Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-01
VOLUME XLIII.-NUMBER T.

Whereas This House, the oh day Of April instant,
passed esoluIion which Is In the words and terms
following: "Rtsoired. That the President Of the
United Sates be requested 10 10 hr furnished 10
this House account Of all payments made Prrs-
Cen certificates from the tuna appropriated by law
through the agency Of The Stale Department for lie
contingent expenses Of foreign intercourse the 9Th
day OF March, 1884, until the retirement Of Daniel
Webster, from the Department Of State, with copies Of
all entries, letters, receipts, vouchers. mrmorandus
az other evidence OF such payments Ia whom paid for
what and particularly all concerning Tie North Eastern
Boundary dispute with Great Britain Also copies Of
whatever communications were made from the Score
try Of Stale during the last session Of the Eth Con-
sress particularly February, 1913, Ia Mr. Gushing aud
Mr. Adams, of the Committee OF this flousc
Foreign AfnIs, Of the wish OF III. President of the
United States 10 institute special mission Great
Britain Also copies of all letters The hooks Of ;he
Department cf State any officer Of the United States,
or any person in New York concerning Alexander Nc
Leod Preceded that document matter is request
ed 10 be furnished b. the foregoing sSoiGt:on, hch,
10 the opinion II the President, would proper,y in
vnlve the citizen subject pf any foreign power"
which said resolution communicated 10 the PrrsI-
dent OF the United States: Ard whereas, The President,
The 2Dlh day If Abl instant, IL Ihi5
House his reply TO said resoluton In which hr declined
10 disclose, furnish any information in regard the
expenditure OF The secret service fund.- assigning,
among other reasons the following: that if The fresi
dent may answer the present cali no mus, SIM
lar calls for every such expenditure Of a confidential
character, made under every Administration, In war
and IN peace from e organ cation Of the Government
TO tie present period that 10 break he seal of conf
dence IMPOSED by law, ard heretofore uniformly pre-
served, would he subversivc Of the very purpose for
which the law was enacted, and might lie productive OF
the lDas disastrous Iuences and that the elpcndi-
lures OF this confidential character is believed, Were
never before sought U be- made public, ard he should
greatly arprehrnd The consequences &c establishing
precedent Inch would render such disclosures here
after inevitable.
And whereas Charles Jared Ingersoli, a member OF
This House, and one Of the representatives fiom the
state OF PennsylrnEla, has hi. day declared TO this
IN, ham iut
has had access IN, the information in relation the
pendure of I'll secret service fund which asked
tor III SAID resolution, and refused 10 the House. Of
portion thereof, with prouf and documents IN
aton thereto and has disclosed the the House
and In the public, and The sad lngersoli that he
ionnd or procured the said Information from The De
paTtmeni Of Stit-; therefore.
Resolred, That Select Committee Of five members
lie appointed 10 inquire how the seul Of confidence I'M
posed by law heretofore uniformly preserved 10 relation
10 the expenditure nf sad secret fund has be
broken; and how the said Charles j. lns-rr0ll has OBJ
inintd the information which he has communicated 10
This Hous and 10 the public and through whose agency
such information has been procured; whether by the
Act oi said lngrisoil msc or by any ofcer oil any DE-
j,arliut nj of this Government: And IL by member,
then, whether he does deserve by sucb conduct,
punishment b.; The Ouae. and whether In such ir1Dsar
tlon there has not becn an nfienc committed reains the
dignity and privileges OF the House hnd that he said
Committee have power TO send for persons and papers,
and that they report 10 tho House practicable
the result Of their investigation.
Mr.. Petit moved 10 amend the resolution By
adding thereto the following:
"And that another select committee Of five be
appointed, 10 inquire INTO the truth OF the char
ges this Gay made in this Hnusc BY MIR. c. J..
lngersoll against Mr.. Daniel Webster, with
view 10 founding an Impeachment, against said
Daniel Webster; and that said committee have
power 10 send for persons and papers, books and
vouchers"
Mr.. Peuil's amendment was agreed 10, and
the resolution aiopted-sc that TWO select COM
miitess will have 10 be appointed.