The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-04

From The Boston ADVERTISER, Nouembsr ..

From The Boston Advertiser, November 9.
We take pleasure in publishing the following
reply TO gross charge against MIR. Winthrop, by
Boston correspondent OF the New York Herald,
OF hostility to the late MIR. Webster which have
reason to believe, Independently OF the contradc
ton given. is here entirely unfounded:
"Men talk of Mr. Webster's probable successor
in the State Department. What may be thought
elsewhere l do not know; but here Mr.. Win
lhrop's chances OF being called to the vacant place
are thought to be good. He came near being pro-
NOTED to it at the very time 1t was given to Mr.
Webster. He had reason to believe that he was to
be Mr. Clay toms successor, and it is understood
that he never forgave Mr. Webster for stepping
between him and the place Each gentleman was
said at the time, to have the same object in view,
each wishing to enter the State Department to pre-
vent his being mixed up with, or affected by the
then impending defeat OF the Whigs in Massa-
| chusctts. MIR. Webster had the most to fear from
such q defeat, his term OF service was about to
expire, and be was by means certain of
| election to the Senate, even il the Wings should
| carry the Legislature. There Is now another OPP
portunity afforded Tor the promotion OF Mr.. Win
throp. Mr.. Fillmore is said to be partial to him,
| and would, by preference, have taken him in 1850,
but overborne. He has qualifications for the
place, and certainly is conservative enough TO
pears to constitute Mr. Fillnore's idea of Ameri.
csnism. 1t ia true that Mr.. Winthrop had become
MIR. Webs,er's personal and political enemy, and
therefore il would seem like insult to the great
|
but then the President has out for Scott, and
doubtless wishes to conciliate that portion OF the
Wings who killed MIR. Webster. What lucky
thing it would be for Mr.. Winthrop if General
/ Scott should come in to the Presidency and find
bin there in March"
Mr. Winthrop has not been in the habit of motto
ing anonymous communications in the New York
Herald or elsewhere. But the peculiar circum-
stances of the moment, which give something OF
historical importance 10 every thing connected with
! MIR. Websters name, render it fit that the forego-
ing extract from letter in the Herald of Saturday
! last, dated "Boston, October 2, 1852" and signed
! Aigoma, should not pass without remark.
Ii is true that, on the death of General Taylor
! and the dissolution OF his Cabinet, Mr. Wnthrop's
name was mentioned for the State Department in
connexion with that Of Mr.. Webster. As soon as
! this fact made known to Mr. Winthrop, in
| such manner that he could act upon it without
apparent presumption, Mr.. Winthrop waited on
! President Fillmore, and stated to him explicitly
| that he must decline being considered a candidate
for the State Department under any circumstances;
but that even il he desired it ever much, moth
, ing would tempt him to stand in the way if the
services of Mr.. Webster could be secured for that
office, for any other Office in the Government;
and that, though he had not been able to agree
with Mr.. Webster of late upon every point OF pub.
lie policy, he was decidedly and earnestly in favor
of Mr.. Webser's appointment as Secretary CT
State, and that he should regard the helm of Co
vernment safer in Mr.. Webster's hands at that
other man living.
Mr.. WinthroP's course this subject, without
any Intervention of his own, became known to Mr..
Webster, and was the occasion of repeated and
most agreeable personal Acknowledgements.
1t is utterly false that Mr.. Winthrop ever be-
came either 'the personal or political enemy of
MIR. Webster" 1t may be that a few of Mr.. Web
ster's protested friends have chosen to consider
him such Certain it is that they have thought it
not unworthy of them to make Mr.. Winthrop the
subject of peraevering misrepresentation and have
even seemed to think, during the last week, that
the honors to the dead were incomplete without
some show of injustice to the living But if there
be any evidence that their course originated in
any feelings of Mr.. Webster, it ia yet to be pro-
duced. Such supposition would be entirely in
consistent with repeated assurances which Mr..
Winthrop has received from MIR. Webster himself
within no long period past
At any rate, it s enough to say that Mr.. Win.
throp is conscious, this day, of no act thought
towards the late illustrious statesman, from the
hour at which he entered hs Office law stu
dent in 1928 to the hour at which he attended the
funeral obsequies at Marshfeld, in any degree in d.
consistent with a just respect and true friend
ship.
Mr.. Winthrop has no disposition to make pa
rade of his personal relations to Mr.. Webster, but
he does not intend that the record either of bis
public or his private life, q subject of 30 much
interest shall be falsfed without exposure.
BosToN. November l, 1852. r. C. w.