The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
WHOLE NO. 21S.

the North and tonight we see how he has x;r.
dicsted the reputation which he aequifci at home.
and has illustrated the purpose for which he was
sent here
Three or four elections have passed in his die
trict, If ! mistake not, since the honorable mem
Der took his seat here Great inquiry has been
made among his constituents, and amongst all the
friends Of human liberty at the North, what has
our friend from the Worcester district done7
Echo answered "Nothing yet. Wait awhile
we shall hearo Sir, the wires, tomorrow. will
carry them the response IL will carry to them
the response that all that he has dcne-and II is
distinction which hope no other district in the
State of Massachusetts, will claim-has been this
nights attempt TO defsme one of its own citizens
Sir, the honor of every citizen Of Massachusetts
is dear to her care not what his condition in
life may he, great or little he Ia still Massachu-
setts man; aud it is Massachusetts, man who has
stood here tonight to attempt that defamation.
My colleague is the first, aud | trust the only one,
that has had the courage Il do not speak of physi-
cal, but the malignant courage) to stand up here,
and to attempt to aisgrscea con OF Massachusetts
Sir, the honorable member who has Just taken his
seat speaks Of the distinguished Secretary of
State as eating the bread Of the public. When
that honorable member has sat at his board and
has eaten his bread and psrtaken Of his salt was
be then studying this speech, and preparing to
make this assault?
MIR. Allen. Go on little more freely.
Mr. Ashmun. ] will 20 on lie admits then.
that he was doing 1t, sir ! do not rise now to at
tempt to vudicate the reputation Of the Secretary
Of State That attempt would be vain and super
fuous in me, and win not make IT, The coun.
try, the world will take care Of the reputation of
the Secretary OF State. The world and all future
time will do IT, rise TO do no such thing !
could not do il IL were to attemptit. His works
have done it, and the world will cherish IL when
my colleague and myself shall have passed away
But, sir, cannot be silent when hear Massa-
ohusetts man here to-night-upon no provocstion,
upon no excuse, much less upon any justihcation--
arise sg4 octe1per e.; SnvSt malignant A6AsSas-s.
tons, to detrsct from the character Of that man
What does 1t mean is there q concerted con-
spiracy which is developed in this attack Moro
than week ago, | saw In Northern paper-the
Boston Alias edited by highly respectable
gentleman-the letter of an anonymous CORES
pendent from this city, who said there was a
member here who was in possession Of facts
which would accuse the Secretary Of State of
treason and OF corrupton-those were the words
and that he was about to offer resolution Of in
quiry into those charges have had that paper
in my drawer for a week, waiting for the honor
able member to introduce his resolution. He has
been possessed Of these facts which tend to i'm
peach and degrade Mr.. Webster, for weeks
months, as understand him, as he says here to-
night
Mr.. Allen. The writer had no reference to me
Mr.. Ashmun. Sir, the attack Of this night JUS
tifes the inference which have drawn lit was
not the gentleman IL was compeer, his confeder-
ate, care not which Who the writer Of that
letter is, | do not know he is an anonymous
character. But the language Of that letter was
the same as that employed by the gentleman here
tonight. There is a conspiracy, then itis not
one man alone. There are two three and proba-
bly, more engaged in this business. lit WIS not
the gentleman before me, who was II 2 He stands
up tonight and pretends TO want an inquiry.
Why sir for weeks II is said this resolution Of In
quiry has been 10 some members drawer-in his
drawer or his confederate's, For weeks II has been
here known to these people that MIR. Webster was
guilty Of corruption, and Of treason, as this wri-
ter says. have listened every day and there
have been half dozen since when it was In order
to introduce the resolution, and have looked
around this II all to see who Was the bold defamer
that would dare to stand forth and put himself In
the responsible situation Of sesussr and of Of
,ITs a .,-.-.'on Sha-sins upon Mr. Webster
He has been silent, until one Of the.s Ia. 49,
of the night at the close Of tho session Whs S
one cares to offer resolution inquiring into
any Of the facts which he alleges, and then an
honorable member from the State of Massachu-
sctts gets up, and without any other responsibility
than his individual one-which admit to be the
same AZ that of everybody else-wthout Offering
resolution to inquire into any OF the facts Ia his
characteristic manner, scatters over this land and
over the world insiuua,ions intended for nothing
else than to injure, cruelty wound, and degrade
one Of his own fellow-citizens.
Now, sir, has that great man ever done him an
injury Has not the member experienced at the
hands Of that gentleman marks Of kindness Are
there not occasions which can be recalled by the
suggestion which make to him, that should make
him weep at the injustice which he has done TO
this man Sir, what is the amount Of the sug-
gestions which he has thrown out here
Mr.. Allen Will you name the particular obli-
cation am under to Mr.. Webster
Mr.. Ashmun. Has not Mr.. Webster ever treat
ed the gentleman courteously1 Is not that an
obligation which he has never returned Has he
not treated him with generosity Is not that an
obligation which he has never returned2 Has he
not ever done him justice Is not that an obliga-
ton which he has shown himself to DO incapable
ofreturniDg or approaching Sir, these may not
be pecuniary obligations but they are obligations
Of which gentleman and man should be sSnsi-
tive aud sensible. But what are the charges which,
by insinuation In the first place, and finally, by
working his courage up to the sticking point, by
assertion, the gentleman has made against Mr.
Webster7 They are, sir, that certain gentlemen
of Boston and gentlemen Of New York, knowing
of his pecuniary inability TO assume the RESPONSE
BILE position which he now holds, offered to con-
tribute to bear In part the expenses and burdens
Of Office (great as we al know they are,) provided
that he would accept IT, Was there anything be-
yond that1 or even that aver that so far as
am concerned-iand ] am free to say nay, sir,
am proud to say that | have enjoyed the high
honor Of an intimate intercourse with that gentle
man, and hold II among the proudest and richest
enjoyments Of my life)-I say Of what Is alleged,
know nothing. II may be so. do not take issue
with the gentleman on that point. IL he knows
it, 30 be it. | have nothing to say at present In
relation to the truth or falsty Of the allegation.
But put II to every honorable man, II there be
anything 10 IT, 10 the extent which that gentleman
has asserted, which would detract from the honor
Of MIR. Webster, supposing 1t be true that In gem
erosity and justice Il say justioe) to such man,
free trade and tariff men, merchants and mechsn-
les, are disposed 10 make him presents In token
Of their high respect and regard. Sir, wish my
colleague could ever 30 commsad the feelings or
his constituents as 70 receive from them some evi
dence ofthis kind Of their personal consideration
even even while he fails to get their votes, trial
after trial. II the facts be ms stated by my COL
league, IL there anything In that to impeach Mr..
Webster's integrity BIT, sir, | am not going
TO argue that question. Let that member who
wants TO charge corruption upon MIR. Webster,
be IL my colleague or any other gentleman TO
whom the writer In the Boston Afias refers, let
that bold defsmer stand forward, and, for one, as
the friend Of Mr. Webster, stand here ready 10
meet his attack And believe the generous
hearted men Of all parties Ia this House will
stand here TO meet II also. Let him put his in
situations into the form Of specific charges Of
corruption, in such manner that they shall be
angible-giving as names and stating what he
then guaranty that the friends Of
Mr.. Webster, and | believe evsry man In this
House, an friend Of justice, will not interpose