Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-01

ever in this proceeding. From the beginning il
has been 10 me cause OF much pain; and aaye
carefully RETAINED from every thing in conncx-
ion with il, except when duty has required that
should give vote. | have voted, and have
done no more. In relation 10 The particular State
ment now made, am not al liberty TO preserve
! silence. Thus far The controversy has been one
in which my feelings Of affectona,e relationship
were alone Concerned. A different situation is
now created. | was counsel for The district at.
torney in the suit with the u. States On The trial
OF the cause, was his only counsel. know,
! Mr.. Speaker-1 well know-ihe facts connected
with the case. They were such as did not, Tor
moment, that have ever heard, excite suspi-
cion of official or personal delinquency on The part
OF the individual concerned in them. he had long
held the Office Of district attorney. Very large
sums OF money had, during a course OF years,
passed through bis hands. !. was interesting 10
himself, and, as nigh; have been supposed, II was
scarcely less interesting IA the government that his
accounts should be settled. lie endeavored re-
peatcdly, and Tor length Of time, 10 bring about
settlement. His efforts were irutless. No adj
justment was made. He could not, in the nature
OF lbe thing, bring suit against the Government,
or otherwise compel what he so much desired,
and so anxiously sought He therefore, with
The advice OF counsel, gave notice 10 the proper
department that he had some funds in his hands,
and that he would require suil to be brought
against him as the only means Of efieciDg full
and final settlement, and that in the mean time
The fund should be invested for The benefit of the
United States. Suit was brought An account
OF items was exhibited, amountingto more than
million of dollars, which had been officially re-
ceived BY The district attorney, and ne was re-
quired 10 exhibit vouchers for the payment OF
them TO The proper authority. He did so with
entire clearness, and TO the satisfaction OF the
| Judge and jury. A balance OF between three and
tour thousand dollars remained, and a verdict was
found accordingly. The conduct Of the district
attorney during the whole transaction was, in
my estimation, perfectly honorable and have
never, that recoec', until this momenl heard
suggestion from any quarter 10 the contrary.
! Ii has been in collateral manner onlv--one
known especially TO mysel-that have lelt N.Y.
self al liberty, and uncer an obligation, 10 inter-
pose. II is my intention, from motives that will
meet with unhesilatiEg response otpe-
culiar delicacy-to refrain "a much as possible
! in The future, as have done in The past from
| taking any part in this controversy.
/ Mir. Ashmun resumed. yielded with The NJ
most chseTfuness 10 The gentleman from Penn
| syrania, whose ncar relation 10 the other gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania entities him 10 be
4 heard and whose high and honorable character
entities him TO belief, as far as ne states facts.
| So far rs his opinions may be influenced by lhs
delicate position in which be stands 10 the 9TH
er gentleman, leave Tor the House 10 decide.
/ But in relation 10 these facts, agree that the
gentleman from Pennsylvania did urge time and
/ again a set,lemcnt-a suit 10 be commenced
| and when that suit was commenced its result
/ was, that judgment was rendered against him for
nearly 1000 dollars, and thai balance was not
/ paid up until Two years afterwards The gentle
man SAYS, in his opinion his whole course was
| highly honorable. ! leave il for the House for
the world, TO Judge in relation 10 his bringing 65l
cases cut OF one lransacon-out Of which he
sought 10 accumulate monsirous amount as an
offset 10 the charges OF The treasury against him.
Mr.. c. Iugersoll Gin his seat) Did you read
the printed testimony in that document?
Mr.. Ashmun. Il is Of Two students in the dis
trict attorneys Office. a certificate furnished
years afterwards by The foreman OF The grand ju-
~. Did not every lawyer Know that the grand
iurv were directed instructed, coun.cl!cd in their
course by the advice Of the district attorney?
