New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-05
WASHINGTON.
The Webster Charges-The "Express 1.-THE
River and HarbOr Btll-Presidential Cam
didates In Trou bIe-Piety of Cen. Cass and
Mr.. Dickinson.
dencn OF he
upon.

dtdutee
Mr.. Dickinson.
Correspondence The Tribune
WAsHINGToN Sunday, March ?
find that nv statement in The Tribune of Fri
day, with reference to the charges brought
Mr.. WEBSTER, by Mr.. ALLEN Of Massachusetts,
IL misunderstood as an endeavor to make out
bad case against the Secretary Of State. regret
TO find that several gentlemen here have placed
that construction upon it, and find it attacked in
the Express" as an " elaborate and specious
statement, meaning, suppose, an unfair one
Whatever may have been inferred, certainly in
tended to convey no such meaning as that there
was good ground for suspicion that the charges
were true. The whole scope Of the charges were
stated 20 that there was nothing behind upon
which to hang further Developments, and the ap
pendix to the statement, in substance, was that
it was wholly disbelieved on both sides Of the
House further stated in telegraphic dispatch
that nobody believed the story and know OF no
one except the intimate political associate OF the
member who made the charges who pretends to
believe them.
Twill further say, that it appears that the bust
ness of negotiating with reference to the pay
ment of the Mexican Indemnity installment was
transferred from the Treasury to the State depart
mept before Mr. WEBSTER became Secretary OF
State The reason for it probably was that the
Mexican Minister, who could only address himself
to the State Department, was endesvorlng 70 OBJ
tain some change In the mode OF payment. Inc
whole business was therefore, by direction OF the
President transferred from one Departmental the
other; as il was not urgent, 1t lay until General
TAYLOR death There is some difference between
this state of facts and the charge that MIR. WEB
sTER obtained the transfer Of the business TO his
Department for purposes oil speculation. but In
dependent of all this there is something DeTg SPICY
in the idea of Mr. WEBsTER's setting out upon
real money making speculation of any Sort
thing he never did in bis life, and would at know
how to do. He would Mt know how to make
dollar to save his soul, except as regular lee Tor
professional services. And then he would scod
his client for paying him too much. de would
have no difficulty, however, In eTpeRding tue re-
venues of the wealthies st monarch in christendom,
il he bad them.
Asa Wing, "prtre and simple" have no pre-
iudices against lMr. WEBSTER, as l have not
against thoae Wings who differ with him. Inc
"EZpress" will doubtless withdraw the lntma'
tion its language conveys, and hope Will prac'
tice little more OF that sprlt OF conculasloh
which is so much needed.
The River and Harbor bill in the Senate has
thrown the Opposition in the Senate into the
greatest possible confusion. In addition TO the
developments of the Senatorial Caucus, It appears
that there has been a double plot against Zen.
from the West, and ultras in the South. The
former hope be will oppose the bill in way that
will be understood by the people and the latter
that he may lose Southern confidence by support
ing il.
The position taken by Gen. CAss in his speech
was in every way worthy of the slippery genius
of NJ. VAN BUREN. He commenced by wonder
ing that every body didn't know that he favored
Rivers and Harbors, and ending by marking OUT
such a course as must inevitably defeat the bill.
He indorsed the principle only to a very narrow
extent, and proposed TO cut down the bill to
correspond.
Mr.. DOUGLAS it is said. is not at all dispeased
At the embarra,sments of Gen. CAss, and is play !.
ing the bold game Of standing by the interests oil
the West. Gen CAss and his fast friends are oil
course doisg every thing in their power to kill the
bill Including those who dare not refuse to vote
for il. there is probably dead majority of ten IN
its favor and It's friends stand determined 70 car.
Nv il at the hazard Of all else. In this state oil
affairs. the Appropriation bills are Ia some danger
a, thew are all behind and there is but one Legs
la,ive day in which to dispose Of them. There
are also three treaties to be ratified and mum
her of appointments TO be acted upon aPPre'
bend that there can be no extra session. as nos
more than half Of the members OF the next Oon'