Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-05-07

prehension, am happy in being able 10
furnish The honorable gentleman the in
formation he asks.
Secret Service Fund.
The following solution, offered by
Mr. Jarnigan some days ago, was taken up.
Resolved, That the President Of the u.
States be requested TO cause u be furnish.
ed to the Senate an account of all pay
ments made on Presidents certificates,
from The fund appropriated by law for
the contingent expenses Of foreign inter
course, since the 4th March, 1925, 10 this
time; with copies Of all entries, receipts.
letters, vouchers, memorandum, or other
evidence OF such payments: TO whom paid,
and for what; including the sum Of thirty
thousand dollars for contingent expenses
of all the missions abroad now proposed to
be provided for by the bill before the
Senate entitled IAN act to supply def
ciences in the appropriations for certain
objects made for the services of the fiscal
year ending Sd June, 1875 but no doc
ument or matter is requested by this res
olution to be furnished which, in the
opinion Of the President. would improp-
erly involve the citizens or subjects Of
any foreign power.
The resolution having been read
Mr. WEBSTER rose and said: have
few, and but few, remarks to make on
the Presidents message ia answer to the
resolution of the House of Representa-
tives calling for an account of the dis.
bursements during the period in which |
had the honor 10 be Secretary of Stale,
out Of the fund for contingent expenses of
foreign intercourse.
In the first place, sir, | am happy TO
say that entirely approve the course of
proceeding which the Presiden, has adopt
ed. In my judgment, he could not have
acted otherwise than he has done, with
out the violation of law and of his own
duty. Sir, as | know that not dollar
was disburset from that fund without the
sanction Of the President, and as | am
conscious that every disbursement was
made for proper and necessary public
purpose, it might be thought that should
desire the publication of the papers, in
order that every body might see what
they are. or what they show. But this
is matter Of SO little concernment 10 me
land presume it is of as little to the late
President that certainly would not wish
TO see an important principle. and an i'm
portant law, violated and broken for any
personal convenience in that respect.
am not at all apprehensive that the coun
try will suspect either President Tyler or
me, acting under his authority, of any,
thing improper in the disbursement of
few hundred or few thousand dollars.
in a case IN which the law reposes conf
dence in the President, and gives him
discretion as 10 making the expenditure !
public.
Sir, President of the United States
or the head Of department acting by his
authority, mus, think but poorly Of his
own reputation and standing with the
country if he is afraid of being suspected
of having violated his duty and and oath
in matter of so little moment. will
add, tina, person who entertains such a
suspicion. without reason, of any public
man. may himself be well suspected of
having held a no very complimentary d.
llogue with himself.
Sir, we all know that the heal of a
Department cannot touch dollar Of this
und, except with The Presidents sanction.
Fhe whole power, and the whole respon-
'ibiily, is with the President. The Pre-
'ident's message states this SO fully and
clearly that | need not dwell upon it. |
will say in the first place, that no expen.
liture, improper in itself, or improper in
Is amount, was made TO my knowledge,
Judgment or belief. And will say, in
he next place, that the late Presiden, of
he United States, in all things respecting
he expenditure of the public moneys, was
ably cautious, exac. and particular.
And here say,sir that all declarations,
lverments, statements, or insinuations,
made any here, OF by any body, which
mpute perversion, misapplication, or
waste of the public funds, committed or
made by me while Secretary of State, are
Utterly groundless and untrue. And
will conclude with one remark, the bear.
ng of which shall leave to the Senate
nd to the country.
Whoever charges me with having Ell
her misapplic' or wasted the public
unds. while ~lhe Department of State,
las either seen the papers, or has, in
ONE other way. obtained knowledge on
he subject, or he has not. Ii he has seen
10 papers. and has no knowledge, then
is impulations are purely wan,on and
landerous. II he has seen the papers,
= has any knowledge, then he would be
ure to state wha. he knows. If he knows
ny thing to sustain him in his charge. -
silence, under such circumstances, is con.
lusive that he knows nothing; because he
under no obligation Of secresy, and. in
bsence of all other proof, he would Of
curse tell all he knew. if he knew any
hing which could,in the slightest degree.
ear him out. The charge, therefore, was
lher made in utter ignorance Of any facts
D support it, or else with the knowledge
hat the facts which do exist would, if
nade known. entirely disprove it. As to
he source of this miserable viluperation,I
ave nothing to say. am afraid shall
e thought to have paid too much a,ten.