Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-23

by publications for what may be dragged up out OF the de-
psrtment Of State. when he was in that Office. to Injure
him in the public mind. probably for services OF the hrst
importance TO the country.
As to other parts Of the resolution, calling Tor copies oil
papers in relation TO a fee probably paid to a lawyer IN
the defence of q man on trial in the State OF New YORK,
or other things, documents which may possibly bring Up
the broken ruins Of e conflict between the government OF
the United States and the Governor Of the State Of New
York at that time, matters which | believe had much BET
ter be suffered to slumber, as they have done for many
years past, when connected with the charge of corruption
| should be very reluctant to give my vote for such a call.
AS to the negotiation on the Ashburtou treaty. | have no
doubt that there were transactions passed between the pro-
per departments, some parts Of which may be brought TO
light by a call on the Department Of State. But If the
laid before the House, / expect you will have calls for in
formation, Of which you will find no trace in the Depart
ment of State, and which will implcate, so far perhaps as
even 10 expose to the chance Of public censure, those by
no means included in the resolutions. There is probably
much secret history connected with that negotiation and
that treaty, which | believe it would be quite as well to
suffer to pass into oblivion. But if they are to be brought
forth, 1 shall vote that all may be brought forth. and then
| think we shall have public speculation resting on other
persons besides the Secretary Of State.
So far as concerns the charge of corruption against a
Senator of the United States, from my immediate CON-
monwealth--a man highly honored by his iellow-cltizens,
not only for the services rendered in the negotiation Of
that treaty, but for many other public services of the first
importance, ], for my part, have no objection TO call for
anything in the Department Of State, because 1t is my full
belief that anything which is ELECTED by that inquiry will
operate far more to justify him, than TO sustain any charge
against him. But, / repeat, if this call is 20 be made as to
the employment of The secret service money, in the course
Of that negotiation, il must be made, not on the Depart.
ment of State, but upon the President of the United
States. The present President, | think il extremely pro-
babe, though it may not be so, will say that he knows no
more about the application Of the secret service money at
that time than this House knows. Therefore the inforna-
ton requested cannot be furnished. And if the call is
- L. - H. 4 - "a Ill -
the purpose: because it is the Presidents order which is
10 be inquired into, and not anything that necessarily
passes through the Department of Stale. II Mr.. Web
ster employed one dollar either to send an express to New
York, or to pay The district attorney to conduct the defence
Of Mcleod. or for any other purpose, he could not have
done so without an order from the President, for which the
President, and not the Secretary of State, is responsible.
If. therefore, the gentleman from Pennsylvania will come
forward with an avowal that il is his purpose to impeach
Mr.. Tyler, as President Of the United States, and that he
calls for information for that purpose, | have no objection.
Mr.. ISGERsoLL was here understood to say. (though
The reporter only conjectures) that It is a distinct resolu-
tion-
Mr.. ADAMS. Well, if that is a distinct resolution, the
call is proper upon the President to furnish copies of the
papers, (as L understand it, in the Department of State,
in relation to the negotiation Of The Ashburton treaty.
ME. INGERsoLL. 1t is not for that.
Mr.. ADAMS. Well, then, l cannot see for what lawful
purpose it is. cannot vote for it. | am willing to call
on the Department of State for anything there, whether
on the negotiation of the Ashburton treaty, or in relation
" ALC liONCCnllE III lie Gust u lClCOQ u VI lT lt y
respondence with the Governor Of New York. There
was undoubtedly, as / well knew at the time, a correspon-
dence between the Department of State, under the order
of Mr.. Tyler, and the Governor Of New York and l do
not know but what we shall hear Of it in due time as
casting, in the opinion of many persons, some censure on
the administration Of that day. 1t is well known that
there was q collision of a serious and dangerous nature
between the administration of the United States and the
Governor of New York, at a time when an intimate friend
of mine, one of the best men in the world, Nj. Seward,
was Governor and / think it possible that in that cores
pondence which is called for here, it will be seen that there
were very different views entertained by Mr.. Tyler, the
head Of the administration, (although communicated
through the department of State,) and Governor Seward.
One Of the most unfortunate circumstances attending the
then state Of things, was this very collision between the
general government, and the government of New York
and it was a point upon which l was infinitely more
apprehensive than | was as 10 the difficulty with Great
Britain. Now, it is well known that the gentleman from
Pennsylvania was very much dissatisfied with the negotia.
ton of that treaty. Itis we'll known, for he said so here.
time and time again, that he wanted to take the sense OF
the House upon 1t and he once said that the ratification
Of the treaty depended upon this House.
Mr.. Speaker. believe | have given the House my most
material objections to the adoption of this resolution as it
now stands. 1t must be very much pared down TO a call
for documents from the Department Of State, which must.
as a matter of course, be there, before l can vote for it; not
that | oppose it on account Of the gentlemen who is. in
substance, ~impeached before this House; for, as nv hon.
orable colleague, (Mr. Winthrop says, he is perfectly able
to justify himself, and whenever an attack upon him is
H"HN WV 'NASA w oJ "A dAdu III lC pldC6 v u
him who makes il.
In regard to the proceedings of this government, in the
case of Mcleod, every gentleman here at that time, Gin
ls4l, l Think will recollect how anxiously, how long,
and how ably on both sides, all these questions were at
that time debated in this House. The final conclusion of
it was very signally manifested, not only by the defeat of
every proposition against the treaty or its negotiators, but
by the passage Of an act of Congress, now the law of the
land. ascertaining, and removing from all possibility of
question, that which had constituted the grand difficulty
in the case.
Mr.. INeERsoLL. Will The gentleman allow me to ask
him a question {!
Mr.. ADAMS. / will allow the gentleman to ask me a
question, if he will allow me to sit down and not to an
swer him.
Whereupon, Nh. Adams took his seat.
Mr.. lSGIRsoLL. l wish to ask the gentleman whether
he reconects that a gentleman from New York, who then
represented Utica district, (Mr. Floyd,) moved a resolu-
ton of inquiry on this subject, upon which and others
spoke, and that that, too, was put down by the previous
question. We never got a word of answer from the
Executive on this subject.
MI. ADAMS. 1 refer the gentleman 10 the journal of
the day.
Mr. ISeEnsoLL. Ihave already examined the journal.
| wish the gentleman would do likewise.
Nj. YANcr differed, he said, from the venerable and
distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, CMr. Adams)
in regard to the question, whether The Constitution autho-
rized the proceedings here proposed. He had examined
the provision Of the Constitution, and did not find il TO
justify the Interpretation put upon it by the gentleman in
the least degree. Money expended for secret purposes
must, under the Constitution, be accounted for as well as
any other funds drawn from the treasury. If five dollars
could be expended, without responsibility and without any
account, so could forty millions be expended, and no ac.
count Re given of it.
The Constitution provides that all expenditures of mo.
ney, from time to time, should be accounted for. All
money appropriated by this House was public money, and
a regular statement of its expenditure must be made Il,
must appear that it is expended for the benefit of the public
and therefore, a regular statement was required.
The peculiar spirit of the American government re-.