Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-06-18
Congressional.
w,su,soroy lime 9th lsiG.
uoU 'E OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

III HOI T. Ot " i ~ d Nv TO
\ The House met at 10 o'clock and Mr.. Vim
4 ton had ihe unanimous consent ~ make report
4 from the Select Committee to lnvesiga e
! The charges against Mr.. Webster The report
was read and us main points were as follows -
| 1t. Mt Ingersol charged that MI " e5Sler
had without The knowledge of the President,
and contrary to usage, taken the secret service
| fund from ihe charge OF the dlsbursng agent,
| aud applied il To his own use. The report
| states that during the PreSidencieS of Wash
! inglon and jefferson, IL was customary that the
| Secretary of State should keep the fund, and
! that il was put into the hands of the dlSburslng
| agent during the administration Of Mr.. Jeher
son IN reference to a particular case. Mr.,
!, TYLER had suggested that the fund should be
1 discussed by Mr.. Webster in The then critical
/ state of our foreign relations and all the money
| which had teen placed in his hands, has been
placed there with the knowledge and by the an
1 horily of the President. There was not tie
slightest proof that any portion had been ap-
Piled by Sir Webster 10 his private use.
I'd Mi Ingersol charged that Mr.. Webster
had used The public funds for corrupt party
presses There is one clause in I, O. J. Smiths
letter. which, unexplained, world justify the
inference drawn by Mr.. lngeTsoil, but the testi
mony laid before the COMMITTEE completely Ie
moves all charge that Mr.. Webster had used
any portion OF the fund to corrupt parry presses.
3D. That Mr.. lneerSoll charged that Mr
! Webster, when he left office, was a deiauter 10
the fund.
The report states that when MIR Webster !c!i
the Stale Department, there was balance a.
gaInSt him on this fund of Sii5O, which he
cuntended had been expended by him, and
vouchers received, but which vouchers could
not be found that in November, l-ii, vouch.
er was produced for S2U0U. Mr Webster, not
,h,e
to close his accounts paid over the balance, with
the understanding thai if tie vouchers were
found, the amount should be refunded TO him ),
that in February lS45, vouchers for Sl05S were
produced, and that amount was repaid To him
leaving an apparent balance against Mr. Web
sler Of SlIOO, which he contends has been ex-
pended IN the public service buI for which he
could not produce vouchers, and therefore paid
IL to the fund.
The report freely exonerates hr. Webster on
all points and concludes by stating that in the
testimony, facts had been brought out which
ought not to be made public, and asks that the
testimony be sealed up and placed in the ar
chiveS Of the House, not to be opened except
by order of the House; that the Committee be ,
discharged from further consideration of the
subject, and that the report be printed.
The report is signed by MeSsrS. Vinton and
p. King Wings and Seaborn Jones and JET.
ferson Davis, Democrats
Mr.. BrinkeThoh made a minority report, in 1
which he had embodied Mr.. +. .. J. Smith 5
letter. concluding with resolution that the
testimony be printed. Mr. Scaborn Jones said
ample justice had been done to Mr.. l., in
reference to the information he had from
f. o. j. Smiths letter, and it would be unjust
improper and iniqutouS, 10 publish that letter
without The explanation ofthe committee, and
asked that all the testimony should be kept
secret.
Mr.. Brinkerboff made some remarks in sup
port of his views on the evidence. II
Mr.. Martin, of Kentucky, asked Mr.. d. i'll
Mr.. Ingrrsoll was allowed To appear before the
Committee to prosecute his charges. Mr.. Is.
said no was not. n
Mr.. Vinton said Mr. / did not ask 10 appear,
and was not refused. II
A motion was made that both reports be
printed and laid on the table. A divisiop was
asked for aud the report was laid on the table
The previous question was moved and sns-
aned on the printing, and the yeas and nays
ordered. Il
On motion Of Mr.. Winthrop the minority
report of Mr. Brinkorho1 was read I
This report passed over Mr.. Us first charge,
but the second and ihIrd it. attempts To sus.
tam hy forced construction. II
Several Territorial bills having all been act.
ID upon, a number Of bills from tho Senar,
we're taken up, and among them, the bill 10
'rrate new Paymssiers, was rejected III
The French Spoiinton bill was referred to
he committee on Foreign Affairs.
SENATE. III
On motion Of Mr. Brecse, the bill to gradu.
10 the price Of public Iauds was made III,
pecia order for Monday next. H.
Mr. Truney submitted resolution from the
Committee on Military Affairs, on the cxp"dr
ncy Of exemptng by law the persons ard
toperty of volunteers from arrest aud slezurr
pr debts, during the term Of their service.
Mr.. Cross moved for the printing of 5,0Oc
xtra copies of tho Presidents message, con.
linng the correspondence on the subject of
,e right Of search, which was referred, aitei
debate, to the Committee on Printing. II