The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-03-06
From the Correspondence ofthe Baltimore Argus.
Charges Against Daniel Webster
WASHINGTON, Feb. &c, 1851.


There was a renewal in the House, to-day,
Of the charge against Mr.. Secretary Web.
ster of being bought into the acceptance OF
the high office he holds. 1t was made by
Mr.. Allen, Of Massachusetts, who preferred
the charge, in the first instance, last night,
and c%ontradicted plumply and fatty by his
colleague, Mr.. Ashmun, who said he con-
tradicted after consultation with and by au-
| thority of Mr.. Webster himself. He pro-
nounced the charge an unqualified false.
hood" Mr.. Allen, nothing daunted, SEEM
ingly, renewed the charge, pledged himself
to prove it true whenever opportunity might
be furnished.
The circumstantial statement of Mr.. Allen
ran about as follows, as ! understood him
amid the wild and excited confusion which
prevailed during a portion of the time he
was struggling TO be heard Mi. Webster,
when he was offered the post of Secretary
of State, wrote to certain persons, complain
ing of the in%adequacy of the salary for his
necessities, and asking what they would do
for HIM. On consultation it was agreed 10
raise S25 5000 in Boston, and q Lire sum IN
New York. s2s;esS We raised in the last
named city, bat fell short in Boston-,he
amount raised being $4,000. Gentlemen
there had been bled freely, and i, was diff
cult to bring them TO the sticking point. Nc
matter if this was a gift. Commercial mer
have an object in making presents. Mr.
Webster ought to have nothing 10 do with it
But when gifts are made at his own request
ask whether an influence is not brough: ie
bear on the officer which is detrimental to
public justice and public interests, and espe.
cially dangerous when pecuniary means o.
large amount are placed in the charge o
that officer.
In this last ~allusion Mr.. Allen had particu
ar reference to the entrustment of the Mex
Jean indemnify money to MIR. Webster. An
effort was made, to day, 10 have the custody
placed with the Secretary of the Treasury
and This, it seems 10 me, would be the mes
correct and safest course, with respect TO tn,
truth or untruth of the specific charge prefer
red above.
have spoken of the scene produced b,
the severe accusations of Mr.. Allen as wild
ly confused. It was indeed so. Part Of the
time, the Hall became a perfect Bedlam-st
great was the "noise and confusion" tina
nothing could be heard but a comminglins
uproar of excited and contradictory ulleran
ces, made up OF such CALCULATIONS as these
-"iilen, Allen go on Allen-let him pro
ceed-!-I call the gentleman TO order -
obiect!-order, order rap, ~rap!-bang
bang shame, shame why don't the Ser
geant-a!.arms do his du,yw &c. &c. For
few moments scarcely a member was in hi,
seat, The aisles were crowded. and the arel
in front of the Speakers chair was jammet
with an cscircd crowd Of %IHuuereIs. FINALLY
order reigned again in Warsaw, and the Hal
presented its wonted scenes of tolerable or
der and decency.
Ii is lucky that neither oil the parties te
this melee are fighting men" else bloodshet
might have followed. Mr. Allen is a "peace
man." | believe, in the technical sense o
the phrase, while MIR. Ashmun has no relish
for any other war than the Twar of Words
in which The paper bullets of The brain alone
are used, instead of pistol balls and bowie
blades-weapons which don't spill any blood
however they may wound the sensibilities o
the combatanls.