Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. ARM ~. 1916.

Nj, HARRISON said that il the explanation only hat
reference the ngeo and Webster business, he protested
AGAINST leave being granted enough Of the time Of the Hous
had been already consumed on that subject.
Mr. HENLEY supported the motion for leave.
The SPEAKER stated that there such thing
missed in the laws Of Legislation established by the House
personal explanation made by courtesy and express
consent of the House only If il the pleasure Of the
House grant the leave, it in the power of the House
do but there rule of order which referred to the
subject. s
the motion suspend.
The SPEAKER answered that motion to suspend the
rules was susceptible Of amendment
The SPEAKER put the question: and the Affirmative and
negative having responded he said he could decide from
the sound and in the act of dividing the House, when
Mr. COBB called for the yeas and nays they order
ed and taken, and there For the suspension 02,
against il 25
Twohds having voted in the affirmative, the rules
suspended.
Mr. c. J. INGERsoLL thereupon rose and addressed the
House follows, reading from manuscript which he held
in his hand
Mr. SrEAKEa When Mr. Webster in virulent terms, in
Senate asaed my TRUTH concerning transactions of which
proofs ought be in the Department Of State went there in
search Of them for vindicaton AS member Of the Com
mee of Foreign Affairs, for years, have free
dom there though probably which any other
member of Congress is not entitled to.
Searching for proofs not to expose him, but vindicas my
self, fell most Unexpectedly others which led me, next
day, to denounce him delinquent
When the Presidents to the resolution o the House
Representatives refused certain documents repeated in
general assertion the fact Of his delinquency and added that
it easily susceptible of proof My friends advised go
further, supposng that Mr.. Webster would challenge in
vesigaton.
Not having done so, but having again, with opprobous
language Senate charged with SANDER and called
substanae my accusation of him, now submit short
statement, which may be tested as TO truth.
There three charges of delinquency
First Unlawful use of the fund appropriated for the con-
ngent service OF foreign intercourse commonly called the
service fund
Secondly Misapplyng part of that fund TO corrupt party
presses.
Thirdly Leaving the Department of State in default to that
fund.
First Congress approprates annually small sum, COM
monty $4,000 for the contingent expenses of foreign inter-
the disbursement Of part Of which is sometimes USE
fully candesne but has been enormously Supposed
corrupt Whenever in the Presidents opinion, it would be
wrong TO make public how any part of disposed Of he so
ceres and by act Of Congress, his certificate suf
cen voucher at the Treasury for the required settlement
These funds have for the last sixteen years. not always
been in the hands of clerk called Ivy Of Congress- the
dsbursg agent of the Department of State who kept them
in banks agent. The official routine for the President
the requson Of the Secretary Of STATE authorize pay
ment of the money from the Treasury the bursng agent
Of the State Department The sbung agent is debted at
the Treasury with the drawn into the Department of
State, keeps il TO his credit agent in bank and gives
checks required by the Secretary for paymentto
he may designate.
In this way the first check saw, when went to the De
partmen drawn by the agent for the service at New
York in McI.eod's case, $1,000
But shortly after President Hanisons death, and before
Vice President Tyler home in the chief magstracyin
April, s4lMr. Secretary Webster began entirely novel
method Of dealing with the service fund.- Instead of
directing the disbursing agent 10 pay any third person, Mr.
Webster required the money 10 be paid TO himself.
In this way he REV himself from the disbursng agent
Sl2 600 during the first nine months of Mr.. Websers in
cumbency Secretary about 900 month in 1871, and
$4,000 more early in 1912.
Thus he took into bis own hands 600 his first twelve
months The President here written evidence in the Dc
partmen show) authorized this, knew nothing OF H.
and, when first apprzed Of it, than fourteen months
after bad been going 10 the large amount oil Sioooo
refused il his sanction.
Ii was not till July, ls4a as the evidence in the Depart
men shows, in Mr. Websters handwriting, that he got
Presidents certificate for 81, AGO.
That Presidents certificate Of which took minute, dated
18th July, 1912, is
ToJ. J. Crittenden, for expenses Of journey to New
York SiV'
To +. o. j. Smith, for services connected with
the northeastern boundary NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1000
To Alexander Powell, for journey to and stay on
the frontier in ls4i, on the subject of the dis
turbances northumberland. l,00C
With several other items
The FIRST in this short account concerning Mcleod,
will show how led from that to other objects and some
Of the other items will show the agents whom, Secretary Of
State, Mr. Webster employed; Both Houses Of Congress-
not the public at large have not been left in ignorance OF the
character Of Of those whom the Secretary Of State
bestowed large Of public money, if their receipts
recty vouch what they got.
y Of the President there is minute dated June 49, 1912,
"By cash returned, SIS, 000."
After drawing SIS, 900 TO himself during fifteen months,
during which period there is trace Of what he did with
those large sums he appears have returned third Of the
amount withdrawn. Why return il, if taken for any public
purpose Where had been kept II in any place Of de-
posiie, it separate from Mr. Websers private funds
Did he use il }
These S. 900 returned days after, according the
published correspondence, his negotiation with the British
Envoy Extraordinary began, by conversational and conden
ial intercourse, without protocols other usual records
such transactions.
In 1919 Mr. Webster took himself So 900 more maxim,
altogether $4,000.
On closing his account credng the S. 900 returned am
other sums there remained balance against him
So $50 Of the fund One Of his credits agans
IL for 81 ,40O published in House document report No
20, first session, 18th Congesscpot Of Mr. Rogers TO
maps charts surveys and expenses Of bringing them TO tn
seat Of Government, and for copies Of transcripts and 10
agencies procure information connected with tn
boundary treaty.
This insrtcuate and comprehensive mixture of many IN
conguous items, without specification of prices dates, or an
apparent Of reciitude, Mr. Secretary Webster cerle
himself proper credit for himself, and deducted from hi
debit the service fund.- Without that credit his de
fault TO that fund would have been 49, &C., instead Of ~
which IL when he removed from Office.
The ST. 900 his hands, contrary uniform usage
II used by him, contrary TO the subreasuy act Whefhe
So Is for him make appear The burden Of proof on HIM
secondly Application Of the secret service fund TO couP
party presses The Ashbuon treaty bears date the 9th An
ADAMS has charged me lately, and confess did what LITTLE
could as one Of small minority in the House OF Represen
ves I've had forty votes think, under the previous ques
n"n TO resist treaty which Mr. Webster has lately stated II
the senate granted half million Of dollars from the trea
su "e united States TO the people Of Maine and Massa
hn@ la..- - ~