The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-07

note. Nor does the gentleman from New York
make the extracts from Mr. IEGERsoLL's speech any
part Of his; on the contrary, stated expressly al
the time that alluded TO il as very extraordinary
statement. Having met with the emphatic
contradiction Of the honorable senator from
Massachusetts or what implied eontradlc-
ton, | proposed 10 READ IN Jusnhcaton the
remarks OF Mr.. IsoERsoLL. The friends Of the
senator in in his immediate vicinity objected TO have
il read / did not read the extract, nor was il
in the report Of my speech, which, in the
usual way, found its way to the newspapers. But,
as | had repeated calls for what / had alluded
to as spoken by Mr.. ISoERsoLL, did append
IN the pamphlet edition of my speech those re-
marks. ! gave them they were found in the
newspaper, and therefore the senator from New
York neither added TO, diminished, these re-
marks. ! wish to set the senator right as to this
single matter of fact r.. "....
Mr.. WEBSTER. have only to state the fact
that the additional fasehood in the speech OF Mr..
IEeERsoLL, as published by the member from New
York, is not 10 be found in the published report.
Mr.. DICKINSON. In what paper a.
Mr.. WEBSTER. In the NATIONAL lntelligencer,
as corrected by Mr.. keERsoLL himself and SO il
would appear that If not inserted by the member
from New York, there is one falsehood in the
which the original author was not so graeeess TO
retain. But 60 on with this speech;
ou Of this controversy the arrest Of Alexander
aets not YET generally known but which would soon be
made snown 70, they were IN Rosrs's Of and
ity When Mcleod was srrestsd General Harrison had
Just died. and MrTyler not yet at home his
Mr. Webster to n. SsfS Of New Yo with his
own hand letter and sent BY express marked pm
Mcleod or see The Sssaiesnt Commercial emporium laid
IN ashss The brilliant description given ny the gentleman
0m virgin, 2, the pG,pseys o. n S cry IN
caon Mcleod must be released said the Secretary Of State
New York must be laid in ashes The governor asked
" he he repl Ma fhtrib
you not see coming on the waves Of the sea the Pashan
destroyed But said the governor The power Of pardon is
vested 10 me aud even he be convicted he may be par
you will bring destruction on yourselves"
Well, now, ! say that a series Of more distinct,
unaoyed Observation-Disclosures, unqualified, entire
never appeared in any publication in Christen'
dom. Every allegation here made-every one
would entirely justify the use Of that expressive
monosyllnble which some people are base enough
and low enough to deserve to have thrown in their
teeth but which gentleman does not often like TO
utter. Every one OF them, from beginning to end,
ls false There is not particle of truth in them
there is not the slightest foundation for any Of
these assertions "Mr. Webster wrote a private
letter, &C." False, sr-all false | never said or
wrote such thing in my life to the governor Of the
State Of New York. "MeLeod must be released"
1t is false. | never said any such thing. "New
York must be laid in ashes. The governor asked
when this was to be donei" What does this mean
Why, il implies that the governor of New York
wrote to me another letter in answer to mine, in
quiring when New York to be "laid in ashes"
and the reply was, "forthwth.n And here we have
this-Mr Ingersoll himself preparing this speech
for the press, italicisng the word forthwith it
had written another letter to the governor Of New
York, "telling him" that New York was to be laid
in ashes "forthwith.n What followsi Steam force
never mentioned steam force nor any other force
But said the governor, the power ofpardon is
vested in me, and il he be convicted he may be par
doned." Here is another leuer--a third letter
from me! "Ohl no, said the secretary"-why, here
] am writing a fourth letter-"if you even try him
you will bring destruction upon yourselves" This
il stated by man a thing that has a seat in one
Of the houses of Congress | promised to keep my
temper, and will. The whole concern is infinitely
contemplate, and cannot disturb the temper of a
reasonable man. But will expose il. Such, then,
u the contents of the letters which this person de-
acribes as "facts not generally known, but which
would soon be made known, for they in pro-
gress Of publication, and he had received them in
confidence from the best authority" Well, I do
not know where he got his authority" unless,
suggested by friend near me, II was from some
chapters of his own recent work But let me state
what did occur, and so prepare the minds Of the
Senate for some degree OF establishment, that any
man in the world could tell such story as that
When Mcleod was arrested, there a good deal
of conversation in Washington and elsewhere about
what would happen. II was subject Of very con-
siderable conversation, and certainly OF embarrass-
nlent to the government. IL was hoped and expect
ed ny me, and believe by other gentlemen, that
the governor Of New York would see that il was
in which, IL he were invested with authority,
by the constitution and the authority of the State
he would recommend the entering Of noiie pros
by che prosecuting officer Of the State of
New York. Il was expected that he would do
that, and General Harrison one day said to me
that he had received letter from friend in which
he was informed that the governor of New York
had made up his mind to take that course and that
he was very glad of it, as relieved the government.
1t about the time that the Attorney General was
10 proceed to New York to see how the matter was
because this information was not authentic, and the
to be tried Immediately within ten days
at Lockport in the western part of the State of New
York Having heard this, however, General Har-
rison directed me to write note of thanks to the
governor Of New York. stating that he had done ex-
acty what was proper, and by doing had relieved
the government from some embarrassment and the
country from some danger of collision with foreign
power. And that is everything said in that letter.
any other letter written by me to the governor of
the State of New York, The letter is here if any,
body wishes to seeit ...
Mr.. CRITTENDEN here suggested that the let
ter should be read.
Mr.. WEBSTER then read the letter. 1t is as
follows .1",.a.. &c.
-.. a... DEPARTMENT OF STATE
..... fa Washington, March IL, lS4.
My The President has learned, not directly
hut by of letter from friend that you had cx
pressed disposition to direct proqu in the case Of
The indictment against Mcleod being informed by this
government that the British government has officially
ayowed the attack on the Caroline act done by lis
authority. The President directs express his
thanks for the promphude with which you appear dis
posed perform act which he supposes proper for the
occasion and which is calculated relieve this govern
ment from endorsements and the country from
gers OF collision with foreign power.
Yop viii have Mr. Crittcnden, whom take this
casion to commend to your kindest regard.
have the honor TO be.
Yours truly,
-. .-....s.-.. .... L.. DANIEL WEBSTER.
His EXcellency WILLIAM II. SEWARD,
N a@1'' Governor Of New York.
Mr.. MANGUM Was that the only letter
written9 4.r.. ""
Mr.. WEBSTER. Yes, the only letter Now, how
am 10 treat such allegations II is the aIsehood
with circumstance" A general statement might
pass unregarded; but here he quotes what he calls
"the highest authority" He states particulars.
He gives all possible plausible marks Of credit to
the fasehood. How am | to treat il Why, sir,
pronounce it utter, absolute falsehood in all
is parts, from beginning to end. Now ] do not