Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-03-06
OUTRAGEOUS ATTACK ON Sec
RETARY WEBSTER.

kETAkI WEBSIEH.
In the House Of Representatives on
Tuesday evening, the bill aPpropria,ing
$4,000, 900 for paying The las' instalmeHt
to Mexico, was taken mp nnd debated.
Mr.. Allen (free soil Of Massacku-
sstts, said Tint Mr.. Webster would not
bs the man he would cntrust TO make
the arrangements for the payment OF
this money. He repeated what was no.
,orious, that when Mr.. Webster was
called to take the Office of Secretary Of
State, Ind receive the compensation
which the government deems sufficient
for the frugal support OF a republican Of
hcer, he entered into negotiation, the
result OF which was that he received
twenty-five thousand dollars, raised in
Wall street, New York, and like a
mount 10 State street, Boston. Mr..
Allen believed there were men in this
House who have knowledge Of the tact
-(Cries, shame them.") He trusted
the whig party had not so far departed
from its purity Of former days as to
stand up and vindica,e or palliate the
transaction and he trusted that the
democratic party, however divided, yet
retained enough OF ancient faith and an
cicnt honor to inquire into this matter.
and to put their foot of stern indignation
upon it, if satisfied OF the fact.
Mr.. Ashmun, (whig) Of Mass, re-
piled, and said his colleague was the on
ly one who dared Indignantly to stand
up and attemp, to disparage Mr.. Web
ster, to endeavor to dctame 30 disting-
uishcd fellow citizen. The hon ,rable
member has sat at his board, partaken
Of his salt /; did he then mediate this
deep design. But he (Mr. Ashmun,)
did not rise to vindicate Mr.. Webster
the world will take care ofthe Secretary
Of Safe, whose own works would vim
dica,e him.
He, with his colleague, hal seen
letter in the Boston Atlas, written by a
correspondent in this city, which says
that member Of this House is in pos
session Of facts which would convict
the Secretary Of State of treason and
corruption and that he wns about to Of
fer resolution of Inquiry. He (Mr.
Ashmun) had the paper in his drawer,
waiting for the member TO introduce his
resolution. There was connection some
where. He did not know who the wri-
ter is, bat the writer expressed himself
in words similar Is those used by Mr..
Allen tonight. There was a conspira
cy--not one man, but more. For weeks
the resolution may have been in the
members drawer, charging Mr.. Web
s'er with corruption and treason and
he (Mr, Ashmun) had been looking to
see who was bold enough to put him in
the situation Of an accuser. all was sill
ent until this late hour Of the night,
aud near the close oi,he session, and no
man dared offer resolution. But the
member gets up and without any other
responsibility than an individual one.
throws out to the world insinua,ions in
tended to cruelty injure a citizen Of his
own State. The member had expert
enced kindness at the hands of Mr..
Webster more than once. He should
weep for this injustice he had done him.
The charge is, that Mr.. Webstcr's PC
cuniary inability to take The position he
now holds has assisted him.
lie (Mr Ashmun) was proud to say,
that he had the honor Of confident al in
,crcourse with Mr.. Webster. II was
one Of the richest enjoymenss Of his life,
and he was not aware fwhat had been
asserted and charged. If so, he had
nothing to say in relation TO it. Ifso, 10
there anything in it, even to the great
est extent, to which it is asserte , to de-
tract from Mr.. Webster's honor. Sup
pose it true, that in generosity and JUS
ticc, free traders and tariff men, mer-
chants and mechanics are disposed TO
make him presents. with my col
league could so act to command that
kind Of considcration-is there anything
50 impe sch Mr.. Wehs,er's integrity p
LIT the bold deiamers stand forth for
nc stand FORTH to meet the attack
{ believe the honest and generou, heart
cd Of this House would meet it. Let
him pu, his charges in a specific form.
Mr.. Hiliard characterized Mr.. Aliens
remarks as a malignant assault on the
Secretary of State, and eulogised Mr..
Webster's general char actcr as a patriot
and man; and said that he stands strong
er in tine affections Of the people than
before these shafts were leveIled at him.
The committee rose a, ten o'clock,
and the House adjourned.