The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-12
The Charge against mr.. Webster.
From the OAsYIesfon rs. C.} Nescs.

There is certain license latitude OF speech
which should not be permitted to its members in
deliberative assembly. Mr.. Allen should not have
been allowed to Violate the order of proceedings of
the House Of Representatives for the purpose Of
persing the second executive officer OF the Govern
ment. This offence was aggravated by bringing
forward charge OF corruption At the very close Of
the session. Did the alleged proofs come into Mr..
Aliens possession only at the eleventh hours Was
his criminatory matter bottled up to be used when
SANDER might go out to the country, and be
spread on the wings of the wind, without the
utterer being contradicted where contradiction
would be most efectual? Did Mr. Allen intend
meanly to sneak in his charges, hoping that
time would not permit Mr.. Webster's friends to
deny their truth authoritatively? Be the secret
motive what it may, the ostensible design lies on
the surfacs. Tho purpose was to destroy the repu-
tation of man peculiarly obnoxious to tho party
with which Mr. Allen acts. His hackers, in the
House, were Mr.. Giddings and Mr.. Julian. If it
were possible for Mr. Allen to be damaged by such
proceeding III it were practicable to reduce the
party of which he 10 the organ to lower levelthan
il occupies-the springing OF such charge on the
House, by their advice, has too much the aspect of
. conspiracy not to induce every man of any pre-
tensions to honest dealing not to cloar his skirts Of
all connection with it.
But the design is as shallow AZ the means were
aagitious. Suppose it were proved that Mr.. Web
ster's friends had made up purse for him on con-
sideration of his devoting his time and talents to
the public service, how does this prove the consde-
ration to have been corrupt? We agree with the
editor Of the Boston Daily Advntisr, that il was
the highest compliment that could have been paid
20 Mr.. Webster's ability. II his friends pressed his
acceptance of the Office, and his plea for declining
it that he could not sacrifice large professional
income, the offer of pecuniary equivalent for this
sacrifice is evidence of nothing but their high ap-
probation Of the value of his public services II
must be quite satisfactory logic, wesuppose to Mr.
Allen and his Free soil friends, connect the con-
clusion that Mr. Webster lie the recipient Of bride
with the fact that, being Secretary Of State he is
the agent Of the Government to carry cut nego-
tiation, binding good faith, which is under the
control Of Congress. On such an hypothesis we may
imagine not only that Mr.. Webster is corrupt, but
also the Committee of Ways and Means which re-
commended the appropriation for the payment Of
the last nstalment Of the Mexican treaty We may
not stop here. We may suppose that the Secretary
of State had in view to divide some part of this
bride of ffty thousand dollars with such Of the
members of Congress as he could not hoodwink in
regard to his corrupt intentions. We say that it is
just about al rational that to presume bribery in
Congress, which has to pass the appropriation, as
in Mr.. Webster with regard to matter Of which
he il mere agent to carry their will into cxecu-
ton. How silly it must then have been in these
New York and Boston 6nnnciers to expend their
money on such a contingency as that Mr.. Webster
might succeed in lulling to sleep the watchful
picion of Congressional committee. that OF the
Ways and Means, and elude the argus eyes Of those
members who are on the alert to detect any scheme
to defraud the treasury.