The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-11
The Webster Investigation.
House OF Representatives.

MK. wEBsrsR-rHE SECRET SERVICE ruSp-so I'M
ORGANISATIONS REPORTS OF rhk is'Esr'sAr'Sa CON-
The SPEAKER announced the business first in order
be the bills reported Yesterday from the Commtee OIL the
Whole on the State OF the Union
Mr. yIsros arose lie said that he had been directed
by the Select Committee appointed TO investigate certain
Charges against Daniel Webster late Secretary of
make report; therefore ne moved suspension Of the
rules.
The ssrAsrR.-The house is now acting under sus-
Mr. DaoncooLr General consent-[and cries of
Mr. J. R. lsenasolL.-Mr Speaker. | move that the
EIenh spolaton bill from the Senate be taken up and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Mr. DoroLAss II call for the special order
.ar. yNroS--The report conclui,s with two resou-
tons First that the committee be discharged from the
further consideration Of the subject and that the report
be laid the table aud printed The second requires i'm
mediate action IL actei all In order to understand
resolutions the report which is not long should be
read and ask for us reading; 49,,
MI DouoLAss-l call Tor the special order Vhe oilis
relating to the rerritores)
Tho spsAKrR-The chair has already said that the
House scng under suspension of the rules the
special order The gentleman from Ohio asked leave to
make report to which there was objection The re-
port is now by unanimous consent before the House
Mr. D,voLAss, Cstll anding}-l move that it be laid
the table.
Mr.. Housro- Of Alabuma-And prin,cd-[Crics Of
1hs report and resolutions ordered be read
amid cries OF what do want it read for ~ 20 zee
how Old Dan comes out of the TIRE y and, Oh let it be
read !"
rns srroRr OF THE nAyoRlrr-rInsr CHANGE,
Was read and the committee say that they gave tho
subject latorious AMI careful nve tgaton They
directed their attention charge, MIR Web
ster without tho knowledge OF the President, (Tyler)
and contrary to usage took from the hands Of the dis
bursting agent money drawn from the service fun
and appropriated TO his own nsc. This money was
Committed by law, TO the President, who may, II he
think proper keep it and disbursc himself, appon.
an agent In consequence Of many important duties
which constantly occupied the attention OF the President
It was rendered difficult for him to attend to the expend
ture in person As the Secretary of State is the conf
the appropriate agent to discharge trust committed to
him, and this could be done win pfVpreiy, as il was
under the presidency of w ashngtcn the elder Adams
Jefferson and part of the time OF Madison and change
has been made in the law from the days OF Washington
10 the present time The committee examined Ex-lesi-
dent ~ ler who testified that foreign relations being,
at the period the alleged improperly occurred, in bad
and critical condition? necessary TO employ conf
DENTAL agents. and arough the Secretary of state
tain persons selected. Ii the usual and proper
mode in similar and for this purpose money
placed in his hands out of the secret fund This
however had not been done for long time previously
Mr.. ngerso error t..erefore in believing that
the money came into Mr.. Websters hands improperly.
No doubt the President had ample authority and he alone
had the right 10 Judge of the expediency of tho expend
ture All the money in the hands of MIR Webster was
placed there BY order Of the President and dsbursed
Subbs pay clerk OF the State department With these
remarks the committee dismiss this, and notice
THE SECOND CHARGE
Using the public money for the purpose of corrupting
the party press Among the agents employed by Mr.
Webster, was F. O. J. Smith, of Name There was
letter saa MIR. Smith 10 Mr. Webster, which, unex-
planned, would leave such an impression The committee
act they supply remark, that the testimony elected en-
plans whatever in the letter and removes any doubt
THIRD cRAxoE.
