Mr. KASSON. On Friday lastI believe that was the daya very bitter partisan paperof NewYork city published a statement involving the charge o larceny, by direct action or by consent, against both the late President and the unfortunate lad who was bereaved under circumstances so wed known to the country and the world, charging in point of fact that public property, bought and )aid for by the U.S., had been by them removed from the White House for their private advantage. I wish, at this early stage, before falsehood has traveled with too great speed over this count and abroad, to say to the House, and throug the House to the country, that at the time that charge was made the ComAppropriat, in considering the propriety of additional appropriations for refurnishing the White House, were making an examination touching the alleged disappearance of property from the Executive ManSion; and the result of that investigation, with the examination of numerous witnesses, is this: that, with one single exception, not one solitary article ever paid for by the mone of the U.S. can be found to have been removed, by any authority whatever connected with the occupancy of the White House, from the possession of the officer in charge of the mansion. The only instance which is found which could possibly furnish a foundation for the charge is that one article used familiarly in the bite House for some years was stated by the widow of the late President to have been the object of his admiration, and, as associated with him, she asked perinissionthat that might be taken with her private property from the White House. Instead of taking it without leave, the matter was stated to the officer in charge. by him to the ComrPubBldg, by him to the present SecyInterior, who said that, under the circumstances, he could not believe that the people of this country or any part of them woulg be opposed to her taking from 1 the mansion that memento associated with the memory of her late husband. The whole value of it was perhaps 150 dollars. With that exception, not one single article has been removed, so far as the committee could find; and some dozen witnesses living and occupying at the White House subordinate positions, and associated with that House have can examined and I wish, sir, to ask at this time that the Associated Press, that the manhood of the House, that the mafliianimit of the country, may not only crush The slan er, but, if possi 1866. 235 ble. crush the slanderers who dared to attack a woman bereaved of her husband, and the widow of a President martyred for the sake of his country, as the President was.