Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-24

gentleman siarting under the sense Of imagined or
real wrongsl
Nir lnecrso Because never heard of them till
yesterday.
Mr. Winthrop Sir, these hearings the day after an
injury received TO be listened TO with ear al
most if not altogether, closed They TO be taken
with many grains Of salt-thesc informations that
are laid the day after an honorable gentleman made
an assault upon another in another part Of this Capt.
tol. think the common rules OF candor ami Fairness
req tired that the gentleman should sleep night or
two on this hearsay testimony, which he says he
heard Of only yesterday.
Mr 1ngersoll. Not iearsay.
Mr. Winthrop. The honorable member has Ger.
tainly means Of no inormaiion hearsay Information,
not open to all.
Mr. Inpersoll. MOI hearsay.
Mr. MISUNDERSTANDING And here let me pro-
test against the introduction Of The amendment OF the
gentleman from Keniurky Mr. Boyd The juds-
nent Of the Secretary Of State is 10 he appealed 10 on
this question. II is to be put within the discretion Of
the friends Of the honorable gentleman ION Pennsyl-
vana, whether letters which may bear upon the ques-
ton, shall he suppressed under tho prelence that the
interest OF foreign governments are concerned say
that il this House is TO institute personal process OF
this kind If under the instea,lon OF the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, in moment OF passion, THIS
House is to institute a process against the character
and fame of n man whose name will live when the
names Of other persons whom will not OBSTINATE
shall have persisted forever, then let no hostile Prcsl-
dent or Secretary of State undertake to discriminate
between papers that be produced and those that
are to be suppressed. Give us al-every letter. The
honorable member had one letter which he called for
Did prove his case? Did he prove it by letters writ.
ten on ths subject from the earliest daysdown to that
on which now speaking? Let us compare
the administrations Of the State Department IN rea-
ton To these foreign questions from the time when
Mr. Jefferson ut its head TO that Of Mr. Buchanan
Let what the use of this secret servicc money
in the case of Texas. Let us see what II was IN
The case of LOUISIANA as well rs in that of the north
eastern boundary. " we TO have anything let us
have The whole. demand it all-and-ln behalf Of
the Distinguished senator whom | am proud this day
To call nv friend, challenge the judgement Of the
country upon the is ne.
Mr. Speaker, have leen BETRAYED into more en-
tended observation, and have seemingly expressed
myself in a much more excited manner, than had
designed. do moi intend to vote against these
lurions. hold II TO he an act which will remain
withi example, without precedent, certainly, that
an honorable member Of this House. without under
taking state any specific charge; without dcsgnat-
ing any particular letter; without fixing upon any
precise fact, upon which to base this second series of
accusations, should call uron this House to run
drag. through the State Department, during par-
cular period. To see if he could not hunt up some
thing in the shape of evidence to sustain the misern.
BILE ISLANDERS which have been before the country for
Two years past. The proceeding seems TO me TO be
beneath the character and the dignity of this House.
After remarks on the side aud the other from
Mr. Holmes, of South Carolina, and Mr. Seldom, Of
Virginia, Mr. J. G. Adams took The floor.
Mr. Adams asked for the reading of The resolution
as modified, which having been read, Mr. \. proceed
ed address the House. Owing to his position the
hail. and the great confusion which occasionally pre-
vailed, increased by almost nce ssant conversations
il very difficult to catch, otherwise than doubt
fully, some OF his particular expressions. But the
reporter thinks that probably, he will not be far out
of the way in presenting the venerable gentleman as
follows:
Mr. Speaker. wish this House would dives itself
OF every sentiment feeling connected with clrcum
stances extraneous to this resolution, and would con-
slider ii as measure OF very great importance carry
ing out violating the provisions of the tons ituilon
Of the United States Having made this obse' valion,
and having endeavnrel to separate the resolution
from personal considerations Of every kind, | say
that cannot vote for il in the form in hch is
presented
There are parts of it asking for information, which
believe il is the right of this House to call for, and
10 which have no objection whatsoever. believe,
on hearing the resolution read, MS just now did, for
the first time, having been IN attendance on the COM
mirtce when the resolution first introduced be-
evc, say, that to those parts which do not bring in
TO question any PROVISIONS OF the consiiiuilnn the
necessary secrecy to lie observed the part of the
Executive, in respect to matters which concern the
foreign relations of the country, ! shall have no cb-
lection.
