New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-24
TEE sOUTsaERN HAaA.
Scorer Service Fund and ,Ir. Webster.


TIE following is an authentic copy OF Mr.. WEE.
srER's remarks in the Senate on Wednesday, on the
resolution offered by Mr.. JARsAGS days since,
calling on the Presden, for information relative
the Secret Service Fund. The resolution having
been read
Mr.. WEBSTER rose and said: have few and
bat few. remarks 20 make on the President Mes
sage in answer to the resolution OF the House OF Rep
resentatives calling for account of the dsburse
men;s during the period in which had the honor
TO be Secretary of State of the fund for the con-
rinsent expenses of orei On intercourse.
In the irs, place, sir AN happy 10 say that
entirely approve the course OF proceeding which the
Presileu; has adopted. In my judgment. he could
not have acted otherwise than he has done without
the violation of law aud OF his own duty. Sir as
know that not dollar discussed from that fund
without the sanction of the President and as am
conscious that every disbursement was made for
proper and necessary public purpose II might be
thought that desire the publication OF the papers,
in order that every body might see what they are.
or what they show. But this s a matter OF so little
concernnlout to me land presume 1t is OF as little to
the Ire Presideut) that certainly would not wish
10 see an important principle and an important law.
violated and broken for any personal convenience
in that respect | am not AT all npprehensive that
the country will suspect either President Tyler or
me- acting under his authority of any thing improper
in the disbursement of few hundred few thou
sand dollars in case in which the law reposes con-
fdence in the President. aud gives him discretion
as to making the expenditure public.
Sir President OF the United States or the head
of Department acting by his authority. must think
bat poorly of his reputation and standing with
the country If he is afraid of being suspected OF
having violated his duty and his oath in matter OF
so little moment will add. that person who enter
tains such suspicion, without reason, OF any public
man. may himself be well suspected OF having held
G no very complimentary dialogue with himself.
Sir we all know that the head ot Department
cannot touch dollar Of this fund without the Pres
dents sanction The whole power, and the whole
responsibility ia with the President. The President =
Message states this fully and clearly that l need
not ell upon it. will say, in the first place, that
no expenditure improper IN itself, or improper In
lis amount was made TO my knowledge judgment
or belief And will say, in the next place. that
the late President of the United States, in all things
respecting the expenditure OF the pubic moneys,
was remarkably cautious. exact and particular.
And | here say Sir, that all declarations, aver
ments statements or insnuations made anywhere,
or by any body, which impute perversion, misap-
! pication or of the funds, committed or made
bv me while Secretary of State utterly ground
less and untrue. And | will conclude with one re-
mark the bearing OF which | shall leave 10 the
! Senate and 10 the country.
Whoever charges me with having either misap.
piled or wasted the public funds, while in the De-
partment of State has either the papers
in some other way, obtained knowledge on the sub,
ject, or he has not. If he has seen papers, and
has no knowledge, then mis- imputations are purely
wanton and sanderous. II he has the papers.
or has any knowledge, then he would be sure TO
state what he knows if he knows any thing TO sus-
tain him in his charge. Silence under such circum-
stances, is conclusive that he knows nothing; be-
cause he is under no obligation OF secrecy, and, In
absence of all other proof, he would of course tell
all he knew if he knew any thing which could, in
the slightest degree, bear him ont. The charge,
therefore was either made in ignorance of any
facts 10 support it, else with the knowledge that
the facts which do exist would, il made known.
trely disprove it. AS 10 the source of this msera
| BILE vi,1pera;on, have nothing 10 say. am afraid
shall be thought to have paid too much attention
TO it already. Sir leave the author OF these sian.
ders where he isl leave him in the worst compa-
ny know OF in the world leave him with him
selt