The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-05-08
house OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
NoxpAY, Arm 90. le46.

MoxDAY, ArRL 20, le46.
SECRET sERvIC FUND.
The Message Of the Pfesiden, of the I.
S aies, in reply to the call of the House Of
for particulars Of the ex-
pendl,ure Of the fund annually set apart Tor
Contingent expenses Of foreign intercourse
Of confidential character, being under con
Mr.. 7. BUTLER KING addressed the
House substantially as follows:
do not rise, Mr.. Speaker, (said Dir. K.)
TO deleud Mr.. Webster. lie requires no
defence. Il he did, it will, think, be ad
United on ell hands that he is quite capable
OF defending himself. But, sir, desire to
say ,ha, any member OF this House who a
walls himself of sill the sauc,ions of hts re-
preventative character 10 assail IN any form
or in any manner the reputation OF any
man, but especially tina, Of distinguished
citizen, whose fame may justly be regarded
as the property OF the nation, and who has
filled the highest stations with unrlyalled a
W
and Justice to substaniate his charges, or
they will recoll with redoubled force upon
his own head. Accusations thus made aud
not proved dslndIe into the vIest SANDER,
and must necessarily subject tie man who
makes them TO the lst scorn and contempt
of all honorable men. When The gentle.
man from Peunsy lvenia made his remarks
on the 9th Of February last, respecting the
alleged interference Of this Government
with the administration of the laws OF the
State of New York, 10 the case OF Alexan'
der Mcleod, confess | was greatly sur.
prised for had never, until that moment,
seen or heard i, asserted IN any authentic
or reliable form that the Government oil the
United States had at any time or 10 any
manner attempted TO interfere IN that case
for the purpose of preventing the execution
Of the law, or that the then Secretary oil
State had taken any part 10 that affair not
strictly and properly in the line OF bis duty,
under the direction Of the President Of the
United States.
The comments recently made in the 9th.
er wing Of this Capitol upon the remarks Of
the member from Pennsylvania 10 which |
have referred, may be regarded as sutli
clen, TO hold them Up 10 their true light &c
the public. |! may nevertheless b. not I'M
proper for the 10 adyef. to them, for tbs
purpose Of showing how utterly they ara
unsustaned by The facts.
10 the genleman's speech to which
have alluded, no said;
"Whea Mcleod was arrested GEN Harrison
had jus. died, and Mr., Tyler was not yet at home
as his successor. Mr.. Webster-who was De
}act9 the Administraton-Mr. Webster wrote 10
the Governor of New York, with his own hand
letter. and sent il by express, marked private,
in which the Governor was told that be must re
lease Mcleod, or see the magnificent commercial
emporium laid in ashes. Tie brilliant descrip
ton given by the gentleman from Virginia of tht
prospective destruction Of that city in the o
war, was in a measure anticipated on this occa
.ion. Mcleod must be released said the Secre
tary Of State, or New Y ork mus. be laid in ashes
The Governor asked when this would be done
The reply was. to,thriM. Do you not see com
ing on The waves OF tic sea the paixhaln guns
And, II vi Leod be not released New YORK vii
be destroyed. But, said the Governor the powe
OF pardon Is vested in me, and even II he DO con
Secretary, If you even try him you viii bring de-
siruction upon yourselves"
Now, this is direct contradiction 10 the
truth. Mcleod uds arreSted before the
death Of Gen. Harrison, who, according ,o
the statement Of Mr.. CriiIeuden, dlctel &c
the instructions which he presented to tbs
Governor Of New York, and the uery let
ter, marked private" TO which Ane mem
Der refers, was dated on the l7th March
l94l, before Gen. Harrison was even taket
SICK. These palpabie representation:
the gentleman had no. attempted to recon
Gle or 10 retract.
To show that bis other allegations 10 tht
above extract, respecting the contents 0
the letter marked private" are equal,
tallacious, it is only necessary to rccur {,
The letter itself, which is as follows:
Private DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, March II, loIl.
NJ Dear Sir The President has learned. moi
directly, but by means of a letter from 4 friend
that you had expressed disposition 10 direct q
no!le prOsequi IN the case Of the indictment a
gainst Mcleod, on being informed Ny this Gov
eminent that the British Government had ofiici
ally syowed the attack on the Caroline as al &C
done by lts own authority,
The President directs me to eXp press his thank
for the prOnptitude With which you appear dta
posed 10 perform an act which lie supposes pro
per for The occasion, and which is calculated L
relieve this Government from embarrassment
and the country from some danger Of collision
with foreign Power.
gu will have seen Mr., Crittendeu, whom
take this occasion to commend 10 your kiudel
fegard.
have the honor 10 be, very truly, yours,
DANIEL y WEBSTER
His EIcellency VIZ. H. SEwAAD.
Governor Of New York, Albany.
This is the only private" letter Mr.
Webster ever wrote 10 Gov. Seward a
Secretary Ct State. The assertion OF In
gentleman that when Mcleod was arres
ted Gen. Harrison had Just died aud Nj
Tyler was not yet home as his successor
Mr.. Webster was de facto he admiaIs,ra
tlon," &C., is thus repealed and. unequlyc
caIly refuted by Mr.. Crllieudea, who, i
his place 10 the Senate oil The L. States, al
serted