Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-12
Il EP II T.
On The charges Of Charles Jared IagersoH against
Daniel Webster.
OF the Select Committee

appointed to investigate certain charges made by the Hon.
CnARLEs SGEKsoLL against the Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER
for official misconduct while he held the office Of Secretary
OF State OF the United States, beg leave report:
That they have 10 tho subject referred TO them
patient and lHborous investigation. and have collected
large mass OF testimony the result which, only without
going into It's details they deem necessary present
the House.
The committee in tho first place. directed their a,,en
ton the first charge against Mr. Webster that without
the knowledge Of the President the IT, S. and contrary TO
he had taken OF the hands the ordinary dbur
sing and into his portion of that part of the
foreign intercourse fund, commonly known 'ho Secret
Service Fund.-" and appropriated il his own use The
committee hnd that, by law, this fund committed tho
exclusive control OF the President of the United States
Who II he think proper, keep tho money himself and
disburse irom his hands; he may commit tho keen
ing and disbursement Of agent or agents under
his direction as he may deem expedien appoint In
consequence as the committee presume of the many and
important duties which necessarily constantly occupy the
whole time and attention OF the President OF the United
States so as to render 1t very troublesome aud difficult for
him. person. TO keep and disburse this fund and mako
up Its accounts he has always from the rst ont
OF the Government entrusted the discharge OF these duties
| to other hands.
As the Secretary of State of the United State, is ,eeu
marry the confidential adviser OF the President in whatever
concerns the foreign relations OF the country be woud
seem TO be tho natural aud appropriate agent for the dis
charge OF these duties he could perform them without d.
rimeni to other public business of higher impo,t,nee M
eordngy the committee lind that in Administration Of
General Washington, the older Adams and part of thai of
Mr. Jefferson, while the Office Secretary of State was
held IN succession by Mr.. Jay Jefferson Randolph Pck
ering, Marshall, and part Of the time thar Mr. M,Jo,
held that office under Mr.. Jefferson the whoe of TIN.
fund was under the direction and supervision of the Pre-
/ by the Secretary Of State.
In the early part of Mr.. Jefierson's administration III.
Secretary OF State without law requiring it, seem, to
have been relieved from the discharge of this dny ara
the keeping and discussing of thi. fund under tho PEI
dcnrs direction, appears 10 have been passed over into tho
hands OF agents whose accoun after receiving IN. s,n,
ton OF the President settled at the Treasury Rr, no
change has been made the law i'm the powers or an
ues OF the President in respect to this fund from the time
OF General Washington TO the present day. This chance
must have been made Tor the convenience Of the Secretary
of State and not from any Of confidence which MI
jefferson had in Mr.. Madison.
The committee have examined Mr. TYLER the lo,a
President OF the United States He testfed that ,hcn
he into the Presidency he found the foreign relations
OF the country delicate condition in certain mar
hcuiars, which the committee do deem il incident o
specify, requiring in his opinion the employment of con-
hdena agents and, for assigned by him In the
committee, no regarded his Secretary State as the fit
test TO select and employ them Under an imur.
sion entertained both by him and Mr. Webster thai this
was the usual and proper NODE he suggested that the mo-
ney should be discussed by Mr.. Webster; and for that
purpose placed in his hands portion of the foreign in
iereourse fund which then lying deposito with Mr.
Siubb the ordinary discussing agent This had not been
done before for long time knowledge the modern
usage IN respect the keeping and discussing this fund
II not improbable led Mr.. Ingerso into the erroneous
belief that this money had improperly and without
the Presidents sanction Mr. Websters instance into
his hands. But there be doubt that the President
had ample authority commit his Secretary the keen
ing aud dsbursing o this money, and that he alone had
Inn
from tho testimony that all the money put his hands
placed there with the knowledge aud sanction and by
the order OF the President and much Of was ne
cessary was dsbursed IN accordance with his views A
balance needed Tor the purposes contaminated was at
forwards returned by Mr. Webster Mr. Subb. the dis
bursting agent, with whom, the testimony shows there
usually on depose larger amount O money than reuur
ed To meet present demands With these remarks the com
mlttee dismiss this and proceed notice the second charge
In that charge Mr. lngerso charges Mr.. Webster with
using the public mony TO corrupt the party presses Among
the agents employed by Mr. Webster under the authority OF
the President as above explained Mr. Francis o. J.
