.
In the year 1888, Mr.. GeOrge w. Craw-
ford. Georgia lawyer, maze an agree
ment with Mllledge 0alphin, son and eX-
ecutOr of Thomas, and grandson OF George.
to revive and push this ancient claim, and
to take for his pay One-half Of whatever
be might get out Of IL. About two years
later it was agreed by subsequent con-
tract that any advances by Crawford To
other persons in the interests OF the claim
should be deducted out Of the proceeds be-
fore dividing the remainder. The truth Is
that the attorney had already opened an
entirely new line Of operations. He
had turned for his claim from the
Georgia Legislature TO the United
states government. and almost i'm
mediately after taking up the case in 1880,
when the new Echota treaty with the
Cherokees was made, he actually sue
ceeded In getting provision for the pay
ment Of his client in tull into the draft of
the treaty. The Senate not understand
ing what 10 was all about struck out this
private claim, and the treaty was ratified
without il. Accordingly we find Mr..
Crawford next proceeding 10 enlighten
the United States senate about
the Galphin claim, 80 that this body
consented IN 1886 10 a resolution in-
curing about IL; and in the following
January the President communicated 10
the Senate a letter Of information from
Gov. Schley. who had FASTENED 10 say that
the claim was that Of Georgia citizens,
and just, though deyolving not on Georgia
TO pay, but on the general government,
(which had succeeded to that Of Great
Britain, receiving the benefits and bear
ing the burdens" But the next wear the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs re-
ported that the Galphin claim WAS utterly
invalid against the United States, aud so
puf an end % that stage of the operations.
With his large contingent interest to
spur him on, MIR. Crawford at once turned
back 10 the Georgia Legislature, where
annually, up 70 1912, he urged his claim;
and what is noticeable during all the
years from 1887 TO 1912, except 1871. he
secured a membership In the Legislature.
and openly av0wed his interest in the
claim, aud urged It's payment in debate,
put always declined 10 vote on IL, as be-
ing party In interest.
In 1913 he secured an apparent advan-
tage by being elected Governor Of Geor-
gia. and be was reelected 10 1916. But
the hard work Of six years had convinced
him OF the uselessness of further appeal