But the first. and as think the most material part
Of that resolution req res exhibition TO this House
of the manner in which fund has been expended
which, under the constitution and avs Of the United
States has been hitherto buried in profound ecrecy.
and in respect to which it the intention. as
have always understood that perpetual secrecy should
Of money shall be placed nj the disposal of the actual
Pre>ilen, Of the United States, for which no other
account shall be given than by certificate under the
hand of the President himself that il has been eXpcnd
ed for the public benefit, and that document, when
carried to the treasury, passes the account has
been said, or al least minated by gentlemen On this
por, that the object of this secret fund It necessary
to corruption This is moi During the time had
the honor Of occupying that station gave a ceiti
cate for the expenditure of one years Appropriation
Of this fund and turned out 10 be a,oge her made
qua'e TO the end TO be accomplished and there was
no more corruption in the whole Of the transaction
for which that money was applied than there is IN
the debate Of this House to-day. I do not say what
il was for. have never stated 10 anybody except
to my successor in that Office what the money was
expended for. But Immediately after he came into
Office made known to him the object of the expcn-
diture and he accomplished the purpose for which
that money was designed, and of winch ! will only
say that It was a treaty of commerce with the Sub
lime Porte. Now, If the House will only recoleci for
a moment what advantage and benefit have resulted
to this country from that provision OF the law giving
10 the President oflhe United States the power TO APP
ply certain sum for the secret service money in our
relations with foreign countries; # they will reflect
what the stale of things was at that time, and how
necessary such fund was to the accomplish
ment Of the end which that negotiation with he Sui
tan of Turkey had in view, although probably there
! is not member of the House who knew of any such
money having been so expended It, say. the House
will consider these things, and bear in mind with wha,
effect that fund was used, they will lie disposed
think, to reconsider the opinion that il is corruption
fund, and will believe that 1t may he applied for
purposes as fair and honorable as an country car
require.
To The objections thus stated to the adoption Of ,h.
| resolution, must add ano'her-ihat there is any in
qulry whatever in I'd 10 the service 10 which
this fund was applied wih reference To the negotia
lion in The Ashhurron treaty. This must be alIogeh
er struck on, before can vote for the resolution.
Mr. C.. J. Ingersoll. There is not a wore
about the Ashbur'on treaty in the resolution.
Mr. Adams Mr. Speaker, one Of the nbjec-
tions have to this resolution is, that il has moi
the very object which the mover of, says it has
1t calls upon the President To give an accoun, u
moneys expended through the Department q
State, and charges them as aga inst the Secreta
|, ~ of State. Now, for the expenditure of tina
money the Secretary of State, present or past
) is no more responsible than you or !. The law
itself requires that 1t shall be expended by orde
OF the President himself 1t does not 90 ihronr
the Secretary of State. The order which Is
sued to that effect for the whole sum of none,
was not known to the Secretary of State at tn,
: time made II, any more than it was to you al
hour ago. The Secretary of Stale was not a
the seat of government at the time ] directe
the negotiation. lie was not here for month
afterwards. do not know that he knows to TIN
day for what that money was expended. TIN
0 law itself gives to the President alone the DOW
er of expendiug it (; and il is no more necessar
that it should pass through the hands of tn
Sec'y. of Sla'e than that it should pass throug
: this House. This is one Of my reasons for oh
jecling to the adoption of the resolution. II can
rot bring the information il calls for and if
'. is TO produce any effect at ALL it must be adore
u sed to Mr. John Tyler, and not to the Secrefar