smith, OF the State OF Maine. There is the Department
OF State among the papers relating the secret service
fund.- letter from that gentleman Mr.. Webster which
contains expression that planned might Justly lead
to the Impression that he M SMITH had used the money
OF tho Government in that way The committee have full
y investigated this charge. They do deem II necessa
ry or eNpeden 20 90 into specification Of the of this
agent, who employed in service or To inquire
into the propey OF employing agents for secret service
within the limits Of the United States and paying them out
oil the contingent fund for foreign intercourse but will con-
tent themselves with simply remarking that tho testimony
they have taken fully explains whatever of obscure or
doubtful meaning in this letter. and every founda
ton for belief or suspicion that public money
was used or attempted to be used corrupt party press
This brings the committee TO the third and last charge
that when Mr.. Webster Of Office no was publie
defauer.
From an examination OF his accounts Il appears thai
when he retired from Office there OF the moneys that
bad been entrusted TO him apparent balance of 900
IN his hands stated by Mr. lngersoll The expenditure
OF this sum remained to be accounted for by him There
have been delay IN procuring vouchers from e
agents whom Mr.. Webster had employed for the moneys
advanced by him TO them. For payment Of ihausand
dollars, which he claimed have made out OF the fund
IN his hands he alleged tie vouchers mad been lost mis-
laid, not procured and has yet been found or OBJ
aincd though efforts made by him to find procure
IT, These causes occasioned delay IN settlement Of
/ his accounts for some eighteen twenty months.
In the autumn OF lsI4 the period having arrived when
was necessary for Mr. Subbs close his accounts al the
Treasury, and Mr. Webster having then procured the
necessary vouchers he proposed pay npparon, ia
lance against him, with the understanding that the Co
yernmcnt should refund to hm no subsequently procu
red the evidence ol his payments. This proposition
which proceeded from Mr. Webster was aecsded to BY the
President OF the u. S. In tho month Of November Of
that year Mr.. Webster procured voucher for payment
Of 5000 and paid in cash 81 0sO, the residue Of tho ap
parent haaEoe in MS hands. This money was RENTED
by him in part from Boston, and in part from Philadelphia
In the following winter he visited Washington, and on the
LIST oi February, l54J presented vouchers for payments
made by him while in office, and before credited 10 him
to the amount Of $1,000 which tho President Of tho IT,
s. directed 10 be refunded and that then repaid
20 him. Mr.. Webster was urged by Mr. Stubs 10 col
lect and transmit his and vouchers. that Mr.
Stubs might close his with the Treasury but tho
Committee find no evidence q any threat Of exposure
wing been made by the President which induced tho nay.
ment II the apparent balance against him,
II it DO assumed that Mr. Webster was correct in his i'm
preston that he had paid the above mentioned thousand
dollars Of tho fund In his hands and II to this amour,
be added the vouchers for $50 procured Ivy hn after his
retirement from Office rnlking together 22j0, aud this
last amount DO deducted from 81 yO tho apparent balsnce
against him, u will show that tho balance In HE hands
When he went Of Office vas $40 only, On reviewing
his accounts ,ho keeping o which for tho most part
entrusted by him tu Mr. Stubs, the discussing agent the
committee have been lod doubt wheh the final set
emont tom Of $500 by mistake carried 10 his
credit which had been before allowed him. This error
was pointed out 10 the committee by tho Disturbing agent
BY whom tho account was drawn ~ aud the settlement
made lie proves that " vas NJ his own suagoston and
H az that u Mr. Webster that this item was carried Ia
his credit IN the hnal settlement. II necessary 10
into tho particulars Of the history Of this and Of
tho Of tho mistake, n one was made Tho com.
nittoo deem IL sufficient romafk that blame is inpu
cd 90 MI Webster who they satisfied was not aware
and probably not now, that this item had been before
credited 10 him. tho Disturbing SCENT who drew up
the items Of the final settlement abq tho charge OF no
glgenee. u II DO assumed that this item twice slow
ID 20 hmsndilhai The fnal settlement inside All other
respects correct then In refunding % Mr.. Webster ho
should hsve been rspsid $3.50 only nstead Of 05O-
Bot, n Mr. Webster misiskon in the belief hist he
hsd paid tho thousand dollar shove meponed then the