The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-09

part Of distinguished public functionary, consti
tuted reason abundant for the exception from
{ the rule in this particular case. The 10
quiry ought to be made Ia this parIicu
lar case, but il ought TO be limited merely TO IN.
case for il seemed to him that Il had already beer
shown by one or two gentlemen, that to bring 1
down TO the present time might do most serious de
tflment in the present existing foregn relations o
the country Our foreign affairs were now unset
tled who could doubt that in the wise administra
ton and use of this secret service fund, The spoke
entirely without positive knowledge on the subject
there were agents now employed IL was unvise
therefore, to extend the inquiry down TO the present
time.
But the objection that this disclosure, il limited to
the particular time during which Mr.. Webster was
Secretary Of State would afford no just opportunity
Of comparing its with lis use under other admin
istraons and that what taken by itself might seem
an improper application of the fund when compared
i with the practice Of the governments would ind In
some measure, at least, Justlheation had some
weight. Mr.. s. commended, that n any other period
was to be embraced in the inquiry, Il should be some
preceding and not some subsequent one. He hoped
the resolution would be properly modified, and he
should vote for IL with the desire TO do justice 70 the
high functionary whose character was assailed, and
not with the slightest desire TO injure or impair his
| well-deserved fame.
In conclusion, he offered the following amend
| ment TO the resolution: II
| hllcf INC Inquiries lCfly HieOh hao trauouichA
Of Daniel Webster, esq, from the Department OF
State" ."
Mr.. ADAMS asked for the reading Of the reso
luton, as modified, which having been read, Mr.. A.
proceeded to address the House. Qslng 70 his po-
stion In the hail. and the greas coaNDion which oc-
casionally prevailed, increased by almost ineessant
conversations, il was very difficult 70 catch, other
wise than doub1uly some OF his particular express
sions But the reporter thinks that, probably he will
not be far out Of the way in presenting the venerable
gentleman az follows
Mr.. Speaker. | wish this House would divost
itself Of every sentiment feeling connected with
circumstances extraneous TO this resolution, and
would consider IL as a measure OF very great
| importance, carrying out or violating the pro-
visions Of the constitution Of the United States.
| Having made this observation, and having en-
doay ored 10 separate the resolution from person
al considerations Of every kind, say that cannot
vote for IL in the form In which il Is now pre-
| scented.
There are parts Of 1t asking for information,
which believe il is the right Of this House TO call
for, and TO which have no objection whatsoever. |
believe, on hearing the resolution read as Just now
did, for the first time, having been in attendance
the committee when the resolutian first intro
dueed, believe say, that TO those parts which do
not bring into question any provisions Of the con-
sttution, or the necessary secrecy To be observed
on the part Of the Executive, in respect TO matters
which concern the foreign relations Of the country,
| shall have objection.
But the first, and as | thin K, the most material
part Of that resolution, requires an exhibition to
this House Of the manner in which a fund has been
pended, which, under the constitution and laws OF
the United States, has been hitherto buried in pro-
found secrecy, and IN respect to which il the in
tention, as have always understood, that perpetual
secrecy should be maintained. The provision is
that certain sum Of money shall be placed at the
disposal of the actual President OF the United States
for which no other account shall be given than by
certificate under the hand Of the President himself
that Il has been expended for the public benefit, and
that document when carried to the treasury, passes
the account II has been said, at least minated
by gentlemen this floor that the object Of this Sc
cret fund is necessary to corruption. This is So
During the time had the honor Of occupying that
station, gave certificate for the expenditure Of
one years appropriation Of this fund.- and il turned
out to be altogether inadequate to the end to be &C
compished; and there more corruption in
the whole of the transaction for which that money
was applied, than there Is in the debate Of this
House to-day. do not say what IL was for |
have never stated TO anybody except to my success
sor in that Office what the money yns expended for.
But Immediately after he came into Office, | made
known to him the object Of the expenditure and he
accomplished the purpose for watch that money
was designed, and of which 4 viii only say
that 1t a treaty of commerce with the
Sublime Porte. Now, if the House will only
recoect for moment what advantage and benefit
the law giving to the President Oft United States
the power to apply certain sum for secret-service
money in osr relations with foreign countries; If
they will reflect what the state of things at that
time, and how necessary such a fund was to the ac-
compshment of the end which that negotiation with
the sultan Of Turkey had in view, although probably
there is not member Of the House who knew OF
any such money having been so expended if, |
say, the House will consider these things and bear
in mind with what effect that fund was used, they
will be disposed, think, to reconsider the opinion
that il is a corruption fund.- and will believe tina, it
may be applied for purposes as fair and honorable
as any country can require.
To the objections thus stated to the adoption Of
this resolution, | must add another--that there is
any inquiry whatever in regard to the service
to which this fund was applied with reference to the
negotiation in the Ashburton treaty. This must be
altogether struck out before can vote for the reso-
luton.
Mr.. C. J. INGERSoLL. There is not word
about the Ashburton treaty in the resolution.
Mr.. ADAMS. Mr.. Speaker, one of the objec-
tons have to this resolution is, that has not the
very object which the mover of il saws it has 1t
calls upon the President to give an account of
moneys expended through the Department of State,
and charges them as against the Secretary of State
Now, for the expenditure of that money the Secre-
tary of State, present or past lie more responsible
than you or l. The law itself requires that it shall
be expended by order of the President himself. 1t
does not go through the Secretary of State The
der which issued to that effect for the whole sum
Of money was not known to the Secretary of State
at the time made 1t, any more than it was to you
an hour ago. The Secretrry ofState was not at the
seat of government at the time directed the negoti
alton. He was not here for months afterwards.
do not know that he knows to this day for what that
money was expended. The law itself gives to the
President alone the power of expending it; and
it is no more necessary that it should pass
through the hands of the Secretary of State than
that il should pass through this House That is
one of my reasons for Directing to the adoption of
the resolution. Ii cannot bring the information it
calls for; and if it is to produce any effect at ALL it
must be addressed to Mr.. John Tyler, and not to
the Secretary Of State, or to the present President
for probably the present President knows no more
than you or ], for what purpose The money ex-
pended. 1t does not, repeat 90 through the Sec
rotary of State. do not know but what the Presi-
dent may authorize the Secretary Of State to expend
the money. That may have been the fact in the
present case. But for it the President himself is
responsible and if the gentleman intends to impeach
anybody for the expenditure of that money, 1t must
be John Tyler, and not DANIEL WEBSTER.
NJ n 4