The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-09

There Is evidently majority up. The report
will be read
The clerk read the report, which concludes with
'he following resolutions:
RssSiptd That the testimony taken in t.
pc sealed up BY the clerk under the OF the
committee, endorsed "cOnhdeBsIp and deposited in the
- w. o. me mouse and that the be not opened un
Resided That this report be laid on the table and be
The further Consideration OF the subject
The report is signed by
SAMUEL y. vINToN,
JEFFERSON DAVIS
DANIEL p KING
SEABoN JONES
The SPEAKER. The question is on the motion
10 lay on Tie table.
Mr.. BOYD. And TO print.
The SPEAKER. And to print
Mr. BOYD. move the previous question on the
motion TO print
Mr.. BRlNKERHoFF. hope the motion will
be Withdrawn To enable me TO make d minority re-
port from the same committee.
Mr.. s. JONES, "a member Of the eommittee.) |
hope the House will allow me 10 make remark in
connexion with the minority report which the gen.
Ileman desires TO submit
Mr.. HOPKINS. suggest TO the gentleman from
Illinois MIR DoUGLAss) TO Withdraw his motion, so
as to allow the two reports to be printed together.
Mr.. DOUGLASS. | Withdraw the motion.
Mr.. BRlNKERH0FF. Being unable to agree
in all the conclusions arrived at by the majority Of
the select committee, on which, without solicitation
or previous knowledge on my part | was placed, |
have thought my duty TO present these points in
which disagree, briefly in the shape OF minority
report which hope msy be received and ordered
| 10 be printed.
Il is however, due to the House to state that in
| this minority report have embodied the letter from
Mr.. Y. o J. Smith, of Maine, to Mr.. WEBSTER,
referred 10 in the majority report, and which sub
stantially corresponds with the statement Of Mr. C.
J. kGERsOLL ~ the time the charges were made.
have felt il due TO truth and justice, connect
ed with all parties IN the controversy, and to the
facts ofhe case 10 embody that letter in myreport,
stale this 10 avoid the imPutation Of desire on
my part TO smuggh the letter before die House OF
the country without the permission Of the House.
| Mr.. SEAB0RN JONES said that before the
minority report was received, he desired TO submit
a question TO the decision Of the House. II the
House would advert, in its recollection TO the report
which had been made by the majority Of the com.
mittee, it would perceive that ample Justice had
| been done 10 MIR. kGERsoLL, who had brought for
ward these charges, by the declaration Of the COM
mlttee In relation to hs impression-thst from the
examination Of the letter Of Fog Smith las he was
sometimes called,) he Mr. ISGERsoLLl was war
| ranted IN the impression he had taken up. Now,
the reading OF that letter, the exposure Of IL,
| could not place Mr. lHGERsoLL on higher ground
The committee said that he was warranted (Mr. J
might not use the precise words Of the sentiment,
but he spoke the sentiment itself that there was
sufficient evidence to warrant him In the conclusion
he had drawn from the letter, that an attempt had
been made 10 corrupt the party press, for the pur.
pose of carrying out the views Of the administration
or for some other purpose. And the committee
said that from the reading Of that letter unex.
planned by other evidence, Mr.. lSGERsoLL was war
raned in coming TO the conclusion at which he had
arrived. The publication Of the letter could
he nat IL
not place Mr.. lnGERsoLL on ground highe
thar that on which the committee had placed him
IL was their intention, 40 far a. a conclusion drawn
from priHa (acie evidence could accom- lish tina
object, to place Mr.. IsGrRsoLL on the highes'
ground-to say, that a priHla Caeis case had been
made out IN support VI bis opinion. But the com.
mee al the same time said that this opinion would
be entirely changed by an examination of the testi-
mony taken in cornexon with the subect-thal
they had examined that testimony, and had come to
the conclusion that no such attempt had been made;
that there had been 40 improper Of the pubr
funds in connexinn with the public press that there
had been no intention inconsistent with probty and
honor in the disbursement of that fund IL would
be unlust-it would be improper-it would he mi
qultous to publish that letter unconnected with the
explanatory testimony. And the committee had
submitted resolution asking, in accordance with
the recommendation of the. President when the
testimony was asked, and when he refused to fur
nish it, that. it should not be disclosed. Whyi
Because the President had said, that he would not
disclose 1t, except for the purpose Of an impeach.
ment And the report went on, and almost in so
many words, asked the House not TO disclose IT,
except it was Intended fer that purpose. He (Mr
believed that he did not misrcpresent the gentle
man who was about 10 make minority report in
saying, that that gentleman did not disagree in the
conclusions of the committee.
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF. | do.
Mr. 6 JONES The pentlem,p,s rsnor, ,,,;I,
speak for itself If understood it correctly it does
not. But 1t Is matter Of justice TO publish part
Of the testimony, and leave the balance which
would explain it unpublished. Neither the House,
nor any lndwIdual can come to a Just conclusion
without having the whole testimony. The House.
therefore, must either come TO- the conclusion to pub
llsh the whole testimony or, in accordance with the
recommendation Of the committee, to suppress the
etter copy Of which the gentleman has embodied
In his report.
Ifthe House think proper to violate the implied
pledge under which the President communicated the
information for its benefit so be it. The committee
have endeavored to do Justice and | think have
done justice to all parties in this unpleasant transac-
ton. The House will determine for itself whether
will accept the results of the investigation, or
whether it will direct the whole testimony to be
laid open and submitted to the examination and
scrutiny OF every one.
am satisfied that this government is more pure
more VTtuous, more honest, more straightforward,
and upright in its administration of the foreign in.
tercourse fund-commonly called the secret service
fund-than any government on earth. But know
there may be places where those who commit
crimes, and adopt course of conduct ten times
worse, may hold us up to public reprobation, and
say, "look at this republic see to what means hey
resort TO carry this foreign intercourse"
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF said if he understood the
gentleman from Georgia Mr. JoNEsl correctly, he
states that the majority fthe committee have come
to the conclusion that, in the disbursement of that
portion Of the secret service fund which passed
through the hands Of Mr. Smith of Maine, no other
than an equitable and proper use of the money had
been made for just and proper ends.
A voice: "No; non
So | understood the gentleman from Georgia,
(sald MIR. b. Now, from that conclusion dissent,
and dissent in my report.
Mr.. S. JONES (Mr. B. yielding) explained that
he had stated, that far regards the conduct Of
Mr.. webster, whose conduct the committee were
directed to inquire into, the committee did not see
that any use had been made of the fund in connex-
ion with the public press but what was just and
proper
The SPEAKER. addressing Mr.. JONES Did
the chair understand the gentleman from Georgia