The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
Mr.. WEBSTER ARRAIGSED- A SCENE IN THE
HOUSE.

Tuesday, February 25th, the subject of the
payment of the Mexican Instalments being under
consideration in the House Of Representatives
Mr.. Allen Of Massachusetts, boldly questioned
the propriety of intrustng the payment Of the in.
stslments to the Secretary Of State The report
Of the debate, which was exceedingly spirited and
of great Importance to the country, we copy from
the Daily Globe
Mr.. Allen said he was glad to hear the inquiry
Of the gentleman from South Carolina, IMr
Burt, how it happened the payment of these in
stslments was arranged by the Secretary Of State,
instead Of the Secretary of the Treasury. He
knew very we'll that in the negotiation of treaties
the State Department was the proper agent Of
the Government But when such negotiations were
closed and there remained 10 be done nothing
but the payment Of money from the Treasury, it
would seem that the discharge Of that duty
properly belonged 10 the head Of the Treasury
| Department
II he was fight in assuming that position, Mr.
A. was opposed to any transfer Of official duty
from the officer who is presumed TO he selected for
his fitness to take charge of the pecunisry con-
Germs OF the Government, TO another functionary
whose qualifications may be OF an entirely oppo-
site character MIR. A. had heard no reason as
signed for a departure from that mode of pro.
ceeding which clearly appeared to be fit and prop
er, except the statement that the bect had been
considered in the Cabinet of the late President by
whom the duty had been devolved upon the late
Secretary Of State. However that may be, Mr.. A.
said that Mr.. Clayton declined to interfere with
the business ofthe Treasury, and refused TO enter
into any negotiations respecting it, But il so hap
pened that soon after the appointment of the pres
ent Secretary Of State that officer assumed the
whole business Of arranging the payments which
were due by treaty to Mexico. He would not
sSy that within three days from the induction Of
the Secretary into Office, Messrs Corcoran &
Riggs. Vs-9 ssTsn-e5 81 the pysScl2c ;eh of dis
bursting the immense sums OF money which were
TO be paid to Mexico, but he believed that the ne
gotiation was completed with very remarkable
promptitude and to the exclusion Of all compe-
tition.
| know Of nothing in the transaction which
| tends TO implicate Corcoran 4 Riggs or any
other bankers whose names have been mentioned
10 this transaction. ! see nothing dishonorble or
improper in them. There is nothing on their
part so far as this transaction is concerned which
differs from the ordinary course of business 1t
is not because | impute anything improper to
these bankers that have alluded to this subject,
but because the business ought to have been
transacted by the Secretary of the Treasury. If
1t is necessary that the business should be trans
acted by means Of bankers, | can see no objection
to 1t. But it is certainly very dangerous exper-
iment to take this matter from the hands of that
officer who is selected, or who is presumed to he
selected for his fitness to perform the duties of that
Office and place it in the hands of another selected
for no such qualifications
But, sir, | have further objection against this
transfer of duties, which shall now bring for
ward.
This business Of negotiating means for carrying
out pecuniary concerns with a foreign Govern
ment has been spoken Of as matter of great
delicacy. But il becomes q matter of greater
delicacy, when the Secretary Of State, without any
reason, assumes upon himself the direction of
these matters Now, among all the men connect
ed with the Government, he is the most excep-
tiouable man to have any transactions of pecu.
mary concern with bankers and brokers; he
who holds his place as Secretary of State less as
servant and stipendiary Of the Government, than
a servant and stipendiary of bankers and bro
kers.
Sir, speak these things with reluctance, but
they shoYld be said by somebody, and as no gentle:
BbeaK " c9S Which, are notorious, as notorious 10
New York and Boston, IL not in this city as any
other transaction in the recent history of the
try. The Secretary Of State comes here, not for
the compensation which the laws of your Gov.
eminent allow to that officer as o remuneration
for his services, but he comes here for much
higher compensation-with far greater pecuniary
inducements furnished him--and furnished him
by the bankers Of Wall street and State street
Now, repeat that it is fact which Is not only
notorious in Boston, but In the whole country
that when that gentleman was called upon to take
the office of Secretary Of State-a position which
he now holds-and to receive for pay a compensa.
| ton which the Government deems sufficient for
| the frugal support Of the officers who shall be
called to perform the duties Of that ofce-he en-
tered into an arrangement, by which 1t was agreed
that large sum of money should be raised for
him, as an inducement to assume bis present pc.
sition. Twenty-Five thousand dollars was to be
raised in Boston, as the final result Of that ar
rangement, aud the like sum in the city Of New
York. have ii from authority which cannot be
doubted, that such an arrangement, proceeding
from the suggestion Of the Secretary himself, was
actually made and have most satisfactory rea-
sons for believing that the arrangement was act
ually carried out by the raising of s25 900 In
New York, and about $50 900 in Boston.
! believe there are men within the sound Of my
voice who can sustain me In these assertions |
believe there are persons within this Hall who
have some particular information upon this very
subject
Now, sir, ! do not know how the fact strikes
the House that the highest officer in your Gov
eminent, with the exception of the President,
should take office upon the understanding and in
ducement of receiving large sums Of money from
certain description Of men doing business In our
cities | do not know with what degree OF appre-
hension gentlemen may regard the influences
which such state Of things must throw around
the official stipendiary.
There was time in the earlier and purer days
OF the Republic, when no party could have been
found which would not condemn the transaction,
regardless OF the man, or OF the official influence
he might possess in the Government And will
parties In this House approve or palliste III Has
the Wing party so far degenerated from It's pro-
fessed character at former period that 1t will
seek TO conceal or openly vindicatc the dangerous
abuse
But, sir, however II may be with the Wbig
party let me cast my eye for moment upon the
other side of the House. ! desire to know In
what light such arrangements are regarded by
the Democratic party. Divided and broken a.
that party IL, trust It retains enough OF ancient
profession and faith to regard this transaction
with stern indignation. -"Thers was Brutus
once that would have let the internal devil hold
his place in Rome" as soon as . stipendary Of
Wall street and State street
trust the members Of the Democratic party
will be disposed to probe this matter TO the bot
tom have but exposed the surface They will
then be able to determine bow far II Is expedient
unnecessarily TO place pecuniary negotiations Of
the Government, In the accomplishment Of which
fortunes are TO be made by agents Of the Govern
ment, In the hands Of any man who stands not
before the country In an attitude OF independ-
ence OF those who WELD the money power Of the
country.
Mr. Asbmun. 1t Is accomplished II Is ac-
compished The purpose-the great, the sub
lime purpose--for which the Democracy and Free
Soilism Of the Worcester district Of Msssachu-
setts united two years ago, ID accomplished IL
IL developed Sir, great things were expected
a vcnutst;op mt suall M home VAS heralded