The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-11
REPORT OF THE MINORITY

The undersigned, one of the members OF the Sc
ect committee Of the House Of Representatives sp-
pointed investigate the truth ofthe charges against
Daniel Webster, late Secretary Of State, made by
Chades ]. Iogersoll, member of this House, find
log himself unable 70 concur, IN all respees IN the
report OF the majority Of the committee, and beey.
ing that truth and justice require that some Of the
facts made to appear in the OF the nves,iga-
ton should be stated fully than has been done
In the report of the majority, begs leave briefly to
present his views in the way ola
MINORITY REPORT.
While it is true, as stated in the majority report,
that il would appear, from the testimony Of ex-
President Tyler, that ii on his ewn suggestion
that the moneys belonging to the secret service
fund were placed in the hands of Mr.. Webster
yet, from the testimony Of MIR Stubbs, the disbur-
sing agent Of that fund, and by the correspondence
on the subject, copies Of which were obtained by
the committee it is evident that the nodus opeynndi
was this: Mr.. Webster verbally suggested to Mr..
Stubbs that he should write note TO the President
suggesting the propriety and convenience Of placing
part of this fund the disposal of the Secretary OF
State. This Mr.. Stubbs did; and Mr.. Webster
transmitted the Of Mr.. Stubbs to the President
accompanied with one from himself, approving the
suggestion, and mentioning the amount which he
supposed would be necessary for the then present
purposes OF the department.
Al the conclusion OF that part of the report Of the
majority of this committee, which relates the first
charge Of Mr. lngersolI, it is said; "A balance not
needed for the purposes contemplated, was after
wards returned by Mr.. Webster 10 Mr.. Stubbs, the
dsbursng agent.n In reference TO this part of the
subject, it is but proper 10 say, that the whole
amount the secret service fund which came into
the hands Of Mr.. Webster, was seventeen thousand
dollars. Five thousand dollars Of this sum was re-
ceived by him ia November and December, lS4l,
and remained in his hands until the 23d day Of
June, l542 when il was returned to the disbursing
If fha "hetha I,,r;n 81
time which interviewed, Mr. Webster made use of
the whole any part of this sum, whether it lay
untouched by him in the hands Of his banker or
elsewhere, there is, to the knowledge of the under
signed no evidence whatsoever. .n..
Proceeding to notice the second charge, the ma
jority, in their report, say: There is In the De-
partment Of State among the papers relating TO the
secret service fund, letter from that gentleman
IF. O. }. Smith, ESQ., which contains al expires.
sion that, unexplained might justly lead the infer
ence that he Mr.. Smith had used the money of
the government in that way" The undersigned
deems it outright that this letter should DO given
length. It's as follows:
tPRraTEl
PsRrLAsD Aug IL, 1870.
DEtR sra: suppose we may consider our longdisPued
great CREDIT due your efforts in bringing forty years
dsputs to close feel grat6ed in the result from
vcuon of many years standing thata mode Of sp-
preaching the subject, and such you have
adopted would accomplish it, while another forty years Of
crcuitous diplomacy would have availed nothing ."
Considering the matter settled. presume you feel
justified in enabling TO fulfil certain which
made few individuals at different points in this State,
whose services and influence had occasion to-
order adjust the and direction OF the party presses
and through them Of public sentiment to the purposes
desirable Of accomplishment under youT admnistra
For my services you also make such allowance
from the contingent fund you may deem proper merely
remarking that all that contemplated In my original
letters to you of May, 1871, on the subject Ear as
Maine and the voice of the people concerned has been
happily realized To the Individuals alluded to above
three number assurance that the
settlement Of the boundary they should be allowed
sonable ration their time and incidental
Ses-and should like to be able to remit them 500 or
sla6 each, 4 in my power Nevertheless assumed no au.
the subject, but the whole my confidential inter.
course with them, and leave it, after stating the fact
wn9ny your discretion presume the contingent fund
| you think just
send herewith bill for n voucher with epr, oons.p,
for you to fill the blanks You may deem proper And
do thus seasonaby lest there he ground for the rumor
las trust there is mott that you will shortly Clair, igS,
20 retire from the admins ration of the state Dersrt.
| ment.
present any other position Of the public service INV
wishes will attend your efforts and shall be most kappy
any opportunity OF my being serviceable to yon in this
lam, mos, truly, your friend and oeedient servant
Hon. D. wrsu,s, SC SC &c
tits hardly possible that any one, reading thin
letter, should come TO any other conclusion than tina
arrived at by Mr. lngersol, and embraced in hi,
second charge Mr.. Smith, however, in his exami
nation before the committee, positively denies tha
any part Of the sum Of two thousand Ave hundreC
dollars, received by him out Of the secret servic,
fund, was ever paid or promised to any person II
any way connected with the public press; and
from his testimony, il would appear that the objec
Of his agency in Maine was to institute and prose
cute course of systematic electoneerng; and, BY
correspondence and confidential communications viii
the leading and influential political characters o
both political parties, 30 to influence the public
mind, and "sdjust the tone and direction Of III,
party presses ,nas to secure a majority in the legs
sture Of that State favorable to the appointment
commissioners with full powers to bind the State in