The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
THE CHARGE AGAINST Mr.. WEBSTER.

THE CHARGE AGAINST Mr.. WEBSTER.
We present an ample report of the cbaroa
made by Judge Allen in the House of R4nre.
sentatives, against Mr.. Webster, and of the de.
fence by Messrs Ashmun and Hi,hard
Judge Allen believed, on the strength Of evil
dence in his possession, that fund of fifty thou
sand dollars had been pledged to derray the ex-
penses of MIR. Webster, provided he would ac-
cept the office of Secretary of State-tbat of this
amount the sum Of fOrty-four thousand had been
raised-s25. 900 in New York, sls 600 in Bos-
ton-chieay from capitalists merchants, and
manufacturers.
We can see no evidence that he brought this
matter before the House wantonly, or from ma.
lignant motives The subject under considera-
ton was the bill making provision for the pay
ment Of the instalments due to the Mexican
Government, and authorizing the Secretary of
State to superintend the business Mr. Allen,
supposing that the Secretary might have been
laid under some obligation by the reception Of
the fund referred to- objected to this part Of the
bill-not impeaching, we understood him, the
honesty Of the Secretary, but recognising, as
every man must do, that law of human nature
which disposes it TO reciprocate kind Offices
/ MIR Webster is great 1s.aB, bat greatness
cannot plead exemption from the rules Of pro-
priety which govern ordinary mOrtals He has
high reputation abroad, but the reputation Of
the country rests not upon his merits, but its
own.
That large sum of money was raised for him
by moneyed men in Boston and New York to
enable him to accept the office of Secretary Of
State, nobody thinks Of denying Judge Allen
offered to produce the evidence in support Of his
statement the House refused to hear it. Mr.
Julian, friend of his, moved a Committee Of In
vestigation the House rejected the motion. The
fact that the money was raised, is universally ad-
mitted it is notorious in Washington the
Webster papers of Boston concede it. The
Boston Daily Advertiser says
alt is a transaction in which, il it were proper
to lay before the public matter that in its ma
ture is strictly personal all the parties to it might
take an honorable pride. IL the friends of Mr..
Webster, from their estimate of his public ser
vices, have voluntarily rendered to him q pecu-
MARY compensation for the sacrifice which he has
made by the acceptance of his present Office, in
the abandonment of the practice Of his profes-
sion, in which he held the highest rank and If
Mr. Webster, after having devoted the labors Of
q long life, exceeded in industry, perseverance,,
and the highest intellectual exertion, by the Ia
bors of no man living, either in the duties of his
profession or in the public services, finds him
self at this period of his life in condition to
need, in the discharge of obligations such as every
man owes to his family, some equivalents for the
sacrifices which he has voluntarily made, 1t Is
difficult to conceive on what ground either the
offer or the acceptance Of such equiv alent can
be justly complained Of"
The Boston Courier says
1t has been for some time subject Of serious
thought with many persons OF intelligence and
weight in the country, to devise some means to
provide an adequate support for the State De-
partment at Washington. 1t has been thought
not only discreditsble to the Government, but
highly prejudicia to the public interest that this
Department should be stinted to such beggary
sssas of doing the diplomatic bonors of this great
s0d prosperous nation, as are afforded by salary
Of IL thousand dollars year. Certainly, If the
work Of the State Department is worth doing, it
Il we14A doing well, and is worthy of being de-
ssntly paid for. No one who knows anything Of
WashiaGsea and public business, uueds to be in
formed tksa the salary of the Secretary OF State
is NEXT = nslhing as TO pay for the labor and cost
Of holds1e ne sliee Now, if it should SO happen
that anv nsnpsr ofpublc-sprited persons in the
United S,nIes. being DESTROYS simply that the
State DepastnsAt should be kept in decent TRIM
and so maintained thaS every able man withOuts
fortune should ~ Se' starved out Of it'll IL
should go hsppes, we say, that these persons were
to take measures, OF their own accord, 70 nv
any pecuniary exigencies arising IN TINS pspa
ment and were to hold their purses in readiness
to keen the public servants free from embarrsSs-
ment-we desire to know whether such proceed
inc would not be a citizen-like and praiseworlhy
act"
Here is an admission OF the fact, with eiaOO'
rate attempts at Justification.
We barbor no i'll FEELING towards Mr. WEB
ster His course on the Slavery Question IS
opposed to all our notions OF Right; but we 40
not assume to question his right to change his
opinions and his conduct with them Nor have
we any disposition to make war on mans PR
vate character, because we differ from him pol''i-
oally. But the transaction referred to does not
in the Indictment OF Mr. Webster's friends, affect
his honor or honesty; and no~ that IL mas oeen
brought before the country. Il is clearly egiti-
mate subject for public animadverslon'
The important question to Fnloa s'''
is, Ought public servant to pc depenuens Up
certain classes OF individuals FOR support
high officer Of the Governn'en' a0' wiz"
exclusive regard to great natiofal Interests
should stamp his whole course, WINE unue'
pecuniary obligations to particular in..' -
Want of room in this number obliges US "
.n.rsra ,,r,hsr rsmarts IN che subject we
shall resume them next week
New YoRk SENATOR In the New YORK sen
alta, February PC, the bill providing TOT Tue e,o
ton Of a United States Senator vas A,ne.s
changing the time of election to the toor'a wv :.
day in March. The vote Was 10 " ~.
believed that It viii pass finally in th Is Snap''
Suir FOR DAMAGES Barton, the Sa'e"'
Der, arrested in mistake as fugitive, rAS w.
suit against the District Attorney, Lan' ~.
licicus prosecution, laying damages at
sand dollars.
JupaK B,xra Of Mississippi has oee1 49,
BY the Senate, "a Chief Justice OF Ner -,;.t Ios.
and J.dye BrOcchus Of this place as e>"' -.
49,, :, Ir,.h They are not uliraiss, VI 'e"'''
on the subject Of slavery
Nsw U.nrsunK-There is to be an. ap''Tb The
oon,s., In the Granite State this sprtnx, The
sisction takes place on Tuesday, March W"
rival candidates are as follows; I'D Free
a., District--Amos tuck, (Whig anu
Oil George Kittredge, Democrat Asa
"a District-Authony Colby, M"f p..slee
49,. fFree-Soiler y Charles II.