Galphin Affair: Difference between revisions
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The '''Galphin Affair''' was a political scandal during the presidency of [[Zachary Taylor]]. During the mid 1840's, then [[Governor]] [[George W. Crawford]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] took over, on a 50-50 basis, the settlement of a pre-revolutionary land claim of the Galphin family, which originally amounted to less than $45,000. In 1849, now [[Secretary of War]] Crawford, with the help of friends, got a bill appropriating that amount through Congress. Then, by a smart triple play with [[Attorney General of the United States]] [[Reverdy Johnson]] and [[Secretary of the Treasury]] [[William M. Meredith|William Meredith]], Crawford got an additional payment of $191,353 for 73 years' interest, half of which he kept for himself.<ref>p.573, The Oxford History of the American People. Samuel Eliot Morrison. Oxford University Press:New York. 1965.</ref> |
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The '''Galphin Affair''' was the disputed settlement over the Galphin estate, where [[George W. Crawford]] took 50% of the claim for himself. Crawford at the time was working as a part of President [[Zachary Taylor]]’s Cabinet. |
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==Background== |
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[[George Galphin]] was an Irish immigrant and an Indian trader. He was very successful and respected for his work. He had a large land claim in what became the territory of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], but after his death and the [[Revolutionary War]] that was taken from his family. The government claimed the Galphin estate as its own and that is where the dispute over the land starts. The Galphin family fought for over 70 years, but it wasn’t until the 1840’s that they had any hope of getting compensated for their land. |
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==Resolving the Claim== |
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Georgia’s Governor, George Crawford, took up the case helping the Galphin family fight for their estate, under the agreement to keep 50% of the claim for himself. During his last days in office as Governor, the claim went through Congress and going almost completely unnoticed it passed into law. The law directed the Secretary of Treasury to pay the dues for the estate. Crawford was to receive $43,518.97; this was the principle of the claim (no interest was allowed). |
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In 1849 Zachary Taylor asked George Crawford to be a part of his cabinet. He became [[Secretary of War]] and from that position he gained many new connections and allies. He brought up the case to [[Attorney General]] of the United States [[Reverdy Johnson]] and [[Secretary of the Treasury]] [[William Meredith]]. The Galphin family and Crawford demanded that interest be paid on the estate. |
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At the time Congress was in session, but the three officials decided to settle the claim on their own. On May 2nd, 1775 the Secretary of Treasry paid out $192,352.89 for the land and interest. William Meredith kept $3,000 for himself while Crawford also took $94,176.44. |
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==Afterwards== |
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When the public found out about the Galphin estate’s resolution they were outraged. This led to Crawford’s resignation and though the public demanded an investigation, there never was a punishment for the Secretary of War or his allies. Crawford retired and lived off the money he made from the settlement. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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<ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2873] New Georgia Encyclopedia</ref> |
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<ref>History of the United States from the compromise of 1850 by James Ford Rhodes</ref> |
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<ref>The Galphin claim by Edward Stanly</ref> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:History of the United States (1849–1865)]] |
[[Category:History of the United States (1849–1865)]] |
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Revision as of 04:45, 23 November 2011
Galphin Affair | |
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 The Taylor Administration |
The Galphin Affair was the disputed settlement over the Galphin estate, where George W. Crawford took 50% of the claim for himself. Crawford at the time was working as a part of President Zachary Taylor’s Cabinet.
Background
George Galphin was an Irish immigrant and an Indian trader. He was very successful and respected for his work. He had a large land claim in what became the territory of Georgia, but after his death and the Revolutionary War that was taken from his family. The government claimed the Galphin estate as its own and that is where the dispute over the land starts. The Galphin family fought for over 70 years, but it wasn’t until the 1840’s that they had any hope of getting compensated for their land.
Resolving the Claim
Georgia’s Governor, George Crawford, took up the case helping the Galphin family fight for their estate, under the agreement to keep 50% of the claim for himself. During his last days in office as Governor, the claim went through Congress and going almost completely unnoticed it passed into law. The law directed the Secretary of Treasury to pay the dues for the estate. Crawford was to receive $43,518.97; this was the principle of the claim (no interest was allowed).
In 1849 Zachary Taylor asked George Crawford to be a part of his cabinet. He became Secretary of War and from that position he gained many new connections and allies. He brought up the case to Attorney General of the United States Reverdy Johnson and Secretary of the Treasury William Meredith. The Galphin family and Crawford demanded that interest be paid on the estate.
At the time Congress was in session, but the three officials decided to settle the claim on their own. On May 2nd, 1775 the Secretary of Treasry paid out $192,352.89 for the land and interest. William Meredith kept $3,000 for himself while Crawford also took $94,176.44.
Afterwards
When the public found out about the Galphin estate’s resolution they were outraged. This led to Crawford’s resignation and though the public demanded an investigation, there never was a punishment for the Secretary of War or his allies. Crawford retired and lived off the money he made from the settlement.
References
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