The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-05-14

| fthen desired 10 contend, when put down by
the previous question, that the House Of Re-
representatives. had constitutional right to pass
on such treaty.
What am now enabled to add, of revela-
ton from the Department of State, will
prove that my instincts of aversion to the
treaty were even truer than reason.
In the Department Of State there is now
letter signed F. o. J. Smith, marked wiuate,
dated Portland, the 18th of August, ls42,
addressed to MFR. Webster, Secretary of State,
substantially as follows:
1t begins by congratulating MIR. Webster
on his settlement Of the Maine boundary
question by mcw mode Of approaching the
subject, after forty years of diplomacy, with
out which new mode another forty years of
diplomacy would have come to nothing.
Mr.. F. o. ]. Smith seems to have sug-
gested the boast with which his cores
pondent, Mr.. Webster. hugged himself in
his elaborate vindication in Senate.
Mr. Smith informs Mr.. Webster by this
letter that he had occasion TO resort 10 SER
vices and influences, in order, to adjust the
tone and direction Of THE PARTY PRESSES,
and through them of public sentiment, to a
purpose so desirable of accomplishment
under Mr.. Webster's administration.
Mr.. Smith, therefore, submits claim or
account, if recollect right, in blank, for Mr..
Webster to fill up, of which he calls for pay
ment out of the contingent fund. Mr.. Smith
prosumes that the contingent fund will be
ample, and Mr. Webster's control of it COM
pleie, to do whateverhe may think just
The sums Mr.. Smith voucbes as got by
him from Mr.. Webster, are $4,000 services
connected with the northeastern boundary,
and two years after he vouches $500 more,
as will be shown.
Thirdly: Leaving the department of state
in debt to the secret service fund, $2,290.
The records of the department show this
default beyond all denial or question.
They show, furthermore, that it was neither
paid or accounted for during nearly two
wears after Mr.. Webster's removal from Of
fee.
They show several letters sent to him by
Pres ident Tyler's direction, urging payment
and evasive letters of excuse from MIR. Webs
: ter for non-payment.
Atlength,a peremptory letter that exposure
would or might be the consequence of more
delav. produced reimbursement. But set
acment did not take place till the lst Feb
ruary, lS45, ten days before President Poll
arrived in Washington TO be inaugurated
when Mr.. Webster produced another vouche
from Mr.. F. o. J. Smith, for an additiona
$500, and other vouchers, one from George
Smith for $500.
George Smith, since dead, denied that he
had ever been paid or vouched more thar
$l50, 10 which sum Mr.. Webster reduced
the $500 atfrst demanded, as his agent, nov
i'll Washington, will prove.
Granting. all the vouchers Mr.. Webste
produced, there Was nevertheless balance
of about $I 200 due from him at all events
when lie left the department. The sum he
was in default to tho secret service fund
after ctediting everything in the way o
repayment, Offset, or voucher, that he claim
cd.
i In all | have said IN this affair, no allusioi
! has been made to any private aggravation
Reerettipg the exposure forced from me
having afforded Mr.. Webster several oppor
tunities to meet the charges iii his owr
way, that which he chose, lett ME no alter
native but this forbearing justification of my
self.
I A resolution, or committee, which catno
institute, will soon test the truth of my state
ments.
i Mr.. AsHMuN, by similar suspension o
the rules, obtained the floor, and commenced
a systematic strain Of abuse of MIR. Ingersoll
covering his whole public life as illustrated
by the scurrilous whig prints of Pennsylvania
from which he obtained his information
Scarcely word was said in exculpation o.
nI. Wahs,ey from the charges in question