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

The President directs to express hs thanks for In
prompude with which you appear disposed to perform
which he suPposes proper for the OCCASION and which
calculated to relieve this Government
and the country from some danger OF collision with foreie
Power
sion to commend to your kndest regard
| have the Honor to be, very truly, yours
DAN. WEBSTER.
/ His Excelency VIM ii. SEWARD,
Governor Of New York, Albany.
This is the only private letter Mr. Webster ever wrot
10 Gov Seward rs Secretary Of State The assertion Of tn
gentleman that when Mcleod was arrested Gen. Harrison
had Just died and Mr. Tyler not yet home his
sor, Mr. Webster de faco the administration, &c,
thus repealed and unequvocaly efued by Mr.. Cnenden
Who in his place in the Senate Of the United Staes asserted
"My instructions drawn up by Mr.. Webster, (he
Secretary OF State at the instance OF the President
but those Instructions originally from the Presden
himself for that authority alone did Of consider
self subordinate As Attorney General Of the United Stses
knew this did the Secretary know i. the com
friends Of the President He drew up the instructions
and acted under item The INSTRUCTIONS said their iac
that they were the instructions OF the President"
This declaration Of Mr. Crttenden conclusyely proves tina
the assertions Of the gentleman from Pennsylvania have beer
made in direct contradiction 10 the public history of the times
and therefore dismiss this branch Of the subjects need
other and can have stronger refutation.
beg leave, Mr.. Speaker, say few words with
spec to the charges made on the 9th of this MONTH Finding
suppose he could sustain the allegations made h
speech the 9th Of February, he into this House Cor
the 9th instantly and prefers other and grave hages sgans
the late Secretary Of State altogether changing the original
ssre. The first item in his statement respecting special
mission to England HAS, by the journal which be introduced
with attempt very imposing oaty give consequence
to matter which In itself had no manner of Importance and
could not in the rcmoest degree affect the reputation of Mr.
Webster body else been sufficiently reuted by his own
witness and by the statement " Me venerable member from
Massachusetts, who at the time chairman Of the Com
mitce on Foreign Affairs The next and may say the only,
al
has brought against Mr. Webster equally susceptible Of dis
proof from the highest authority. That charge follows
as reported in his remarks on the 9th instant
The resolution for information from the Department
State will bring forth proofs of Mr.. Secretary Weber's
demeanors 6ce his fraudulent misappcation and personal
Of the public funds and cordpng party presses with the
money appropriated by law tor the contingent expense, Of for
egp intercourse When discharged he from the De-
partmen TO which he great disgrace he delin
quenta public defauer He did not account for the public
money he faudulenty distracted oh tie Department till
than year after he expelled from and did
count for then by paying back the money he distracted
but BY vouchers from VIGOROUSLY base Of his choice who
receped for to be expended in managing party
This charge, although very grave perfectly absurd
its face and only but it is shown by the message,
which has just been read to be utterly groundless The Pre-
dent states the whole amount expended out OF the contingent
fund for foreign intercourse during the time Mr. Webster
the State Department 10 lie five thousand four hundred and
sixty dollars and that it settled az the Treasury the
certificates of the President It perfectly well known that
The Secretary of State cannot draw dollar from the Tea
suy his authority This expenditure made by
the President Mr.. Webster could neither make
troll it, The President must therefore, be regarded sespon
be and not the Secretary Of State The law expressly d.
reefs that the President shall have the control and disposal Of
This fund 1t neither be drawn expended nor accounted
Tor az the rasuy without his certificate. But understood
porant part Of this charge When e,sa p 20 repeat his
charges, he thus states them:
The charges of Mr. Websters having taken into his pos
contingent service fund.- which done either
before since secondly his having applied portion OF that
fund corrupt the party and thirdly OF his having len
office indebted that fund.- and his not being able to settle
that debt until nearly after he went out just be-
fore the present Administration came into power"
By contrasting this statement with that made the 9th
instant, will appear that the gentleman abandons the gross
part Of his former accusation that Of Mr. Webster apply
ing the public funds his spersonal The member is
therefore, witness against himself the most serious point
What said about Mr. Webstes accounts is all false
When Mr.. w. left the Department Of State, some small
unadusted for want of papers Afterwards IN
order enable the Department 70 settle its account with the
Treasury and it not being convenient for him to to
Washington, hc advanced and d whit appeared to be u
accounted for This was IN fact wholly unnecessary pu'
done for the sake of accuracy and punctualy When
Mr. Webster to Washington, the President d.
rectc the repayment 10 him ofe amount oUerpad and thus
was the account finally settled.
Mr. Webster did take the contingent service fund into
his possession 1t impossible be could have done for
of Congress specially and distinctly vested It's apro
paton with the President alone. No subordinate officer
could touch it,
the other day. mistaken, that when President Of
the United States he had given certificate for the whole
amount of this fund, $4,000.
Mr.. ADAMS explained. He had authorized the expend-
tue the WHOLE but that only had been actually used
Mr. KING resumed This sir, is nearly twice the amount
stated have been expended by Mr. Tyler while Mr. Web
ster Secretary Of State.
am authorized that not cent dsbursed out
of that fund without the written sanction authority OF The
President
That dollar paid any connexions or personal
or political friend Of the Secretary Of State
It appears that the Of S. 500 expended while MIR
Webster Secretary OF State out of the fund for foreign
in the years ls4l and 1912.
Very proper objects Of this expenditure may be easily I'M
agined suggested in those years
In the year Is4l the whole northern frontier was In con-
nua of agitation created by the Patriot Society," OF
ters Lodges they called These secret po!it
clubs organized and existing various points, from Og
densburg up Lake Huron Their object was to make
ncusons and commit ourages in Canada and by this means
to provoke retaliation and to carry border war; They
known have gone the length of arranging for an
army be called army for the delverance Of Canada
II will be remembered that General Scott sent to the
frontier and General Brady commanded at Detroit 1t was
necessary find out the OF these secret clubs Ihe
found Their constitution, organization, and com
missions all found out and the military authorities OF
the United States kept advised of their movements and
purposes.
All this source Of disorder and mischief dried up and
off by the extradon article Of the treaty Of Washington
second Of expenditure TO some small amount was
found doubt in the negotiation negotiations in respect
stood and supposed confer with the Governor of
Mane and other things done, and necessarily DONE
which the public interest did not allow to be made known TO
other Governments Publicity here would be- of course pub