Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-23
RICHMOND DAILY WING.



out OF the Secret Service Fund, charged by Mr..
lngersel TO have been fraudulenty and corruPtly
made by Mr.. Webster. while that gentleman was
at the head of the State Department. The Ma
tional Intelligencer says, the Message "does much
credit to the President" He has unquestionaby,
in opinion, taken a correct course in refusing
to make the developments called for by the House
though we regret, on Mr.. Webs,er's account, of
whose innocence Of the criminal conduct impu-
ted to him we are firmly persuaded. that records
in one Of the Departments, which Mr.. lngersoll
has been permitted most improperly TO examine,
not of such character rs to Justify their
bibiiion to the world
We do not envy the position which Mr.. Inger-
soil occupies in this painful controversy: 1t is
one, however, Of HIS own seeking, and he must
abide the consequences Of his rashness-if, in
deed, his assault upon Mt. Webster be not the
offspring less of passion, than of "malice, hatred
and all uncharitableness." With studied premed-
itaiop, on the 9th of February last, in his place
on tho floor of the House of Representatives, he
preferred again Mr.. Webster a series of alega-
tons Of the gravest character, which, if true,
were well calculated, as they unGuestiona-
bly, intended, seriously to impair the character
and standing of that distinguished gentleman.
Weeks elapsed before Mr.. Webster found a suita-
BILE occasion, (Which furnished by the reite-
ration and apparent endorsement OF those char
ges in his presence, by brother Senator,) to
pei them gross and wanton falsehoods. The
triumphant manner in which he performed this
duty is known TO the country. What, then, was
hincumbent upon Mr.. Ingersoll to do Unques-
tionably, he should either have sustained his in
FURIOUS allegations by proof, which, when he ut.
tered them, he said was in his possession, east
lY attanable, or, If he was satisfied that he had
done injustice to MIR. Webster, he ought prompt
ly to have confessed his error and retracted his
charges. But he preferred a different course.
Smartng under the terrible excoriaiion to which
ne had been subjected, and which, il his charges
were as Mr.. Webster asserts, false, he SO richly
deserved, he goes in search, not of proof to vnd-
cate his veracity, Blu; of new matter of accusa-
tion against his victim and, after having, either
by improperly granted permission, or by stealth
scruiinized records, which, from their very nature
were intended to be excluded from the eye of pry-
ing curiosity, and TO be examined only by the Ex-
ecutive, he rises on the floor of the House, with
no evidence of the truth of his former accuse
tions, but, virtually abandoning them as insuscep.
n
against Mr.. Webster, carefully prepared and pro-
fessedly depending for confirmation upon the
proofs left by Mr.. Webster himself of his own IN
fanny Such is the position which the member
from Pennsylvan now occupies before the coun-
try and we think there can be but one opinion
as 10 the verdict which the Judgment of all candid
men, of all parties. will render against him.
When we published Mr.. IngersoIs speech, char.
ging fraud and corruption upon Mr.. Webster, in
tie disbursement; of the Secret Service Fund we |
remarked that either the accuser or the accused |
mist Of necessity be crushed by the result of the |
lnvestigalion-Mr. Webster if the charges were |
sustained; Mr.. lngersoll, if he failed to make |
them good. That failure, so far, is complete
and, notwithstanding his reeration, after the re-
ccPtion Of the Presidents Message, last Monday,
at the truth Of his charges, and of his ability to
sustain portion Of them at least by proof, the
country will with one voice, pronounce him false !
accuser; and, as Mr.. King Of Georgia told him, |
his unsustained charges must of necessity recoil |
with all their weight, upon his own head.
We repeat the expression of our regret that the |
Developments called for by Mr.. Ingersoll, cannot
be made By the President consistently with his |
sense OF public duty because we have every con-
fdence, that, if they were made, they would en-
tircly exoBerate Mr.. Webster from every shadow
Of suspicion although, if il were otherwise, how
ever m4oh we might regret his degradation, he
would, il guilty, deserve to be thus exposed but
mainly because Mr.. Ingerscll and his friends NAV
adroItly avail themselves Of their inability TO pro
cure copy Of the records, to produce an impress
sion that his failure to substantiate his last series
Of allegations arises, not from the none xste nee
of evidence, but from the refusal Of the President
90 permit them 10 resort to IT,. In our opinion. |
however, the falsity Of the mputaton is inferrible
both from the iDsgnifcance Of the sum expended
while Mr. Webster was at the head Of the State
Department, and the important objects said to
have been effected by its expenditure. The whole
amount thus expended, we are informed was
about $4,000. "Ol this sum, (says the Washing.
ton correspondent Of the New York Courier and
Enqurer,) alarge proportion was expended in oh.
tanning intelligence Of the objects and plans of
Hunters Lodges on the Canadian frontier, MS al.
20 the extent Of their organization, &c. The Dor.
der difficulties in Maine, also called for consid
cradle expenditure, as did also the rumored or.
ganizaton Of black regiments in the West India
Islands belonging to Great Britain and the con.
centration there Of large naval force, which nc.
cnsioncd 20 portion Of our Union much alarm.
Al these were legitimate objects; but il may ne.
verheless no, be proper to make public the par
ticular items Of expenditure, as il might and pro.
baby would nc; iniurously upon the employees Of
Government. and would, in any event, he towards
hem gross and unjustifable breach Of faith. or
= much the public may rest assured Tadds the
pmifr's correspondent, not one dollar was used
Nj. Webster except for national purposes, TO
Il lathe national security, and to aid in the pre-
servaton OF the peace Of the country and al IN.
der ~ saac,ion Of the thea acting President''-
under wbo'e srslasiUe guardianship aud control.
Indeed, the Secret Service Fund is placed by law
Tho falshy Of the charges is further inierrible
from fact stated by the Washington couespon.
dent Of the Philadelphia North American, that
The mutual friends of Messrs. Webster and Inger.
soil, had attempted a compromise q the contrOyer.