Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-02

boundary and two years after he vouches pooo more as WI
be shown.
Thirdly Leaving the Department of State in debt to the
secret service fund 81, 900.
The records Of the Department show this default beyond
all denial oil question.
They show furthermore that il neither paid
counted for during nearly two years after Mr. WEBsrEns
removal from Office.
They show several letters him by President Tyes
direction urging payment and evasve letters OF from
Mr. WEBSTER for non-payment
length, peremptory letter that exposure would might
be the consequence of delay produced reimbursement
But settlement did not take place till the LIST February ls45,
nauguated when Mr. Webster produced another voucher
from Mr.. F. o. j. Smith for additional $500, and other
vouchers one from George Smith for $500.
George Smith, since dead, denied that he had been
paid vouched more than $780, to which Mr. Webster
reduced the $500 at first demanded his agent, in
Washington, will prove.
Granting all the vouchers Mr. Webster Produced there
nevertheless balance of about ST. 200 due from him, at all
events, when he left the Department That sum he was in
default to the service fund.- after credng every thing
in the way Of repayment Offset voucher that he claimed
In all have said in this affair, no ausion has been
made to any private aggravaon. Regetng the exposure
forced from me- having afforded Mr. Webster several oppor
tunes the charges in his way, that which he
chose left alternative but this obearng justification Of
myself
A resolution or committee, which cannot institute, will
test the truth Of my statements.
Mr. ASHMUN and asked leave of the House to
make some observations in reply.
Loud objections being made from various quarters, Mr.
WASHINGTON HUNT, Of New York, and MIR. PEN
DLETON moved that the rules be suspended.
Mr.. ASHMUN made strong appeal to the justice and
generosity of the House, which had given leave fo the
satons be made to refuse remarks in reply.
The CHAIR stated again that this whole matter Of per-
sona explanation thing unknown to the rules Of order
The matter lay entirely with the House.
Mr.. SCHENCK demanded the yeas and nays on the mo-
bon to suspend.
And the question being put it decided by yeas and
fol oxus. Was
SO the rules suspended and Mr. AsHMUS had leave
to reply.
Mr.. ASHMUN thereupon took the floor, and com
mensng to speak, when gentleman on the right Of the
chair inquire from Mr. G. j. IsGERsoLL whether Mr.
had received any portion of the information which he
had brought forward these charges from Mr. Ts when act
ing Secretary of State.
Mr.. INGERSOLL replied in the negative
Mr.. ASHMIN was about proceed, when
Mr.. BAYLY inquired of Mr.. ISGERsoLL whether he had
correctly understood him declining to mpute to the late
President of the United States Tyer fault crim
nal responsibility relation the abuses alleged by him to
have been committed
Mr.. INGERSOLL dsclaimed any such impuation.
Mr.. ASHMUN said he had felt very confident that the
members of that House just well too generous
preclude the liberty Of reply after the repeated the debe
rate and codblooded ebuons which had been permitted to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania ON that floor.
The SPEAKER called Mr.. A. to order
Mr.. ASHMUN said that he presumed it held perfectly
order that the gentleman Pennsylvania should employ
the most abusive ephes when speaking even in written
Of absent gentleman, and that gentleman Senator
Of the United States but it of out of order for
him to enjoy any latitude in reply.
The SPEAKER said il not the power OF the Char
decide the question of order personalities be-
gentleman present and another who absent; but
between gentlemen both of whom present, was his
uy to preserve the decorum of debate, and he should DIS
harge it.
MrASHMUN resumed. He had been saying that after the
repeated the deliberate and premedaed assaults made by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania against Senator from Massa
husc he had felt confident that the House would not be
unjust ungenerous to refuse liberty Of reply he
thought that that House and the nation had been both sur
psed and mortified at the which had recently taken
place that floor The House had been denounced in vari
quarters for its violations Of good taste and good manners
in the debate but offence had been com
med against higher obligations than those either OF good
taste of good manners Was it a mouInfu spectacle
behold this House converted into theatre for these repeat
ed and gross vuperaons Of OF the most distinguished and
most mertorous OF public One might have sup
posed that the gentleman from Pennsylvania had been long
enough public life TO know the value of reputation to pub
lie And it astonishing that he should make
such repeated Deliberate perevcrng attempts not In the
warmth Of debate, but in writing with generalization, to de-
sroy the fame of who had long served their country in
the distinguished and arduous public stations fame
that the property and the pride OF their
countymen Had such attack been made by young amb
tous member who sought distinction for himself by assang
those who far above him, there might have been some
semblance Of palaon for the act Bot what pal
aon could be pleaded for gentleman long In public life
The gentleman had told the House that thirty years ago
that he had first Mr. Webster. From that day to this
had he received from him the slightest personal offence
When where Mr. A. might appeal to that House not
merely, but the nation and the world whether Mr. Web
sers speechcsall his speecheswee not wholly free from
personalities He had been guilty of offence whatever
against the gentleman unless there might be that
ranking deep his breast and that the objectionable
of having let him alone OF having taken the least
notice Of him. Probably he knew enough Of the genemans
character induce him desire 10 have little to do with
him possible.
Why them was il that on the 9th Of February last when
the attention Of the House engrossed with great and
weghy questions involving the prospects Of war and peace
and when Ivy the courtesy Of the House. this gentleman as
chairman Of the Committee Foreign Affairs, was per-
mited TO close the debatewhy did he at such time, in
stead Of making grave and atesmsnke reply 10 those who
had opposed the resolution he had reported from the commit
tee, volunteer Of his to make personal attack
absent man-sn attack wholly unconnected with the
subject hand and in which he had grnuiousy put forth
the most injurious assertions, since proved utterly false
What could have been his motive for such procedure
The gentleman had known Mr. Webster personally for
thirty years. during part Of which time he had been himself
in public life. Had not the gentleman recalled to memory
certain Congress where he met with what might, would
think, have admonished him again TO assa high and
honorable with malignant ISLANDERS Hadhe associat
ed with the remembrance Of that Congress the Of
gentleman Of the highest talent and ntelg the
allied standing and atsinments the chivarous honor
and the pures principles, from the State OF New Jersey
Need he remind the gentleman OF the Of STOCKTON
That minded slandered TO his face-openy
fa6ed in this Hall and could the gentleman forget the
rcrbuion that followed-the scar ing process
rably inflicted the sanderer Tradition told 10 this day
Of the whitening, scahing, blasting eoquencc poured forth by
injured and indignant virtue in the presence Of tho House
continued 10 tell that the who had uttered the base
libel unable 10 endure the agony that consumed him.
and e the Hall, crying like whipped schoolboy. Mr.. A
should have thought that this might have proved sufficient