The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06

eQuest that gentlemen would resume their seats ,,
Mr.. Cartier rose to question of order-that
ar Bayly had no right to yield the hoor to Mr.
Ashmun.
Mir. Bayly. ! never pretended that had.
MIR. Cartier don't say that
Mr. Bayly. | was quite aware If IT. yielded
10 the gentleman, MIR. Ashmun supposing that
there was no objection.
Mr.. Burt | wish to make suggestion. I'M
derstand that the gentleman from Virginia does
not desire to occupy the floor for more than hfteen
minutes. propose, by unanimous consent, tnat
twenty minutes Of the hour be given to each OF
the gentlemen from Massachusetts,
IL was agreed to, and Mr. Allen was invited to
" 90 on
MIR. Allen then proceeded with his remarks.
He said that he had stated that no denial had
been made of the truth Of his statement. lie wish
ed his colleague to deny it now, that he might
have an opportunity to state few facts. His COL
league declined at least the House might so I'M
derstand him. Did his colleague mean to say |
that he had made denial Of the statement last
night? If he did, he would meet that denial
and he would here say that If there was denial
from responsible source he would be ready to
meet the issue whenever and wherever it could be
presented; and all he asked of the Secretary Of
State. or Of his friends was that they would give
him an opportunity to call up the evidence and
bring forwar d the facts. He here pledged himself
| before the committee Notwithstanding any denial
which might be made that II an opportunity was
| afforded him. ne would substantiate these facts
! This was the statement which he made That
the Secretary of State did write letter to Boston
after the offer had been made him OF Secretary OF
State and did ask what they would do for him il
he accepted the Office He did take the office, and
il was agreed to raise the of s25 900 in Boston
and like sum in New York. The sum Of s25, 900,
he believed was raised in New York but fell
short somewhat in Boston, the sum collected there
amounting to $40 600 lie who stood in the Office
OF Secretary Of State having such an arrangement
with business men and bankers, was not the most
suitable person for the management Of the pecu-
mary negotiations of the country. IL made no diff
ference if this money had been offered voluntsri
". Every one knew for what purposes CONNER
cisl men made such gifts. Any man Of independent
spirit in that position ought to have said that he
would have nothing to do with this thing lie
should suspect the gifts and those who made them.
Hn,asked if such influences, brought TO bear on
that officer not dangerous to the public JUS
tice and public interests and more especially dan
gerous when pecuniary concerns to large amount |
should be plasal in his charge ..J
His colleague had said that he Mr.. Allen had
been sent here for the cause OF human liberty and
certain other purposes and the gentleman from
Alabama Mr.. Hilliard had chimed in and sung
the same song This was only done for the pur-
pose of dyerting the ear of the House against the
truth, by creating prejudice against the speaker
by bringing up other considerations. Whatever
might be his opinions at home or here, hs~would
say that his course was frank, open, and~unds-
gused He published his speeches as he made
them, and did not write out one speech for the
South and another for the North. He was not in
trusive with his opinions here. The reflections
made upon him, so far from answering the pur-
poses of his colleague and confederate, must re-
coil upon their heads They could not hide the
true issue by attempting TO smother the matter,
by exciting party prejudices. He referred to a
co lliton existing in his colleagues district and
said that it was brought together by party inter-
cts and considerations of another character well
known.
II had been said, as another argument against
his remarks, that whatever had been done by or
for the Secretary Of State should not be touched
OF xposed, however the publicinterests demanded
it, because he WAS great man. This was the ar
gument Of the gentleman from Alabama, Mr.
billiard who was dazzled by visions of foreign
mission. fie should have admired that gentleman's
remarks as much his friend from South Caro-
lima MIR Holmes IL he had not disiaste for
bringing together fragments of speeches and parts
of sentences from this orator and that orator this
that--api the gentleman liked quotations he
had been to the feast of languages, and stolen
away the scraps Though Mr.. Webster was
great the world had had examples in all ages that
gres, men fall before temptations which the feeble
often resist. The example Of the greatest and
meanest 81 mem shows that intelligence and virtue
qV e. Tbs most brilliant nesct
should not conceal facts because MIR. Webster was
Massachusetts, man. He referred to the Otises
and Adamses and said that in those days bribery
and corruption were unknown. Men then accepted
Office not a road to wealth, but as highway to
poverty. Let any man defame the memory Of
such statesmen in Massachusetts,, and he would
| be the first to vindicate them Referring to the
charge Of ingratitude to Mr.. Webster, be desired
to know what favors he had received at his hands
| He knew not how cheap a man could be bought,
| but did not think that the fact Of dining with
| the Secretary Of State should close the mouth Of
a Representative of the American people Even
| though he should be offered q reward by the APP
pointment Of a friend or brother to some lucrative
office, he could not be bought with the price. In
conclusion, he stated that at some future time he
would take occasion to review the obligations Of
Massachusetts, to MIR. Webster.
Mr. Ashmun thought that the remarks of his
colleague scarcely needed a reply. The sense of
shame and Indignation that shone in every face,
was better and more effectual response than
would be any words be could utter Did not
| every one mark the indignation felt and uttered
all around the hall at the shameless charge made
last night? There was not an honorable man in |
the House who would not at such u charge, cry |
out shame! shame He WAS coming directly |
to the point. The gentleman charged last night |
and had renewed the charge to-day, that, before
accepting the office of Secretary Of State, MIR. |
Webster entered into a negotiation, by which he
made condition that, if he accepted the Office he
should receive from certain bankers in State |
street, Boston, and Wall street, New York, n
large sum Of money-some $50 000-and that that !
contract had been fulfilled so far as New York
was concerned and nearly fulfilled so far as Bos-
ton was concerned. This was charge Of cor
ruption IL was n charge that he had accepted |
that office for the purpose Of favoring men of
business, and 1t was nothing less lie was author
lied TO say that in its length and BREADTH in the
aggregate and in the detail it was an unqualified
falsehood. lie was authorized TO say, and upon |
that authority did say that it was an unqualified
falsehood
MIR Allen. State your authority.
MIR Ashmun. Now the issue was made the
challenge had been accepted Let the defamer of
the Secretary Of State carry out his threats
This was all he had to say; but he would
state
MIR. Allen. Mr.. Chairman
Mr.. Ashmun, Take your seat, sir. You will
have time enough when get through. You shall
not interrupt me.
lie had now done what he was not authorized |
to do last night Having authority to do this
now, there could be no mistake about the matter.
The gentleman had said, that whatever else he
might be, he was characterized by frankness.
This would be news to some people in Massa- |
chusstts. IL would be news in the gentlemans
own village. II WAS news to him. IL his charac.
ter had been one of frankness through life, then |
he had not been informed correctly. As evidence
of his frankness that gentleman with these pur-