The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-22


"He ia a retired gentleman, and a skilful mana
ger Of monetary affairs; but Daniel Webster would
no more have thought Of writing TO him for advice
az an appointment to the office Of Secretary of
State than he would Of writing to the cashier ofone
OF the banks in Worcester"
This, we presume, is news to most persons in
Boston, where MIR. Haven is extensively known
one of our most active men and one of those most
engaged in the hustle of affairs, commercial and
political Mr.. Haven il sub treasurer OF the United
States, United States pension agent, and president
OF the bank in Boston that has the largest CAPT
tal-the Merchants with capital Of three mil
lions. He is, too, AN old friend of Mr. Webster,
frequently making at Marshfeld visits, which Mr..
Webster has returned at Beverly, where Mr.. Ha-
ven resides in the hot season.
For ten years-and we believe yet longer, but
certainly for ten years-Mr. Webster has been in
the habit Of writing often every year to Mr.. Haven,
and Mr.. Haven has now in his possession very
large number Of letters from Mr.. Webster on the
general affairs of the country, some of which,
venture to say, will hcreafter-long hence, we
hope-be found important for his biographer. Mr..
Webster, however, as his letter given below shows,
did not advise with Mr.. Haven, as Mr.. Dana says
he did, about the appointment to the office of Sec
rotary Of State; and we doubt whether he advised
about it with anybody in this part OF the country
But though he did not do this, still we thnk--Mr.
Dana's authority to the contrary Notwithstanding
that Mr.. Webster, considering his intimacy with
MIR. Haven. and MIR. Havon's known intelligence
in affairs, and high and honorable character, would
have been more likely to consult with him this
subject than with 'the cashier Of one Of the Wor-
cester banks"
These facts, which we have given for the better
understanding of Mr.. Haven's position here, which
mn " MT ha MT N diatn me- from
not be gainsaid Mr.. Dana may deny them in
Worcester, and again represent Mr.. Haven 'sa
retired gentleman" but he will not deny them
here; and we commend them to the consideration
of all our friends, while they reading Mr.. Ha-
vcns plain. straightforward statement OF case.
which Mr.. Dana has ventured to speak so rashly
and recklessly of facts.
BosroN, May II. 1861.
To the Editor Of the Transcript:
SIR: saw last evening, for the first time, in
your paper of yesterday, speech delivered April
9Th, at Worcester, by Richard II. Dana, jr., esq,
containing, among other things, some statements
concerning myself and my relations with Mr..
Webster, Secretary of State, to which desire to
reply
am aware that, in q cautiously written note,
dated the 18th instant, and addressed to the editor
of the Daily Adpertiser, Mr. Dana says on the sub
ject of this specch that the expressions therein at
tributed 10 Mr.. Quincy not correctly reported"
adding, that "the report was made without his
knowledge, and published without having been
submitted to him, and without his authority" He
does not, however, in any way imply that he did
not say in spbstoncs what he 10 reported to have
said at Worcester; and az the speech in question
has, / am told, often been printed without remon-
STRANGE from him, true report, since 1t first APP
peared six weeks ago, and az Mr.. Dana has not
fit to qualify, correct any part OF it in which
am concerned, shall, until otherwise advised,
believe that no injustice has been done to him in
these particulars.
Mr. Dana more than endorses all the base
dummies uttered in the House Of Representatives
against Mr.. Webster, by Mr.. Charles Allen, on the
2bth and Goth Of February. for which was subsc-
qucntly vouched as the principal authority. He
says: 81 consider Judge Allen tcould haze required
JUST had he faiied to take the ground that he
did this subject; and ask is not the duty Of
every man who sees corruption III high places to cx
pose it,"
This calumny was, Gas your readers all know,)
that Mr.. Webster had been induced to accept the
place of Secretary Of State in of money
paid, or promised to be paid, to HIM from Boston
posed by Mr.. Webster through me. and, in the re-
suit, contaminated by the required payment.
Such bargain Mr.. Dana calls corruption in high
places;" and It would be so u It had been made.
Ho says. too, repeating after Mr.. Allen, and speak
ing OF the contract for the payment Of the Mexi-
can indemnity, that Mr.. Webster was dependent
on the bankers (dessrs. Corcoran and Riggs) "to
whom the contract was given;" and he adds, after
wards, that Mr.. Webster 'shas received gift from
the perry class Of concerned in this contract
the condition Of taking the Office of Secretary of
State; $4,000 from New York and $4,000 from
Boston,"
| think oil persons who know meas Mr.. Dana
says he does-"very we'll" know that would not
be connected with Transaction 30 dicreditablc TO
all who might be concerned it. l feel equally sure
that MIR. Webster would not, nor would the honor
able men who subsequently came forward in Bos-
tom and did what they thought their duty required
them to do to great statesman, who had made a
great sacrifice OF his pecunary interests and those
OF his family to the service of his country. was
not one of these gentlemen; but know that they
were highminded men-most of them retired
from affairs, and little concerned in politics,
cept just far as they are concerned in the wei.
fare of the Union.
Mr. Dana, in his speech, refers to the letter which
Mr. Webster addressed to Inc the state of things
Immediately after Gen. Taylor's death. He had
therefore read that letter, dated July -, 1850;
and l suppose he must have read my letter,
published sciM Il, and dated March IL, 1851. The
letter Of Mr.. Webster, written before the funeral
of President Taylor, and before Mr.. Webster or
any one else knew who would be nominated by
MIR. Fillmore as Secretary of State, contained no
n,imation whatever that the Department of State
would be offered to him, but rather the reverse;
and yet, except the subsequent notice, by tec-
graph, OF the mere facts of his nomination Sec
rotary and acceptance of the office, this letter was
prior to the time of his entering upon the duties of
the Department., the only communication receiv-
cd, either directly or indirectly, from Mr. Webster
on the whole subject OF the sccrctaryship. said
80 in my letter, and now add, that have not Mt
any time had any communication with him or
from him upon the subject of the spontaneous gift
made to him BY the gentlemen OF Boston, the char
actcr Of which has been perverted by Mr. Dana
and MIR. Allen.
II is to be presumed that Mr.. Dana the let
ter, and therefore knew perfectly we'll that there
had not been any such discreditable bargain as he
described, and that the statements he made about
it were not true.
The mart which rcates 10 the contract with
Mcssrs. Corcoran & Riggs, the Washington bank
crs, and to Mr.. Webster, as having received a
gift from the very class of mcn concerned in this
contract rs the condition of his taking the office of
Secretary of State,' is also untrue. The gift so
honorably offered by men Of high sense of honor
in Boston to Mr.. Webster not offered 10 him
until many weeks after he had become Secretary of
State. Not more than two of the persons rho Of
fercd 1t to him could in any way be regarded of
the class OF bankers, or concerned in banking; and
SO far from his "position of independence" being
affected by it, as Mr. Dana declares it was and u.s.
have good reason to believe that Mr. Webster