The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-08
From the Boston Journal.
The Secretary OF State.

1 Iho bccrctory OF state.
| We remember having heard, shortly after Mr..
Webster took the office, that Of his wealthy
friends in this city, and in New York, had made
up handsome purse for him; and we heard the
statement with most sincere qualification, consid-
erng 1t as one of those acts which confer honor ON
| both giver and receiver We made no inquiry
about IT then, nor have we since-taking for grant
ed that 1t was true We trust that 1t was true and
shall be very sorry TO learn that il was not.
Mr.. Webster has devoted the best part of his life
to the service of his country, and in SO doing has
| made no ordinary sacrifce. Without working
half as hard az he has done, he might have COM
manded business worth 100000 per annum for
the last ten years, and his expenses in the mean
time would have been at least one half less but he
has been continually urged and pressed to continue
in public life, and he has most nobly responded to
the calof his fellow citizens without looking to the
| effect on his own fortune.
There are men in this community who are capa-
bic of aPpreciating this sacrifice; men who have
wealth at command, and souls large enough and
| liberal enough to make good use of il. They are
| neither bankers nor brokers, have they any
thing TO ask Of the Government for themselves or
their friends. They are true patriots, who desire
it Is from such men. II from any, that Mr. Web
ster has received-not bribe but-a token of res.
pect for his great public services, and partial in
demniy for his greatp personal losses-susained, ~
we have said, by utter heedleesness of his own
pecuniary interest in his patriotic devotion 10 the
public good It il these whole souled men who have
done this deed, II II has been done-who are will
ing to do it, II II has not been DONE God bless
them for il! May their years belong in the landI
May their ability to do such things never be less!
May their warm hearts never be chilled, and may
those who succeed them follow in their footsteps!
But our community il not wholly made up Of
such men,. We have among us those who do not
understand what generosity IL; patriots who seek
for public offices q the means Of filing their pock-
cts who have neither will nor ability to serve the
country; who cannot comprehend the idea of q
mans taking an Office with any other motive than
TO secure honor and pro6t-and, first of all, profit
whose talents, displayed to The best possible adyan
tage, would never command 81, 600 year; who
think an annual expenditure Of such sum down
right squandering, and the man who makes it
twisting by protesting to be patriots preach
ing up uiraisIns popular hobbies, find their
way int Congress, where they employ their slen-s
70 Rafd snd saa ID
regulations. tits such as these who have recently
attempted tofslander Mr.. Webster; who, in the
very last days Of the session, when there is not a
minute 70 be spared from public business, apAen
hey knois fhae an iavestigasion cannot be had ma
iiciously spit out their venom in the shape of
charges .chieh thy also knoo TO be false, with tho
hope and belief that, before the truth can be shown
they viii have poisoned the public mind past ali
cure. Would True MEN have taken such mean
and pititpl course?
b And yet We do not regret that this attack has
been made. II cannot hurt Mr.. Wcbeter-he has
not lived TO this day and built up character and
lame which are worldwide, to be overthrown by
any such ouepourings of malice; tho SANDER will
leave no stain upon his fair escutcheon but il will
draw upon The slandorers the public gaze, and the
gaxers will zee them in all their meanness, and
measure them In all their ttleness, and scorn them
and spurn them for their wickedness. The great
public mind win be led to scan over again the
ideeds Of Daniel Webster, from his contest with
Hayne 70 the present day-how he has defended
our glorious Constitution as other man ever did
or could defend it; how he has twice saved the
country from foreign war; how he has preserved it
rom inteFnal discord-and then it will look down
upon these maligners, and say WAat haze these
nsn eUsr done for heir oscn honor the public ,Dei
fare? " fEfT 49, 'tlIT'-1f
The only thing we really regret in the case is,
that Massachusetts, should ever have sent to Con-
gress man capable Of descending 30 low in the
scaieof Political turpiude he has from whom the
false charge cmanatcd.