Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-01
aSfrNootoot0 1Eaatttrfr.
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, April q.
SENATE.

TWENI 1-NllN II W.
MONDAY, APRIL 81.
SENATE.
During The morning hour, numerous Pe''''01-
were received and referred. ..,. one
Among the reports from committees "d' en- Ume
au,horising Mr.. Powers 10 execute certain 90
tues for the Capitol. boon dis
Several unimportant matters having oeen u's r
posed Of the Senate resumed the consluela."At Tor
| The bill providing for the seltemeh! Oh c'"'u''
French Spoliations PRIOR 10 ioooi ,onr sneecb
in reply to The remarks Oh VII o'"'
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
a. coon as the journal was read, MIR. Z. ,. IN,
oer.o,l rose and asked leave TO make personal
explanation. ,o. br vote of
1902 to 25, were suspended; :; r.n,v
MIR Ineersoll then read a statement IN reply
). ~. sneech OF Mr.. Webster in the Senate, rsla-
live 70 The charges OF official misconduct, eIc.-
The substance of it is as follows: 49,.
Mr. Ingersoll commenced by observing thal'
having gone 10 the Treasury Department 10 pr
cure proof OF what Mr.. Webster haa denieo' nc
there fell upon proof Of more serious naueTs, .ne
charges Of which he had intimateo 70 soe liouss
| re did moi proceed TO furnish the PROOF al ina'
time because his friends were OF opinion mat
Mr.. Webster himself, would demand an lnVes-
! tioation. No such investigation having Deen
| demanded but abuse having been SUBSTITUTED
therefor he mir. IngersolD now felt bound 20
| brino forward his proofs He then wsnt on 10
s,ste ,ha, there is undeniable evidence IN Inc
| Stat. Department 10 show that, shortly alter Mr..
Webster commenced drawing upon inc secf1'
service fund, he suddenly changed MS p'an, anu
for the first time since the formation OF INC ~
vernment, began 10 draw the money ou' u .ne
Treasury pavable 10 his olon order, so mat no one
bnt himself could tell what disposition ne made
oil The funds. ,u..
In this way more than fifteen thousand dollars
in about fifteen months were drawn out Al
q subsequent period FIVE thousand dollars were
returned by Mr. Webster. Now Inc question
y.e where had these FIVE thousand dollars been
denosted ali The time. Had it been placed 10
The private and personal credit OF MI W., or
where1 Alter further remarks on TINS oranch,
MIR. Ingersoll said that there was evidence 10
show that this mode Of procedure on ne part OF
Mr.. Webster, was not sanctioned by the Presi-
denl, but was disapproved by him..
Mr. Ingersol next went into The proof OF The
alleged unlawful use OF the fund in briblng The
nariy press. He referred to letters in the depart
msnt from Mr.. F. o. j Smith. which spoke oil
new and effecua" mode OF settling the n. E.
boundary question, by acting upon and giving
tone to public opinion.
In the last place, Mr. Ingersoll said there was
written and undeniable evidence in the Depart
ment TO show that when Mr.. Webster left The De-
partment, after deductins all ne claimed, he was
detaulter TO The amount OF about two thousand
three hundred dollars. There was also evidence
in The Department TO show that the President
| (Tyer) had caused him 10 be written TO lime al
Ter time TO refund the money, but without sue
! A. lar 9th, anf tho UrinU OF a lcller by the
President in very strong language, informing Mr.
Webster that unless The amount was made up
forthwith, an expose must ensue, considerable
portion of the money was refunded, but il was
not till within ten days of the inauguration OF
Mr. Polk that the amount was made up IN me
shape Of another voucher from Mr.. h. Smith,
OF Maine Of FIVE hundred dollars. Mr. Smith,
however, having stalled that the whole amount OF
his claim was only one hundred dollars, and
this fact being mentioned 10 Nr Webster me
amount ofthe voucher was reduced by him, on The
first application to one hundred dollars, instead
Of Gue. This could be proved by an agent now
in this city, In the concluding remarks OF Mr..
Ingersoll. he was understood 10 disclaim attach
ing any blame 10 MIR. Tyler.
