The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-15


That he was also agent for the Secretary of State
for the funds OF his department and those under his
CONTROL being in the difficult station OF serving two
masters That while thus acting as agent OF the Presi-
dent he upon The orders OF that officer advanced To Mr.
Webster of money from the ''foreign intercourse
fund" for which he CHE undersgned) did not obtain
credit The treasury books, neither that gentleman
charged herewith. Thus, although the President had
perfect right he stated in his testimony, TO have
made Mr. Webster his agent he did not exercise that
night fully, but made him an agent sub rosa Things
went in this way for more than year; and no
account for the moneys advanced 10 Mr.. Webster
having been rendered 10 the President, he expressed
desire to have the matter settled Ii then that the
former gentleman requested certificate from the Pres-
dent TO cover, tot0t specification the disbursement OF
sum OF nine thousand two hundred dollars. This The
latter did not grant whereupon the former rendered
statement OF disbursements, specific 10 the amount OF
four thousand four hundred and sixty dollars to cover
which the President granted 10 me- the undersigned, his
Certificate upon which obtained credit the books OF
the treasury.
Upon giving TO me this certificate the President handed
to me the papers Transmitted TO him by Mr. Webster,
which he had required previous TO giving IT, with an
INJUNCTION To preserve them carefully, that they might
be forthcoming whenever the disbursement to which
they related should be questioned stating that he did not
wish TO have any impulaion his character then or
thereafter He asked if had confidential drawer in
my Office in which could keep them, &c. Now when
1t considered that al that time doing business with
him has agent; that he had refused to Mr. Webster
certificate for 200 and had granted for less than
half OF that AMOUNT only upon the rendition, by that gen
teman, OF aspecic statement accompanied by Vouchers
that he expressed sollcitude lest there might be any
inpuation upon his character, guard against which
he handed 10 the papers for bookkeeping to be forth
coming in such even-what could infer but that
he gave them 10 his agent, and for the purpose
which he specified! Could l. unless specially informed
to that effect have supposed that he intended to place
hep IN the custody OF the person to whom ne would not
lDithout them have granted the certificate! might
well have supposed that he would refuse to pay debt
without taking receipt, and that he would then place
the latter in the hands OF the creditor for satekeepng and
production in he should again be called to pay
The debt This brings TO the part called upon
down me the weight OF Mr.. Webslers malign infu
ence-how justly, leave TO himself, hereafter, to de-
teunlne.
| In April $40, Mr.. Ingersol stated in the House of
Representatives. that when MIR. Webster, in virulen
terms IN the Senate, assaed his truth concerning trans
actions OF which proofs ought to be IN the Department OF
State, he went there IN search OF them for hs vndca
,ion; that searching Tor proofs not to expose HIM
pectedy" on others, which led him, next day, TO de-
nounce that gentleman as delinquent.
The in which Mr.. ingersol 'fsll unexpected
ly upon the proofs which he founded his denuncia
tons was as follows: He referred by the acting
Secretary of State (Mr rrisD to me for information re-
spectng the institution OF special mission to England
Having disposed Of that inquiry he (beng chairman OF
the Committee Foreign Atfairs) wanted to ascertain
Inc difference between the appropriations annually made
for the contingent expenses OF foreign Intercourse,
and the other for contingent expenses OF all the missions
abroad-and the objects TO which they severally
applied To explain this fully, produced the books in
which the accounts OF these appropriations were kep IN
one of which, the entry OF the payment to Mr.. Webster
of $,46O, certified by the President caught his and
he inquired what tina, was for? replied tina, 1t was for
disbursements made by that gentleman, covered by the
certificate of the President for objects not deemed eXpe
dent to be then specified He then questioned the pro-
priety of the Presidents conduct in granting certificate
for such a sum, without knowing the objects TO which 1t
was applied On being assured by that the President
had done So he still doubted and continued press
me to my knowledge that he had not so acted,
when informed him that that officer had not granted
the certificate without account and had left the papers
in my charge for his vindlclon: He desired to see
them and felt in duty Mr. Tyler bound to do,
produced them, little thinking that they would impllcate
/ Mr.. Webster. or be used for that purpose
have extended this communication to greater length
than could have wished, and yet not sufficiently so
to explain all the facts. refer any unpreudiced person
to the reports of the two committees House OF Repre-
the 29h Congress) Before one of those commltlees-a
majority whigsl may say that was tried for violating
the seal OF confidence of the Department OF State That
committee, though certainly not very favorably disposed
towards me, failed express opinion, after hav
ing for the avowed purpose OF impeachng my veracity
brought forward Mr. Tyler, and adopted the unprece
dened OF submitting to his perusa before ques
oning him, my written testimony! Was this done to
enable him to shape his answers to suit their purpose
They failed however; for Notwithstanding that his tes
nony appears to be mysted, he could only regret mat
! hal m,sapprehended HIM.
think the testimony makes it apparent that the nisap-
p pounded to Mr. Tyler was What papers letters or
memorandum of account you left with the dsbursn5
agent of tie State Department, Edward Stubs ?" &c
Of the State Department" He styles 'he agent for
diplomatic ntercourse'the agent and public officer
"he confidential agent oil the fund (See MS testno-
nv, Rep. csc, p "a, &c) And yet MIR, Tyler, in his
testimony before the committee of which Mr. Vnion was
chairman, rep 6s4, io,) speaking of the foreign in
tercourse fund, knew that the President was, according
to the opinions of many, the only discussing officer re-
cognsed by the law that his appointment OF agents was
a work of necessity and the field OF selection his own
and that he regarded the advance made by htm to Mr.
Webster quite as regular the constituting Mr.. Stubs
the agent All very true Then why use Mr.. Stubs
as an agent between Mr. Webster and the public Why
not grant to the latter the certificate for the dsburse
mens made by him Why conhie to his safe keep.
ing the papers which he intended should be preserved
lest there should be mputaton upon his character
will not push these nerrogatores, but conclude, that
acted according to what considered to be duty to Mr.
Tyler when the popriety of his conduct was question,
ed-s would do again, il occasion offered, with regard
TO any other individual, and him, it not that
have seen his testimony the affair
nav presume that the case duly considered by
President Polk and Secretary Buchanan to whom the
report of the committee and testimony taken before were
sent by resolution of the House of Representatives.
They were not of whom it could be presumed that
they would wink at violation of the sea OF confidence
of the Department of State" They promulgated no udg
ment 1t remained for party administration to pun
''A EDWARD STUBS
To the Editor.