The republic., 1851-03-19
From the NetD Orleans Picayune.


The fierce attacks made on the 2SLh ultimo by
Frcesoilers in the House of Representatives on the
personal character Of Mr. Webster--accusng him
of venality and corruption in having received a
gratuity of fifty thousand dollars from friends in
New York and Boston to enable him to accept the
Office of Secretary Of Statc-has a significance far
beyond that of enmity to the man, or zeal for the
purity of public servants. Tho commanding posi-
ton which MIR. Webster has taken in regard to the
Compromise measures Of the last Congress, his at
tude of stern hostility to the Abolition agitators
and their schemes, and the power which his great
and unsurpassed abilities bring to the side of
peace and Union, have made him the most dreaded
obstacle in the path of the anti slavery fanatics It
is for these things that they hate him. To dostroy
his influence by weakening confidence in his in
egrity, and thus to disarm Of all moral force that
mighty intellect which is the most formidable ad
versary of their schemes by degrading it into an
object Of suspicion and dislike; for these ends it s
evident this foul exhibition OF malgnity was got
up in the House. The rnncorous motives were too
transparent to be hidden under hypocrtical preten
sons of astdious regard for the honor of the States
and the purity of public men.
The history of these men shows that they are not
honest in their camors for public morals; but they
are moved by sinister motives now in their as
sumption of puritanism in regard TO Mr.. Web
ster's alleged reception of gifts from the public.
1t is by no means the first time that Mr.. Webster
has been known to receive large gratuities from
his admirers; only the first time that these men
have undertaken to find fault with it. Once or
twice before, certainly, when the public service
needed his great Abilities to the total neglect of his
private interests, and the abandonment of the pro-
fcssion upon which provision for his family de-
pends, men OF large means have contributed to in
dcmnify him in some degree for the personal sacr-
fees which the country cxacted from him.
We have never heard that these contributions
were made with any purpose of influencing a vote
in any particular way, or that they demanded any
specific return other than the entire application of
great talents to the service of the whole country.
But the Same accusation of vcnality has been made
before, by political advcrsaries and personal enc
mics, for the same offence, Of accepting from tho
public esteem compensation for the inevitable
sacrifices OF giving up his mind to the of the
State These attacks never injured Mr.. Webster
in Massachusetts, among his immediate constitu-
ents, with the people of the Union, who, in spite
of the petty calumnies, have continued to look
TO him as the noblcst and abest among the pa
triots and statesmen of the whole country. The
abuse of the sordid left not speck upon the bright
ness of his escutcheon. During all these trials
when the envious and malignant were assailing
him, the same men who are now his bittcrcst enc
mics were the staunchcst Of his defenders and the
warmest of his eulogists. They treated with per-
feet acorn the imputations upon his honor for ac-
cepting these tributes from the admirers of his
public life. Some of them were bis jealous sup
porters for the Presidency, and recognised him as
their most able and trusted leader. Never until
he frowned upon Abolitionism, and raised his voice
of power and effect against the madness of the
hour, did single word escape them, in regard to
him, which was not redolent Of praise and admi
ration. Allen, and Mann, and Giddings never dis
covered n blomish in his conduct, and never would
have discovered one, though ten times fifty thou
sand dollars had been bestowed upon him by pub
lie subscription, if he had not separated himself
from them and their schemes, and put forth his
mighty strength TO roll back the current of wild
disorder with which they menaccd overthrow to
| the peace, and destruction to the Union of the
States. He has become their enemy; and they re
new the very ISLANDERS they had rcpudiated, and
are convicted Of unprincipled hypocrisy, making
themselves ridiculous and their malice impotcnt
Such has been the general verdict ON the
dalous scene in the House Of Representatives The
sense Of the House was manifestly that Of disgust