Mr.. Ashmun OF Mass, desired TO reply, but as
objection was made, the House, by vote oil 80
10 %, suspended the rule
Mr.. Ashr1un then took the floor, and in very
severe manner, proceeded 10 comment upon the
course OF Mr.. Insersoll in thus assaillns MT
Webster He commended, that had MT. webster
been present, and member oil Inc House, MI.
Ingersull would not have dared maze tne atlack;
He wen, on 10 ask how il was that MIR. lngersoll
had obtained his information, after the President
had refused to answer The resolution Of the House
upon the ground that The seal otsecresy could not
he broken. Had any Of the underings been cor
rupted or had Mr. Insersoll entered the Treasury
and with key OF his own opened The desk!-
After further remarks, OF very severe ana per-
sonal character, Mr.. Ashmun said il i'll became
MIR. Ingersoll 10 talk about speculation" etc, when
he himself had been turned out by General Jack
son lor pecuaion ofthe public money.
| [Here there were loud cries OF order, but me
chair decided that as all rules had been suspended
! il was a difficult matter Tor him 10 decide what
was in order or what was not, provided improper
and personal language was avoided.]
Alter considerable noise and confusion, Mr..
A.hmun proceeded. He referred TO document
| for the purpose OF showing that Mr. lnsersoll,
when removed from The Office OF U. S. District A.
torney in Pennsylvania, had been sued by The
Government as deiaulter, and that he had not pad
the amount OF the verdict found against him Tor
several years.
Mr. Joseph r. Insersol here rose. BE said
that, as a matter Of delicaey, it was proper that
|
any part in this matter, but now be was placed IN
different attitude, for, upon that trial, he was
counsel for his brother. He then stated, on the
word oil a gentleman, that Mr.. c. J. lngersol
had. al The time referred 10, been trying IN vain
for long period to bring The Government TO
settlement Of his accounts as District Attorney.
Attempt after attempt was made, but without
success. Al length, Mr. lngersoll, having sum
OF money in his hands, and being anxiousy desi-
rous Of a settlement proposed 10 The Government
that the matter should be settled by jury. This
was finally agreed 10, and the trial was had, when
The whole matter was honorably settled 10 The sa-
ti.fac,on OF all.
Mr.. Ashmun resumed his remarks, and con-
tended that the charges Of Mr.. G. J. lnsersoll
upon Mr. Webster were totally false, and maj
The -e.pectable portion Of the community would
be disguised with them. Mr.. A. then proceeded
10 assert, that an insdious attempt had been maze
10 induce Mr.. Tyler 10 break ground on the SUD-
iect, and 10 disavow that he sanctioned the dis
bursement.
Mr.. C. ]. Insersoll.-BY me, Sir7 BY me?
Mr.. Ashmun.-Yes, Sir by you, Sir.
Mr.. Ingerso-lt is false 1t is a lie
Here great uproar ensued, with loud calls TO
order, during which MIR. Ingersol again rose and
denounced Mr. Ashmun as liar and coward
Mr.. Ashmun said, if the member thought TO
provoke a personal quarrel by using such Ian
guage, he was mistaken. lie MI. Al came
from part OF the country where they did not
nght duei.. He came from among people who
did no, use pistols, daggers nor bowie knives,
neither were they afraid Of them.
Mr.. Ingersoli. And where they never gel
drunk. Understood TO be an allusion TO Mr.
Webster.]
Mr.. Ashmun went on to say that although be
was no ducllisi, il any one doubted his courage
let them try il. He spoke Of Mr.. Ingersoll as
The aged member from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. lngersoll. Plenty young enough, sir-
plenty young enough.
MIR. Schenck rose TO a question Of privilege.
He desired 10 offer Preamble and Resolutions.
setting forth, that after The President had declined
TO answer The resolution Of the House touching
this matter, Mr.. Ingersoll states, that he has mad
acces. 10 The department, &c therefore, tina, Sc
ect Committee of Five be appointed TO ascertain
BIZ Hhai means the said Mr.. Ipgersoll obtained