That when Mr.. Webster went out of Office he
$1,000 said to be in his hands The expenditure of this
sam was accounted for by him. but he had either mis-
eighteen twenty months In the autumn of 1914, not
having procured the vouchers, no paid the balance
against him. the government promising to return it pro-
vded the vouchers should thereafter be presented and
accordingly in the winter Of 1915, in February, sl05o
Mir. Webser's hands only forty dollars
THE coNcLrsioS-ASD REcoMMENDArIoN
The Committee are OF opinion that there is no just
ground impeach Mr.. Websters actions the purity
OF his motives and the value of this opinion is enhanced
sss na s s he IN ms ap
suggestions Contained in President Folks message here
toioe submitted with regard to the secrets Of diploma
cy; and as there evidence which to found i'm.
parchment they recommend that the committee be dis
charged from the further consideration OF the subject
and that the testimony taken be sealed by the clerk
under the supervision OF the Committee endorsed Con
6dential' and placed in the archives Of the department.
and not 10 be opened bur by order OF the House Further
that the Committee be discharged from the further cons
deration of the subject and that the report be laid
the table and printed
These recommendations ere presented in the form Of
resolutions.
The report is signed by Messrs. vnton and King. Of
Massachusetts wings, and by Messrs. Jefferson, Davis
and Jones, of Georgia, democrats
An Exrktssios % VIEWS.
MI DorsLsss moved that the report be laid on the
table and printed
MIR. rxsKHorr-I wish to present a minority rc-
port.
MIR. Borp-Thas will follow. as matter of course
Mr. HousroS, OF Alabama Oh, certainly . both will
60 together.
Mr.. DoueLAs.-I withdraw my motion
Mr. BslrxnsaoFr-Not being able to agree in all the
conclusions OF the majority. Will give my in the
aud printed.
The sPsAKER-The gentleman asks that the report Of
the minority be printed.
AIR Bss .raiorr-in this minority report have
n'aced the letter om r. . j. smith, OF siaine, and al
Jude to 1t What the gentleman from Pennsy wanna sand
Oh former oecasn substantially agrees with IT, ana it
was due 10 truth and justice that should be published
state tns that the House may know my opnon, ana to
show that nave not this letter into the House
snd placed II before the Country, without PERMISSION
The srEAxEx-rhe question is granting leave to
snake the report latter pausel There is no OBJ.
lection.
MT Jo~Es, of Georgia. submit this question. II the
House will advert to report which has made,
lngerso, who brought forward the charges The letter
OF dr. Smith, unex pianed, warranted Air. lnSeso in
which had come The publication Of the letter can
not place Mr. lngerson on higher ground. l repeat,
Mr. lngerso was nthc the let
ter itself that attempt maie corrupt the party
press for the purpose o carrying out the views the
ADMINISTRATOR 1t alter explanations, the Committee
say that Mr. Webster has been guilty of improper act
in relation to the public undslhat there inten
ton inconsistent with proby and honor, IN the tsburse.
ment OF the money. IL would be unjust improper, and
iniqutou to publish the letter, unconneced with the
explanatory testimony The Committee have made a
request that the testimony be not disclosed and the Pre-.
sdsnt in almost words had said ought not to
be dsciosed unless for purposes oil impeachment The
gentleman from Ohio, (sir brinkerhohD presume does
not materially disagree with the Committee but his
port will spcaA for itself II would be matter OF njus-
uce | repeat, to publish the letter, and withhold
the testimony However ii the House think proper
violate the implied faith oil the President through their
conmtee, be II SO. The committee had endesyored to
do justice to allthc House determine whether they
will receive the reports and publish them. satisfied
TO think tna our governments pure, vtuous no.
nest and upright IN its administration vi foreign
tercourss and its fund.- than 60
earth. There may be nations crimes
In diplomacy are committed, ten times worse than those
alleged and yet they hold up and say, what things
the american government resort TO J"
Mr.. BRiSkEkhoSF-itl understand the gentleman from
Georgia, he says that the disbursement OF portion Of
the secret service money by = o. smith was justin.
sale ad proper Now from that conclusion dissent in
my report.
ser concerned, in connection with the public press,
has conduct was honorable.
Mr. BsISKEHforr--Ah. in connection with the pub
lie press.