The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-21

sibility as a member Of this body, and as an indi-
Sidual, that the charges | then made are not only
facts that they are not only the truth, but they
are directly, easily susceptible of proof from the
Department of State.
A gentleman inquired what were those chargesl
Mr., INGERSOLL. The charges Of Mr. WEE
sTER's having taken into his possession the con-
ingent service fund, which was never done either
before since; secondly, his having applied Por-
uon OF that fund TO corrupt the party press and
thirdly, of his having len Office indebted to that
fund and of his not being able TO settle that debt
until nearly two years AFTER he went out, and Just
before the present administration came into power.
All this ID true. And say further, said before,
thai know litile, very little of what pre-
sumo exists and be proved; because, ever since
1 made that statement, have conceived both the
proprety and policy Of my situation to be passive
silence, and 10 leave the matter TO take its own
eourse, ... ."... #- t ....... n...
And now ! say, IN conclusion, that | shall not
make any further movement on this subject that il
does not appear 10 me, or the friends have consult
ed, that am the proper person to do IT, After all
that has passed. II is for others TO say whether any
be, All have To say "a simply to repeat the charges
that have made, with the asseyeration that they
can be proved; and think il il obvious, from the
Presidents response that the proofs of these charges
are atlanable; and that had omitted in my resolu-
tons the words 1.-THE President's certificates" the
me To call for them. 1 have done a very disagree
able duty--a duty, assure the House, il was pain
full for TO perform; and all need add is thai the
charges are true, and may be easily proved
Mr.. I. b. KING was understood 10 remark thst
any member of this body who, for any purpose
whatever, rose in thiz House 10 asssil in any form
the reputation OF any man, but especially Of any
citizen of the United States who had held the high
est position, except two IN the gin of the people or
the government OF tho United States, was bound 10
subsantiate his charges, else they would reeoiI
with redoubed force upon himself When the
honorable gentlema FROM Pennsylvania made these
charges, which were now lying before him, on the
9th OF February last, he confessed he was very
greatly surprised for il had never entered into his
mlnd--he had never heard, among all the SANDERS
OF the day. that the government of the United States
had at any time, or In any manner, attempted TO
tion Of the laws Of the Stale Of New York.
Mr. BURT rose TO point Of order, and objected
to the genuemans proceeding the ground Of irrel-
evancy but after somo conversation waived his OBJ
lection, and
Mr.. KING proceeded. He was going ON to
say het IN all the charges heretofore made he had
never, before the charges Of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania of the 9th of February last heard it
ntmated that there was any attempt on the part of
the administration Of the general government to
interfere with the execution Of the laws, or the
course Of justice in the State Of New York. or that
part unbecoming him as officer Of the government,
OF done what was not strictly his duty to do.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania thought he
had substantiated the charges made by him on the
9dh Of February last, With all due respect, he was
forced TO differ from the gentleman. He (Mr. K.)
the country in his opinion that he had not substan-
tiated any single item of the charges he then pre-
ferred.
The gentleman had declared in his remarks, which
were personal to Mr. WEBSTER, that Mr. WEBSTER
wrote a letter marked private" and hebelieved
the gentleman said he wrote as many as three letters
IN one day.
Mr.. INGERsoLL here made a remark which
was entirely lost to the reporter.
Mr. KING (continuing) They we're all pub
lie letters except one; and that
Mr. G. s. HOUSTON rose to a point Of order,
which, after considerable conversation, he placed in
the following form: ....
That the letter referred TO by Mr.. KING, nor
copy Of that letter, being part of the message
Of the President and therefore not before the House.
il was not in order TO discuss il. ..
The SPEAKER, referring to the difficulty of
drawing the precise limit TO which the debate should
be confined, and TO ~ extsat 70 whicr the gentle
man from Pennsylvania had been indulged decided
that the fact being referred in the message that no
such letter was TO be found in the Department Of
State, it formed part Of the subject matter of the
communication Of the President, and might be dis
cussed.
Mr.. HOUSTON appealed from the decision Of
the chair.
Mr. WINTHROP required that the point of Or
der should be reduced to writing.
! Affer some Conversation this WAS dane bp, !,
subsequently annearino that the nont of order had
been based On n missnnrebension of the sta,e Of
ACTS no further nroceed,nos took Mace in reIs,;on
70 H.
7 Mr.. KING fresuminga said he would like 70 ask
the honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania, and
Gentleman had substantiated The CHARGES made bv
him on the 9TH February against the Secretary Of
Sta,e in lsII, The main bodv of tbe charge v,,s
that the government OF The United States had r,.r.
hred With The INSTRUMENTATION of ;na,ice in Neu,
YorL Wbere was the ev;dence ~ sns,,;r ,h;s,
Not tho slightest nartcle had been bronoh, fnr-
yard NND,lfN,'D'o - ''
The nr;va,e letter addressed bv Mr. wrusrrp IN
die governor of New York. (which was read bv Mr.
WrRsTrn in his replv 10 these charges in the Senate
did not contain The siiohtest proof fanv intention ~
anv such interference. - -