The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-03
From the Boston Courier.
The Attack on MIR. webster.

Inc Journal OF the proceedings III Congress on
Wednesday will show that Mr.. Charles Allen is
still at his dirty work Of assailing and dcfaming
Mr.. Webster. 1t must be remembered that Mr.
Aliens time is Short he has but two three days
against the defender of the Constitution. After
next Monday he must go home to Worcester, and
get what comfort he from the Free soil patriots
of the fifth district. by telling them how foully he
despatched the most eminent man in the country.
After this, we trow, little will be heard of Mr..
Charles Allen. The inhabitants Of his district have
pronounced at the polls that they not willing
to be represented again by the like of him. Mr..
Allen has n very peculiar sort of ambition, and
that is likely to recommend itself to the taste Of
very few persons beside him. Most people, whose
minds do not labor under singular perverson,
prefer to leave favorable impression upon the
world whom they withdraw from the public notice.
But Mr. Allen chooses to go out, like the foul end
Of q tallow candle, with most unsavory odor.
There is no accounting for tastes.
On the subject Of Mr.. Aliens vitupcration Of the
Secretary Of State, the following tattle has been
published in the sundry newspapers, ON the au-
thority Of Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald:
''The facts appear to be that Mr. Webster wrote
to the sub-treasurer, Mr.. Haven, that he had been
offered the State Department, but could not accept
it unless his friends would make up what he would
sacrifice, pecuniarily,, by accepting Mr.. Haven
showed the letter to collector Greeley, who at the
time told the contents to Mr.. Otis, member from
Maine, who was present. Mr.. Otis has divulged
the matter to Congressman II Is whispered that
a
G. Benson the New York funds. However, the
whole affair amounts to nothing moro than an abo-
lition attempt to get up brcak-down."
Probably this is the go,siping tale which was so
groundwork of his preposterous charge against
Mr.. Webster. person like Mr.. Allen would
snatch at any thing in such case There ia hardly
statement in the above paragraph that is not ut
terly false. Mr.. Webster wrote no such letter to
MIR. Haven as what is described above. Mr.. Haven
never showed any letter on the subject of Mr..
Webster's appointment to Mr.: Collector Greeley J;
nor did MIR. Greeley ever make any statement Of
the sort indicated above, to Mr.. Otis, or to any
body else. All these things pure fabrications.
The most complete and authentic denial of these
charges, and all others Of like nature made by
Mr.. Allen, were forwarded to Washington by the
telegraph yesterday afternoon. that they might be
brought forward in Congress, i'll case the subject
continued under discussion in the evening.
The public, we think, will pronounce this assault
upon Mr.. Webster TO be one of the most wretchcd
efforts of party malice that disgraced the
nails Of faction. Mr.. Webster, we have the best
reason to believe, has never received, for his
to the paltry salary assigned him by the laws of
the United States-a salary VIGOROUSLY made
quate to the expenses Of the Office, that no man,
without without a large fortune, can hold i four years
neither carried fortune with him into the office,
nor did he make any bargain or stipulation for
sums Of money in the event OF his assuming the
duties of that station. He took the office for the
emergency, well knowing that he must spend
vastly more than the SALARY would make good.
II has been for some time subject Of serious
thought with many persons of intelligence and
weight in the country, to devise some means to
provide an adequate support for the State Depart
mcnt at Washington. 1t has been thought not
only discredtablc TO the Government, but highly
preudcial 10 the public interest, that this Depart
mcnt should be sunted to such beggarly means Of
doing the diplomatic honors Of this great and pros
porous nation as are afforded by a salary Of six
thousand dollars year. Certainly, il the work of
tho State Department is worth doing, it ia worth
doing well, and is worthy of being dccently paid
for No one who knows any thing of Washington
and public business needs to be informed that the
salary OF the Secretary OF State ia next to nothing
rs to pay for the labor and cost of holding the Of
fee. Now, if it should so happen that any number
of spirited persons in the United States be-
ing DESTROYS simply that the State Department
should be kept in decent trim, and so main
tanned that every able man without Il fortune
should not be starved out OF tiff it should so
happen, We say, that these persons we're TO take
measures of their own accord, to meet any pccu-
MARY exigoncies arising in this Department, and
were to hold their purses in readiness to keep the
public servants free from cmbarrassmcnt--wc de-
sire TO know whether such proceeding would not
be citizcn-hke and praiseworthy act We de-
sire any man whose understanding lie not clouded
by party prejudice 10 say whether such pro-
cccding could be made the ground of charge OF
corruption against any individual concerned in il;
and whether il be not the most extravagant and
prcpostcrous of all cxtravngant and prcposterous
caumnics to assert, that the expectation of any
such arrangement on the part of public officer,
when he enters upon his Duties is to be regarded
in the light of bribel For own part must
say, and the public, we imagine, will he of the
same way of thinking, that whoever stands ready
to make up loss to Mr. Webster any other Off
Ger of the Cabinet, caused to him by his short al
lowancc from the treasury, is man who deserves
well Of his country. The bounty in such is
honorable TO both parties-to him who gives freely
and from motives of public spirit, and to him
whose services and lnbors appreciated and hon
ored by deeds Of 30 liberal a character.