Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-04-25


re unaaity, determined that the specie clauses shall a
eoet be reported go into effect sooner than the first Of
January next
So far as this course on the part of the committee is cal
cuated alIay apprehension happy in being able TO
furnish the honorable gentleman the information he asks.
SECRET SERVICE FUND.
The following resolution offered by Mr.. JAnsAsIs some
DAYS ago, taken up
Resolved That the President of the United States be re-
quesed be furnished the Senate all
payments made on Presidents certificates, from the fund APP
poprated law for the contingent expenses of foreign
course 4ih March, 1925 TO this tme with comics of
all entries receipts letters vouchers memoranums or other
evidence OF such payments whom i'd and for what in
GLIDING the Of thirty thousand dollars for contingent
pnses OF all the missions abroad proposed be provided
for by the bill before the Senate entitled San supply
deficiencies in the appropriations for certain objects made for
the services OF the fiscal year ending Sd june
document matter requested by this resolution be fur
nshed which, in the opinion Of the President would mpro
pery involve the citizens subjects Of any foreign Power
The resolution having been read
Mr.. WEBSTER and said have a few, and but a
few remarks to make the Presidents message in
to the resolution Of the House of Representatives calling for
an account of the disbursements during the period in which
had the honor to be Secretary State out Of the fund for the
contingent expenses Of foreign intercourse.
In the first place. sir am happy say that entirely APP
the of proceeding which the President has adopt
ed In my judgment he could have acted otherwise than
he has done without the violation of law and OF his duty
Sir know that not dollar dsbused from that fund
without the sanction Of the President and conscious
that every disbursement made for proper and necessary
public purpose, might be thought that should desire the
publication of the papers, order that every body might
what they are what they show. But this of
little concernment TO (and presume il is of little
the late Presidency that certainly would wish inn
portant principle and important law violated and broken
for any personal convenience in that respect all
appehensve that the will suspect either President
Tyler me, acting under his authority Of any thing impro
per in the disbursement of few hundred few thousand
dollars in in which the law reposes confidence in the
President and gives him discretion to making the e-
Pendturc public
Sir President Of the United States or the head Of De-
partmen acting by his authority must think but poorly of his
own reputation and standing with the country If he afraid
of being suspected Of having violated his duty his oath
matter Of so little moment will add that person who
enterans such suspicion, without reason of any public
himself be well suspected Of having held no very
complimentary dialogue with himself
Sir, We all know that the head Of Department cannot
touch dollar of this fund except with the Presidents
ton The whole power, and the whole responsibility is with
the President The Presidents message this SO fully
and clearly that need not dwell upon IL will say in the
first place, that expenditure improper in ITSELF impro
per III Its amount made to my knowledge, judgment
belief And will say in the next place, that the late Pre-
dent of the United States in all things respecting the
Pendure OF the public moneys, remarkably cautious
exact, and particular.
And here say, sir that all declarations averments state
ments, or insinuaons, made any where, by any body
which impuie peverson misappcaton of the pub
lie funds committed made by while Secretary of State
utterly groundess and untrue. And will conclude with
one remark the bearing of which shall leave the Senate
and to the country.
Whoever charges with having either msapplied or
wasted the public funds, while the Department Of State
has either seen the papers, has other way obtain
ell knowledge the subject he has If has seen
papers, and has knowledge then impuatons are
purely wanon and slanderous he has the papers,
has knowledge then he would be sure to state what he
knows ne knows any thing to sustain him in his charge
Silence, under such circumstances conclusive thai he
knows nothing because he under obligation Of secresy
and in absence of all other proof he would of tell ali
ne knew he knew any thing which could in the slightest
degree, bear him out The charge, therefore, either
made in utter ignorance Of any facts support it. else
with the knowledge that the facts which do exist would
made known, entirely dsprove it. As the Of this
miserable vituperaon, have nothing to say. am asd
shall be thought to have paid much already
SIR leave the author Of these ISLANDERS where he isl
him IN the worst company know of in the world
| him with himself,
Mr.. JARNAGIN said somewhat similar resolution
adopted by House Of Representatives having been re-
sponded to by the President refusing, public grounds
give the information asked for he disposed withdraw
| the resolution.
The PRESIDING OFFICER observed that the Senator
from Tennessee could withdraw the resolution only by the
unanimous consent Of the Senate.
| Mr.. JARNAGTN. presume no Senator will object
Mr. WESTCOTT. object
Mr. JARNAGIN. Very well the Senate can decide up
| on it then.
Mr.. WEsTCOTT. object TO the withdrawal of this re-
souisn because desire the Of the Senate upon it by
ayes and noes as precedent regard the principle involved
in as highly important am opposed 10 its adoption and
| hope the Senate will reject il by decisive vote
What Is the case Congress- in making the annual APP
preparations for the contingent expenses foreign inter
course, allows fund Of five thousand dollars commonly de-
sgnated the secret service fund.- be yearly expended
by the Executive officers and by the general act of Nav
$780, the only voucher for the disbursement Of mis- fund.-
where the President in his judgment Of opinion that
particulars OF the expenditure should be made public
las provided by the ac the certificate Of the President of
such disbursement without stating what specific purpose
/ II is made, or to whom made.
Mr. W. said he believed all our Presidents have caused 10
NOR los of na NJ. ~
said he would not suffer himself doubt suspect that every
one OF them had not done properly, udcousy and
caly With the most patriotic motives. Mr.. W. said he
should feel ashamed Of himself If he could be induced to
imagine that American President had been guilty of the
slightest improperly in the disbursement of this fund He
trusted he should have degraded rule by which 10
Judge his counymcn, especially elevated the Presi
dencythe hrs station in the world He hoped the by
which he Judged even those most opposed to him political
opinion would always be elevated Every body knows
that President Madison paid the John Henry fifty
thousand dollars just before the last with Great Britain
for secret information respecting the attempts Of the British
Government to corrupt portions of New England to British
interests Mr. Madison, is true paid rather exorbitant
price for the budget of trash he got from Henry he did
right IN buying IT. and the country approved Of his conduct
IN that respect Mr.. W. said for his part he of opinion
that If this secret service fund increased to double the
amount allowed and if every cent Of it was annually
spent by the PRESIDENT IL would be well laid for
the country To counteract the inrgues foreign courts
procure knowledge Of those ntgucs which might affect
interests and regulate the action Of Government the
President should employ secret agents. either citizens
egDcrs, circumstances should dictate to he most
and the only rule to regulate such employment should be has
opinion that might probably be beneficial country.
offe