But leave this matter with The facts Of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, which are all
true and with The opinions re has pronounced;
and ask the House and the world 10 pronounce
upon these facts. Sir, for what was il that on the
immediate accession OF General Jackson 10 Office,
this district attorney was tumhled head and heels
out OF office? Gen. Jackson scented il ou!; his
keen sagacity hit upon it, and he was immediate
II displaced
Well, now under such circumstances, and
from such source, these charges come What
are the charges? Charges fpecu!alion-charges
upon Mr.. Webster OF the personal use Of This
fund. Now, no proof has been produced TO sus-
tain ,he truth Of his charge. Il has not been sus.
tanned by one particle of evidence that the gen.
,leman has undertaken TO stale 10 the House, that
that secret service fund was taken posses
sion Of by Mr.. Webster. The House knows
that il is utterly impossible; that il cannot be
true; that iat fund is uEder he direction
ana control Of the President and can only
be obtained on The certificate ofthe President; and
when saw the little by-play By which The gen.
teran from Virginia mir. Baylyl called upon
he gentleman from Pennsylvania TO exempt Mr.
TYLER from any connection with this transaction,
understood il perfectly well, and know equal
" well that Mr.. Tyler has said, and now
SAYS, thai mol one dollar was expended bnt under
his direction. And know further, the insidious
efforts that have been reso;ted 10, 10 get MIR. Ty-
Ter 10 take ground on This subject against Mr..
Webster.
Mr. c. J. Ingersoll. BY mel
Mr.. Ashmnn. Yes.
Mr. Ingersoll. II is utterly false.
The Speaker rapped 10 order.
Mr.. lngersoll (s,ill standing and continuing
his senlence.) Il is lie; the lie Of coward.
MIR Ashmnn (resnming.) Yes, the aged Penn
| syivanian--
MIR. Ingersoll (inierposing) am quite young
enough
Mr.. Ashmun Yes; the aged Pennsylvania
comes here TO use language towards me which
he supposes can provoke personal conflict
come from section Of country where they nei-
;her believe in duelins, bowie knives, ncr pistols
We are neither afraid of them nor 40 we use
them.
Mr.. c. J. Inscrsoll Gin his seai) Nor CT get
ting drunkl
Mr.. Ashmun (conlinuine) The member from
PENNSYLVANIA supposed by using that phrase nc
would disturb my eQuanmity. II he chooses
10 try whether am afraid, let him try and he will
find out.
stated that insidious efforts have been made
70 induce MIR. Tyler to take ground on this sub
ect against Mr.. Webster. ! believe when the
gentleman first found he was TO be disappointed
in The proof, that efforts were made by him. or al
least with his connivance, Tor this purpose. And
il has been stated in The public papers that certain
gentlemen were requested 10 do So | will mol
vouch tor all that is said in the papers but when
have seen The means re:ored lo-lhat The secret
archives OF the Government have been broken
into for obtaining the means of detraction
am at liberty 10 state all know IN relation 10
other efforts.
come back, Mr. Speaker, 10 the charge that
Mr.. Webster has used the public funds The
gentleman says seventeen thousand dollars
Where is the proof il Iesls entirely upon the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. he says he has
obtained it; and in so saying, he admits his cwn
shame; that he has been where he has no right
to be. He proiessed 10 read what be called a let
Ter. How much OF that was his owu comments,
and how much The true letter re 40 no; know
tpurpors 10 be for The corruption Of the press
We'll. beg The gentleman TO answer how much
money it will take 10 buy up the Democratic
nress of Maine Even il q thousand or two Of dol
lars had been used by Mr. Tyler and Mr.. Web
ser for the purpose Of circulating information
among the people CT Maine: 50 as 10 bring them
10 agree upon conventional boundary, OF the
Justice CT which tney were satisfied, Mr.. A. con-
silered il no worse than The giving the public
printing 10 editors Of The political press. But
was this corrupling the public press7 Il is all
idle. said he There is no, The slightest evidence
Of il, except the mere statement Of the MEMBER
! from Pennsylvania. How much that is worth,
leaveth House 10 decide.
e.. ~. or,hr.reo sphx,a n,i,llv all the CHARGE,