Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-18
Tx SENATE, Tuesday, JANUARY 7, 1851.

Mr.. EWING. expressed my entire willingness on
Thursday last after listening TO the remarks of the Senator
from Indiana, (M BRIsHT,) to join the issue rendered by
gentlemen the other side And impossible TO ad-
duce all the cases Of removal and give all the in all
the cases. was willing to take the two prominent cases Sc
ected by those gentlemen and selected with very great care
and cauon and to let them stand the test cases On my
part in behalf Of the late Administration, was willing,
and am still willing, admit that if these removals, or II
either one Of them wrong that all wrong and
pect like candid admission their side, that II those which
they have selected the test were ngh that all were
right and that they will give up the contest II the position
which they have taken these their selected cases cannot
be sustained Gentlemen made their selection after the lapse
Of much time, and evidently upon much consultation In
fer the fact from their obvious accord in thrustng Gen Lane
and COL Weller prominently forward as The specially wronged
and prosecuted victims from the prompt and general rally
the instant to their deence from the harmonious agree
ent of many in denouncng these especially as cases
Of naked prescription and, finally, from the general
concurrence Of Senators in alleging by way OF aggavaton
that the gentlemen thus removed at the time on the Pa
cfe do not know that this the result of caucus
but there wondous agreement in the assumption Of
fact and its presentation in argument.
By mutual agreement, them we will take these cases.
chosen by gentlemen OH the other sde We will take them
with all their circumstances Of aggravaon, and cannot
prove that their removals right and nay
gary duty on the part of the late President then will
that he acted upon wrong principle, and that his removals
generally wrong III prove that these right then
claim from the other side the admission that his removals
we're generally right - y. "..
These selections well and udiciousy and fairly made
They belong each to his separate class OF ofcehode
Col Weller those who wholly unfit for the office to
which he was appointed incapable of dschaging its duties
and unfit be trusted with the funds necessary for its execu
ton Gen. Lane belonged to different GLASS; that OF cleo
oneeng ocehode whose violence and abuse and calum-
ny during the Presidential bad been such that Gen.
Taylor, when he became President, could not, without
sacrificing all selfrespec without sacrificing all respect
for his political friends suffer them to remain in office
nay, such that had they had proper seEse OF what
was due to official proprey, they would OF themselves
have instantly resigned their offices upon the election OF Gen.
Taylor and refused to hold Office under man whom they
had deprecated and illuminated THERE'S then peculiar
fitness in the selection which gentlemen have made We may
test large number of from these two OF which they
may be considered the representatives
had something say with respect to COL Weller few
days ago. and it is no, necessary that should repeat
what then sad refer to the documents to which then
referred. will merely add two particulars, to which did
then deem necessary to refer, but which, gentlemen
are hard to satisfy, the occasion now calls for.
But before proceeding the question, will remark that
have not sought this controversy, but have shunncd not
however, fear of the result for knew at the commence
ment how end but from unfeigned reluctance to
engage in discussion involving personal character and per-
sona conduct Hence is that have said little as lcoud
possibly say without doing injustice to Gen. admin
sraon that would nure the character wound the feel
ngs Of either. ,i touch them now with less gentle
hand they thank their friends who persisted hrustpg
them faces But in order to take the first branch
of my subject properly, refer the debate Of the 18th
of December which the Senator from Michigan took
part. That Senator made an inquiry OF me during that de-
bate in these words Bot will the honorable Senator tell
that COL Weller would have been removed he had been
q Whig" '.r #'. "~.
REPLIED in answer the question Of the honorable sena
tor from Michigan, as follows: ...... ...' --.
sand can say to The honorable Senator Michigan
CAss reply his nquiry that had COL Weller been
Whg and had informant concerning him been what
and from the reliable sources would have unhesi
tatingly advised his removal"
had hoped that my reply would have been perfectly
tsfacory the Senator, and especially alter the remarks
made by me the other day. .@
Mr.. CASS If the Senator from Ohio will allow me, /
will state that my inquiry was in sluson TO the ground OF
removal which he had then stated which with respect TO
the accounts of Col Weller He bad not then referred to
the character Of COL Weller and my remark had reference
to that. . E%
MrEWING. hoped that the Senator would have been
satisfied with my reply, knowing, well convinced he
did that there other charges Of grave import against
Col. Weller and knowing also, as supposed ne did, that
withheld them from unwngness unless absolutely com
PEELED by the force Of circumstances to speak here OF the
defects and vices of But when next the Senator spoke
be saw f TO consider having stated specifically all
knew Of Col Wee and all the facts which Influenced the
President him and, giving me credit for good in
tenons he expressed himself ncreduous OF my assertions
that would have advised the removal Of COL Weller had he
been Wing. And in these remarks the Senator from Mi
chgan took particular pains to conhne the issue TO what
never made an ISSUE which was, whether Cot Weller
removed under and by the operations Of particular act
of Cong,ess Well, I agree that he was not. | never
said that he was ntmated any such thing But the
Senator said when be last addressed the Senate subject
that he would not be "dven from his point That is the
Senator determined conne the OF removal to
the operation of that particular law which did not name,
and which had nothing to do with It, have no issue with
the honorable Senator he took his ground entirely out
line of march, and would have been most unreasonable for
me to 90 quite of my way to drive him from position
which be had perfect occupy aid which nerfered
not at all with mine . .+ ...
AZ the Senator is not satisfied with the evidence already
adduceJ will now offer other item, and hope it will be
sufficient 1t is certified copy of the report OF master IN
chancery who appointed by the court OF common pleas
of Butler county inquire the defacaton OF Col Weller
other who were entrusted with public fund
belonging TO that county. will read short extract from
that report promising however, that all the commissioners
were good Democrats and Mr. Mcbride the master in chan
cery Democrat also, and personal friend OF Col Weller
The money entrusted these persons was the part OF the
surplus fund belonging that county, large amount Of
which Col eer had converted to his use, and failed
account for This fact well knew when COL eller was
removed and the Senator from Michigan must have known
knew and referred when told him. the other day,
tina, from the facts within my knowledge would have ad-
vised the removal Of Col Weller had he been Wing The
extract is as follows:
The said funds by other debtors than said
defendants whose notes. bonds and mortgages have been put
into possession be found in tabular statement here
with filed, (marked b amounting in all to the ssm 81
$50 o73346 leaving the hands Of the defendants and be
accounted Tor by them the of "a Ofths sum
find, according notes aRd receipts e that James H.
Ward owes the Of 49, flor particulars as to dates
and accounts his file marked c. and that
Lowen r. Cooch according similar vouchers and evidence
file, OF this the Of 429 81 received
times and IN amounts specified in his account file,
the other defendant and agent of the commissioners the
of St6, ,g33 06. At what what