Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-05-01
MIR. INGERSOLL ANDMR. WEBSTER
Great Excitement in tho House.

Mr.. Ingersol gave notice in the Union OF
the Oath ult., that he would stake the first
opportunity to comply with Mr.. Webster's
request, in the Senate, to make known the
particulars and proofs ofMr. Webster's alleged
delinquency" and on Monday last Mr.. l.
asked for suspension Of the rules Of the
House of Representatives, to enable him to
make personal explanation. The rules hay
ing been suspended,
Mr.. Ingersoll (says the correspondent OF
the Baltimore Clipper rose to his explana.
ton. He had made three charges against Mr..
Webster, OF which the following are the heads:
1st. That Mr.. Webster had made an unlaw-
full use of the Secret Service Fund.
I'd. Misapplying part of that fund to the
corruption of the party press.
Sd. Leaving the Department Of State de.
faulter to the above named fund
With reference to these charges, he said he
(Mr. ~ had had access to the Department OF
State as a member, for some years, of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, bnt probably
no more than other members of the House
were entitled to. That he had gone there,
when assaulted by Mr.. Webster, to search for
evidence to sustain his former charges, in the
course of which he found evidence of the
charge he had made-the first item he found
being one for $1,000 in the Mcleod case. Up
10 April, l84l, he said the custom had been
to place the Secret Service Fund in. the hands
of the Discussing Clerk of the Department of
State. on whom orders were given for the pay
ment OF the necessary amounts. In April,
le41, shortly after the death of Gen. Harrison,
Mr.. Webster had pursued different course,
and had required the disbursing Clerk to give
him money --that in the course Of the nine
months ne had drawn from the agent S12, 900,
and early in 1912, an additional sum OF So, 900,
making total Of $I5,OOO-that the only
vouchers of the expenditure of any portion of
this sum up to the 18th of July, eighteen hum
dred and forty-two, were $4,46O, of which
$1,000 was paid to ]. J. Crittenden for travel
ling expenses, &C., in the Mcleod case. 3d..
600 to F. o. 1. Smith, and $1,000 to Alex'r
Powell for expenses on tho northern and north
eastern boundary, with other items making
up the amount stated. On the 23d June,
le42, there was an item of $4,000 returned
into the hands of the Disbursing Clerk; and
in l643 additional vouchers for $4,000, leav-
ing unaccounted for $4,000, exclusive5of an
item of $l409 made public as a charge for
maps and travelling expenses.
With reference to the second charge he had
made, he referred to the contents of a letter
from F. 0. ]. Smith, marked pTivate,'' Oh
HE In the Department, congratulating Mr..
Webster on the new mode he had adopted for
settling the N. E. boundary, and making
some mention of modes he had adopted TO d.
rect public opinion Alright, and claiming com.
pensation therefor.
With reference to the third charge, he said
Mr.. Webster left the Department. a defaulter,
and that the Secret Service fund account was
not settled by Mr.. w. until the LIST February.
l845, when vouchers were produced from F.
0. ]. Smith. for $500 additional, and from
George Smith, who was since dead, for $500.
who. however, denied previous to his death
Iha! ne had received more than $3.50, but ad.
hitting these two vouchers as good it still
eft $1,000 due to the fund.
lie also stated that there were letters on
ile in the Department from Mr.. TYLER. CALI
ng on Mr.. Webster to settle this account.
MIR. Ashman of Mass, rose and asked that
lie might be allowed to reply to Mr.. Ingersoll.
There Were objections and confusion.
Mr. rendleton moved a suspension of the
uies which was agreed to-ayes I35, noes %.
Mr.. Ashman rose, when
) Mr.. Hunter asked him to let him -fMr. Hl mt
single question 70 Mr.. c. ]: Inesrsoll.. Whicb
Fas, did be get any informasiof, from Ar nucha.
ar h1his s0btset;.s..