Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-12-31
SECRET SERVICE IN TYLgR's DAY.
And an Inquiry Which Concerned
Daniel Webster.

And an Inquiry Which Concerned
Daniel Webster.
Willard c. Gompf of Hartford. in
Sprir gfeld Republication April 8
1916, C. ]. Ingersoll, member of Con
gress from Pennsylvania, introduced a
resolution calling on Daniel Webster
for all the papers and certificates con-
nected with the secret service since
March 1871, the purpose being TO
prove that Daniel Webster had misap
propriated funds. Mckay claimed
that the expenditure of the money
rested wholly on the authority of The
president DTOmgcOle sad that the
administration of Tyler and the secre-
tary of state (Webster) disgraced the
country. Bayly ella med that we SHOULD
not question the disposal of The secret
service expenses for diplomat pur-
poses Winthrop remarked that the
charges should be taken with a grain
of salt. The gentleman should sleep
a night or two on this hearsay testi-
mony. Seldom thought the charges
demanded serious cOnsiderat on. Ad
ans said they should consider it OF
very great Importance, carrying out or
violating the provisions of the constitu-
ton of the United States. He could not
vote for the resolution as presented.
1T required an exhibition of that which
has been hitherto buried in profound
secrecy, and it was the intention that
perpetual secrecy should be man
tanned When president he had given
certificates of years appropriation OF
the whole transaction. The law gave
the president full power to expend the
funds, and the secretary of state could
not be held responsible for its use.
They must impeach John Tyler and
mot Daniel Webster Ingersoll: 'WilI
the gentleman allow me to ask him a
question:
Adams: II will, if he w II allow me
to sit down and not to answer him
The resolution was amended direct
ing the inquiry to the president.
| Yancey spoke against Webster
character and Hillard said Webster5
1
abroad as those of any man thar
breathes the breath of life.
Dixon wanted an account Of all the
expenditures of the secret service
since March 4, 1897, and the names Of
all persons to whom money was pad
which was voted down. Ingersoll's
resolution was passed, 1876 to %.
On April 20, 1876, Pres dent Polk
sent in his message on the question
and claimed that his certificate was
thus expended. He could not break
THE seal of confidence heretofore UNI
formlY observed. He had never given
his certificate for such expenditures
as they had been settled by regular
vouchers.
1t often becomes necessary to incur
an expenditure for an object useful TO
the country 1ngersoll charged Web
ster with having taken into his posses
sion the contingent service fund, which
was never done either before or since:
secondly. his having applied a portion
of that fund to corrupt the party press;
thirdly, Of his having left office in
debted to that fund and of his not be
ing able to settle that debt until nearly
two years after he went out
: On April %, Webster said: ''Tht
charge, therefore, was either made il
utter ignorance of any facts to supper
= 1T or else with the knowledge that tn
. facts which do exist would, if mad,
S known. entirely disprove it. As to tn
source of this miserable vituperation
/ have nothing to say. Sir. 1 leave tht
: author of these ISLANDERS where he is
leave him in the worst company