The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-21


COLONEL WEBB.-If any one man has been more
unfortunate, among our contemporaries than any
other man, il Is Colonel Webb. The sam OF
$52,675 BIZ, from the United States Bank, was
lucky hit-the Bankrupt Law was another; but, to
secure the benefits of that act, he was compelled
to take shot in the leg from " Tom Marshall, of
Kentucky" Since that time, he has had con-
slant run of the worst kind of bad luck, and has
been bamboozled beyond all endurance Human
sympathy, by an infallible instinct, takes the side
of the prosecuted party, wherever there is persecu
ton. Thus it is, that our sympathy impels us to
protest against the prosecutions OF Colonel Webb.
Just look at them
During the Mexican war, fired with patriotic
ardor TO serve the country he applied to Col. Polk
for Brigadier Generals commission, and, for
some time, was decoyed into cordial support of
the plans of the administration But the commits
sion was not forthcoming, and Father Richie
turned the whole affair INTO a cruel hoax. 1t was
quite natural for Col Webb, or any other man, to feel
it; but 1t was piece of cruelty and tampering with
mans feelings and his honest patriotism, that is
not TO be excused. 1t was IN bad taste for Father
Richie TO chuckle over it as he did, although the
old man has found out since that Colonel Webb Is
not to be trampled on with impunity.
But the trick which Mr.. Polk and Gov. Marcy
played off upon their victim, was nothing to what
afterwards occurred Mr.. Polk knew that Colonel
Webb was a candidate for the mission to Berlin,
and had all his papers and vouchers made out and
yet, Mr. flanagan, on the last night of Congress,
was slipped in and confirmed by the Senate, Just at
the moment when they would do almost anything
for the Executive signature to the General Appro-
priation bill. This was adding insult to injury
upon Colonel Webb.
But did he give up? Not bit of it. He cast
about him, and put in for Spain. Madrid is nice
pIace-Spain is fine country, full of beautiful
senoras and senorltas, and classic and romantic
associations The Moorish ruins of Alhambra,
and the old monasc castle of King Philip of the
grdlron to the fine, imaginative and antiquarian
mind of Col Webb just to see them, and to write
about them, would have been equal to the outfit
and the embassy Of nine thousand year, to say
nothing OF the moonlight evenings on the Guadal-
qulver. Col Webb, therefore, put in for Spain.
He was tantalized from day to day with hopes and
promises and provisoes. He went to the same
church with the President; he pulled the cabinet
setotin, and in the aggregate he had never seen
such splendid administration, from the President
down to George w. Crawford, of the War Office
|
thence wasted, all for nothing. Mr.. Barringer, of
North Carolina, got the mission to Spain. The
forlorn hope of the committee of three failed to
| shake the decision of Old Zack, and Col. Webb
failed.
This was enough to break down the faith of any
man in the delusve promises of men in power.
| II shock the nerves of our contemporary, and he
| was compelled to travel tor his health. lie took
1 L
might be benefited by the cool fresh air and cold
fresh water of the lakes. But while his mind was
yet agitated, he stopped at Detroit. and dined with
Gen. Cass. His report betrayed the extent of his
suferings and the unspeakable agony Of his wrongs,
from his confused account Of the grounds Of his
respect for Gen. Cass. But he finished his tour,
and returned to his post, resolving for once to rem
der good for evil, and to support the administration,
as the only chance Occasionally, the subject of
nepousm, he has run off the track but, upon the
whole, he has done better under the circumstances
than anybody had any reason to expect.
| But this does not end the chapter of Col Webb's
grievances. 1t would seem that the Hudson
River Railroad Company have taken him IN hand,
end victimized HIM. 1t appears that our cotem-
porary granted the right of way through his lands
near Tauytown, on certain conditions, one of
which was, that himself and family and friends
should be among the free list of passengers; and
that now the company say they can't allow 1t; that
the family and friends of the traverser are too nu-
merous, and that the list must be limited. This
is the last infection, and as one of the friends OF
our amiable contemporary, we protest against it.
! But justice does not sleep for ever. The VIZ
tuous and patriotic, if they have faith, will day
/ get their reward. So It Is with our contemporary
His faith has stood the test of the crucible and IN
his final triumph all Wall street will rejoice. One
editor Of the Courier has been elected the presi-
dent of a university a second has been elected to
the Legislature and the third-the Apollo Belvi-
dere--ihe head OF the frm-isapponted to Vienna.
"The golden dream is out" our contemporary
has the commission in his pocket, and draft on
the sub.treasury for the $1,000 outfit. Good
Seriously, however, for once-this last act of
the Clayton cabinet Is the most lauehabe they
have yet perpetrated, and they will find it so before
the next Senate adJouns.