Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-27
Venality in High Places.
What The South and Vest think Of Daniel Reb.
Ster and his so called present.


What The South and Vest think of Daniel H.k,
Ster and his so called present.
A member of the House of Representatives
from Massachusetts, lately charged Daniel Web.
ster with having received S25, 900 from the bro
kers of New York and Boston, as an inducement
for him to take the Office of Secretary of State,
We at first thought this charge was one of those
oft repeated calumnies which originate in marty
mallgnlty, and are aimed at a " shining markin
But great was our surprise and chagrin in read.
ing the debate, which arose on this statement.
to find Mr.. Webster's friend admitting Tho i'm.
p@utatlon TO the extent, at least, Of the recent.
by Mr.. Webster, of donations from his admirers
to enable him to take the office 10 which he had
been called. That we NAV do this distingnisb-
ed man no Injustice, we give the remarks If
Mr. Ashmun, from Massach1setts(Mr. Websfer's
i[Iend) repelling the charge of his colleague
Mr.. Allen;-
"What are these charges2 That gentlemen
in New York and Boston, knowing MIR. Web.
ster's pecuniary inability to take he position
which he now holds. have exercised offices of
friendship, He (Mr. Ashmun) was proud to
say that he had the honor of confidential inter-
course with that ge%ntleman-it was one of the
richest enjoyments of his life-and yet he knew
nothing of what had been charged. 1t may be
SO; but if so. he had nothing to say ia relation
to it. If so, was there anything, even to The
greatest extent asserted, to dctract from a man
Of honor? Suppose it true thtt, in generosity
and justice, free. traders and tariff men. mer-
chants and mechanics, are disposed to make
Mr.. Webster presents, he wished his colleague
could SO act as to command from them this kind
OF consideration, even while he fails to get their
votes, trial after trial. If so, was there any,
thing to impeach Mr.. Webster's integrity -
Let the bold defamer stand forth y
We are somewhat astounded at the admiss-
ions of Mr.. Webster's friend, as well as at the
doctrines announced by him. One of the first
indeed the very first intellect in the nation
who, ever since his entrance on public life, has
enjoyed an immense revenue from his great tall
ents and professional ability, receives contribu-
tions Of money from certain classes before he
can be persuaded to accept the second office in
dignity and importance in the Executive De-
partmsnt of the Republic,-and a member of
Congress regards such contributions as compli-
ments, which entitle a public man to hold his
head more proudly before the nation. Now, if
this be a general sentiment among members of
Congress, we beg to declare that it is not the
feeling among their constituents. There is no
statesman in this section of our Union, who
would not consider himself insulted and degra-
ded, by the tender of such eleemosynary aid
there is no man who would dare to face the peo-
Pile, with an admission that he could only be in-
duced to take high ofice-one, too, the salary
of which is quite a~mple--by the contribution of
money! What would become of the man or
,rbo poirbt aDnronoh Tobn n Ca1boUn 18th
such a prop osition ? They would be annihila-
ted by the lightning of his eye That %illustri-
GUS patriot would have shrunk from such a sug-
gestion, as Aristides or Fabricius of old, wonld
have done.
We view the sentiments thus inculcated, by
the example of Mr., Webster and the precepts
of Mr.. Ashmun, as very reprehensible and dan
gerous in a Republic like ours. The more dis
tinguished the example, the greater the evil
If Mr.. Webster takes up a collection in Wall
street before he can accept a Federal Office, why
may not every politician, both great andSsmall,
throughout the Union, send collection bags
around through their district, to reimburse their
patriotic sacrifices?
Now, Mr.. Webster may be of that tried and
incorruptible nature, that he can receive favors
Of this kind without coming under any special
obligations to the contributors but we fear
many of the smaller race of politicians would
view the matter in a different light, and regard
their first duty and chief labor as due to the
rent payers" according TO the amount of their
subscriptions. They would consider themselves
as the retained counsel of their liberal employ
ers, and their non-paying constituents would
have to take care ofthemselves. 1t would, there
tore, be necessary, in order 10 ascertain the
sentiments or tendencies of our poll
to examine their " rent rolls" If their
contributions came chic fly from manufacturers,
should, of course, set them down as high to-
riff men if they were paid by steam companies,
should expect to see them very strong for
large mail contracts. And thus there would be
no end to the corruption Of our political agents.
Every man who would preserve the repuli-
can purity and simplicity of our government,
should raise his voice against this doctrlne.-
No talents or genius can consecrate it. Let
our public servants be rewarded so as to place
them above want. If they demand more,-If
from luxurious habits, from the pressure Of debt
or other causes, they desire and seek more, they
are not safe depositaries of political power
Moral purity, exemption from degrading desires
and tastes, simple and refined habits, are as es-
sentlal in a public man, as great intellect and
genius.-N 0. Delta.