The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-04-18
MR.. wEBsTER'S PENSION

upon him, Is heavier than the neither milestone
MIR. WEBSTER'S PENSION.r
For long time it has been represented in the
newspapers that the sum of 800, 900 had been
raised by certain class in Massachusetts, to en-
able Mr.. Webster TO return to public life and sus
tain The peculiar interests of that class. In the
excited debate on Thursday, MIR. Yancey of Ala
bama brought forward the same charge
On Saturday, MI. Winthrop OF Boston. made
the following explanation :. BY authority 20
:" Mr.. Webster does not own a single dollars
worth OF stock in any manufacturing company
whatever; nor is dollars worth of such stock
held by others in trust for him or his family, or
in any way to be beneficial TO him or them NOR
Is he interested, in any way, in any mandatory
whatever, nor in the rise or fall in any sort of
manufacturing stock property; nor has any
transaction of any kind taken place on condition of
MIR. Webster 8 remaining in the Senate, or leayinp
the Senate
Mr.. Webster has disposed of certain valuable
western lands at prices not exceeding their actual
value which he has been paid. An ARRANGEMENT
intended for his benefit which he regards as high
ly honorable 10 him, and which, | NAV saw is as
high compliment as was ever paid to any pub.
lie man IN our country-beng the provision of an
annuity for llte-was announced to him here last
month.
80 The gentleman making the communication
accompanied it with this declaration and state
menI of its origin and objects:
This fund has been raised freely and cheer
fully, by your friends, in evidence of their CRATE
full sense of the valuable services you have rem
dered to your whole country. They have done
1t without your sacton or knowledge, and with
some reason to imagine that their purpose might
not be entirely acceptable to you. Your friends
are numerous; the same who for five and twenty
years have rallied round you. But time will do
It's work on all of US and when increasing aoe
shall render labor irksome to you, and call for
repose, these friends many Of them, may be in
their graves. If what has been done be not need
fuI for the present, it may yet hereafter tend 10
the comfort of your advancing years, and serve TO
recall to your mind friends whose hearts have been
with you
- In this communication, there is not the slight
est reference to Mr. Webster's rema ming in Con-
gress, or TO his leaving Congress; still less to
his support of any interest, any policy, or any
party in the country. its motive is declared to
be grateful sense of the valuable services rem
dered the whole country And | take it upon
myself to say, sir, because know, that this pro-
ceeding originated with persons deely if not ex-
cluslvely interested in commerce of the country
Nor is it difficult to understand how those inter
ested in that commerce, as well as those who are
at all times grafied with the preservation of honor
able peace, and with able and successful de-
fence of just maritime rights. should find cause to
be grateful for the public services of Mr.. Web
steT.
" But 1t is my purpose, on this occasion to ex-
plain, and not eulugze. Such an explanation
was due to Mr.. Webster; but not TO him alone.
II was due to the honorable and generous men,
my constituents, who have been parties to this
transaction, and upon whom the charge of having
npUetnnpH ff, oIy
terests Of their own, 10 gross and unworthy i'm
putation. 1t was equally due to the Common
wealth OF Massachusetts, whose immediate and
hOnored senator and servant Mr. Webster is. He
is here as no agent of private individuals. He
holds his seat by the free and unsolicited suffrages
OF the Deglslatureof Massachusetts. He was elect
ed by the honest and independent members of that
body two years ago, as he had been several times
before, because his principles were known, and
his ability proved and because in maintaining
those principles, with the unsu Ipassed power
which he has uniformly exhibited, they believed
that he would advance the best interests not
merely Of their own fellow citizens, without dis
Iincion of pursuit party, but the best interests
of the whee people Of the Union"
Mr. Yancey in reply, maintains that the original
statement ia substantially confirmed by the author
lied declaration Of Mr.. Winthrop. The country
will judge for itself of the merits Of this annuity
1t is far from gratifying spectacle to see Sena-
tor of the United States, who should be above all
suspicion, actually supported by particular class
of the community. 1t would be contrary to I'm
man nature, that public man, SO situated, should
act with the maninsss and freedom worthy of 81
distinguished post. He must naturally lean to
the interests of those who have so munifcentlv
provided for his wants, and he is, in truth, The
representative Of few, instead of the whole ofa
Sovereign State.
Mr.. Yancey said
J am very glad that the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, (Mr. Winthrop. y has At iast.
by authority. given this matter substantive firm
and shape II seems was not very wrong in the
views | took in relation to this subject, although
the friends Of the Ex.Secretary of State, in pre-.