The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-31
Christianity versus PHILOSOPHERS, james

ana brings persons INTO III, WIN, cei'ai"J, "e'ei
could have dreamed of being placed In such
situation In the Cowi1 Of yesterday, Mr. WEBB,
after going over great deal of rough ground about
Henry Clay-Stae Observation-Disclosures al
fairs-Sunday riding-commisson in the army
and various other matters and things, brings into
the field as a squire, armour-bearer, certain
parsonage, with whom we have some partial ac-
quaintance Of late years-we allude to James Cor
don Bennett, the editor of the New York Herald.
1t that the fling by Philosopher Greeley
against Christian Webb, in allusion to the inconsls-
tency of the latter about the United States Bank,
rather the 52, 900 affair, has nettled the Colonel
excessively; and in the effort to throw of the
odium attaching 10 that affair, he brings into the
field his principal defence, a certificate which
once gave him of good character in the year 1892
Here Is the paragraph -
In ausion to all this, NJ. NJ Moan and JAMES G. BEN.
both Of whom were with at that time, addressed
letters which published in the Courier and En-
qurer setting forth that HAD nsrer orten word against
the Bank but had dways been tapor Of its recharfer with
certain notifications So that the whole story oil ineonsis
ecy in this regard at the time, promptly and
lery put rest and that too by the testimony of the
very Individual a. Bennep who has since that period,
been mainly instrumental in keeping alive the vile SLAM
der
Now, in relation to this "vie SANDER as he
calls II, / have also some recollections-and ra
Their amusing ones they too-which may as
we'll give, as they will take away good deal OF
the criminality of continuing that 60 Islander"
very well recollect the curious movements which
took place during the years 1929 '303l and '32, in
which Noah and Webb exhibited themselves in
rather an amusing light, and in which we, to our
sorrow, participated to some degree 1t svery true,
as MIR. Webb states in the above paragraph, that
during great pressure which bore against his re-
putaton in 1892, in relation to this United States
Bank affair." of pity and compassion for his dis
consulate condition, did give him a certificate IN
relation to his agency in writing articles and IN en-
tertalning opinions respecting to the United States
Bank. | certainly did give him that certificate OF
character But | very much astonished, IN
deed to find that certificate published next day IN
the Courier in an altered and different form; and
| if Mr.. Webb can turn to the original certificate
now and compare it with that which he print
| ed he will see the extent of the alterations, which
were, afterwards understood, made by his own
hand, thus making me certify in different sense
| to that which intended.
The whole history of the connection of Mr.
Noah and Mr.. Webb with the United States Bank
in those years, know very well. For considerable
time after joined the Courier f. Enquirer in 1929,
and the greater portion OF which journal then
wrote with my own hand J. and up to the year 1880,
it presented no particular hostility 10 the United
States Bank. Several articles were written and
published at that time, but they had reference
| merely to the establishment Of branch bank at
Buffalo, and another at Utica and regarded the
question merely in practical point of view. With
these articles, it is of course probable that Mr.
Webb Joined in opinion; but think it was in the
month of November, 1929, when M. NJ Noah was
Surveyor of the Port, that in going to his office
one day, | found him reading letter which he
had Just received from Amos Kendall, and which
informed him that ground would be taken against
the bank by General Jackson, in the Message to be
delivered next month on the opening OF Congress.
On the same day, portion of Amos Kendas let
ter with head and tail put TO it by Mr. Noah,
was sent over to the Courier office, and published
as an editorial next morning. This was the first
savage attack made on the United States Bank in
the columns of the Courier 8. Enquirer.
When 7 found that the paper was COM
mted in that direction, as Of course suppos-
ed with the consent of all parties, then began to
look at the question in financial, constitutional
and political point of view And during the year
$780, frequently wrote very strong articles on the
subject, which were uniformly, at least silently,
approved of by Mr.. Webb and Mr.. Noah for |
never heard them offer the slightest objection The
: Courier continued for some time in the same posi-
tion-sometimes MIR. Noah writing articles-some-
= times mysef-and sometimes others-all, howe
ver hostile to the Bank and its recharter and APP
PREDATORY of the course adopted by Gen. Jackson
with regard to that institution. All this very
well known TO Mr.. Webb, and never heard any
intimation that il contrary to his views or In
consistent with his interest.
In process of time, however, in the spring OF
1881, all on sudden, discovered, from CONVEX
sation with Silas Z. Burrows, that there was ne
gotiation on loot between him and M. NJ Noah to
change the tone of the Courier and Enquirer, and
this was to be effected by Noah purchasing one
half and Mr.. Tylee going out. This negotiation
was kept very silent between Noah, Webb and
Burrows, until it was completed. And then | al
once saw preparations made by all the parties to
change entirely the tone Of the Courier towards
the United States Bank. To my surprise and as
constituent, | now discovered that Mr.. Noah, who
had been laboring hard the year before to blow
up the Bank, was now laboring as hard to heal its
sores give it longer lease of life, and pepetuate
, its existence in the country.
Matters continued in this state until the commit
tee of Congress met, of which Mr.. Cambrelins
was chairman, or principal member, and the whole
. of the private negotiations which had terminated
in the change of the Courier and Enquirer, came
out at Washington. Twas in the city of Washing
ton at the time, reporting for the Courier, and no.
thing so much astonished me as this discovery, and
the story of the $4,000, promulgated to the world
I, In 1892, when the democIatc newspapers pressed
hard Mr. Webb, in relation to this business, he
came to me and begged very piteously for certif
cate of character. This was about the time tina
/ left the Courier. Well, with that generosit,
, towards an old friend which always underworld
; to cherish and exhibit, l sat down and gave hin
that certificate, stating in substance precisely hi.
position in relation to these attacks on the United
States Bank, and the subsequent change in the cha
racter and tone Of the paper. This certificate he
published, with the notifications and alterations ic