The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-27


tanning number Of their comrades, "a well as a
quantity Of necessary provisions. The grief OF the
survivors is thus described, in language which the
plants OF the Messrs Green do not fail to call
to mind
"They grieved for those who persisted in the cutter
lind also for the biscuit, casks, and butiT"'
But | concur with the Messrs. Green in one
point | think Mexico is entitled to careful and
generous treatment at hands. She has suffered
enough from our armies, without being further
depleted by money eeches Never was an act
ieer or more righteous than that which gave
Mexico her ulam-nt dollar for dollar, at profit
to the contractors of less than one per cent and
saved her from paying 10 intermediate brokers
alone shave OF four
My colleague upon the one hand, is resolute
in his condemnation OF Mr.. Webster for making
any contract; and, upon the other, argues that
the Government ought TO have gone ON and ac-
cepted these bills. 1t is a remarkably constituted
mind which has no legal difficulties IN the way oil
the Governments accepting bills, or making the
payments in Washington in contravent.on oil the
treaty. but sees mountains in the way Of the Sec
retary's making legal contract to provide for the
payment of the instruments in Mexico according
TO the treaty. General Green do not know per-
sonally and certainly i'll relation either to him or
TO benjamin +. Green have no disposition to say
any thing harsh. IL is obvious that they have cue
ceeded, TO some slight extent in impressing with
their views some gentlemen in this Hall who, per-
haps have not had full opportunity to examine the
subject. | have, however, been struck throughout
this debate AT the caution which gentlemen who
have taken the other side ot the question have used
in speaking Of the Secretary OF State, They have
only alluded to him 30 far Is necessary to AID IN
the making ont OF their case. They have not ira
yelled out Of the record for the purpose of invest
eating HE private atfairs. That has not been re-
sorted 10 out OF House of two hundred and forty
two members, composed Of gentlemen OF various
feelings and politics, except by one gentleman who
has gone without the record to investigate the pr
vate relations OF Mr.. Webster. Now, Is not 1t pos
sbe that he may be mistaken in his own motives
aud feelings? Did not II occur TO HIM that this de-
bate not sufficiently spicy, and that the stimulus
of Little hatred ought to be thrown in to make the
mixture slab aud good? Did not he, as the de-
bate proceeded, and gentleman after gentleman
arose opposed to the Administration, treating the
QUESTION upon general grounds, and particularly
when that letter came in from these bankers
which shows they only made three and hall
per cent. upon the transaction, including two
and half per cent. received for the loan OF their
own funds where the Greens had intended to have
made 4 l75, 900, have something OF the feeling Of q
lawyer whose client unexpectedly settles a pro-
mising case before trial, or ply sician whose pa
tient gets well without giving chance Tor any
expenditure of medicine? 1t did appear to me
that after the statement Of those agents was re-
ceived and read, there wac nothing lett Tor the
ruucor of the most rancorou5 10 iced upon re-
member that an English hstoriarfweInarks (very
uuiustly, Think of the Puritans, that they were
opposed TO the practice ,Qt bear batting, not be-
cause il WAS cruel to the bears, but because II
was pleasing to the spectators; and there are
not seem acceptable lovely, unless 1t can be
contorted into the means Of giving pain or tor
turc--unless there can be wound inflicted, and
in II the poisoned knife twisted In the wound.
And we find most singular combination here.
We find General Green, whose controlling reason
for hating the Secretary of State was the loss Of
these profits, linked in the bands OF common ha-
tired with gentlemen iii this House TO whom, in
every other particular, he is most dlametricaly
opposed Gentlemen who, in their political asso
Citations hate each other most cordially, are here
brought together in the same truckle-bed Al
though my colleague took great pains to separate
Mr.. Green's claim from the general merits OF the
case, still HE case is brought into the House by
Green's memorial, and II Is Green's memorial and
Green's views which constitute the basis upon
which this controversy has been carried on. Up TO
lsls the time my colleague left the Philadelphia
Convention because Mr.. Webster was not nomi-
mated as candidate for the Presidency, and be-
cause Gen. Taylor was-l couple the two things-
81 Tar was he from thinking i'll OF Mr.. Webster
that relations OF strong friendship subsisted between
them, and ne considered him proper person to MI
the hi ghest office within tie gift OF the people
What has he told US to day? is IL any thing more
than n renewal Of what said at the last session.
What is there in il new 10 the American people!
Nothing. 1t ID inevitable incident to greatness,
that is paugs and struggles are ne bare to the pub
lie eye its energies and achievements. THERE'S
not 4 man who does not know that the great states
man of the country ia Indifferent TO money as he
is devoted to the higher cares Of public veal.
There j. not man, perhaps, Except my col
lea que and come Of those who think with him, }
" no does not wish that the order which reigDs IN
that vast understanding, aud reduces 10 their els
iuents the most complicated national questions.
we're equally eXemplIhedIn every detail OF his per,
snnal expenditure. But it ls not SO. HE devotion
10 the public has eft him neither time nor dlspos-
lion TO take Of himself; aud this well. known
fact lcaycs the question simply whether the public,
iu e1igont CRIES, shall be deprived Of his seryicef,
or whether friends shall aid him Nor is tins case,
however sad a rare one. II the vievs OF my col
] A her rkg
Canning, in the Old World, nor think jefferson,
or Madison, or Monroe, ia the New, but would
have been disqualified by their poverty, and that
very unthrilt which devotion 10 great thought pro-
duces. from lending their great powers to their
COuntry's service
Rot a. regards the facts. my colleague has said
that be has been induced To speak to-day by the
fact that his remarks former occasion have
h,cn mi.rcprcscntcd. Two years ago, in this
House, he claimed that not merely had certain do
nutions been made % Mr.. Webster, but that their
being made was the consideration aud induccnient
ia consequence Of which Mr.. Webster accepted the
secretary ship. II my colleague will look at the
Congregational Globe he will find That his state
inent.
Mr.. ALLrs, lin bis scat) say now.
Mr. DAVE. He says 81 now that that vac the
olicct for which these subscriptions were made,
aud that Mr.. Webster was thus induced 10 accept
the SeCretsryship.
My colleague memory failed him this morning
lie ssid be had not thought IL vise Or prudent 10
medium OF the press, or TO correct misrcprcsenta
ton in any other place thsnhere. Here was Tho
proper place. That sounded manly, but still Il u
not correct ia point of TACT ne understand. BE.
lore one Of the trials in my colleagues Congtos-
,ional dislrict-hnd the facts am about TO relate
led 10 the writing 81 the letter nov bold in 10Y
hand-there vas IA political meeting held la The
city OF Worcester, ia reference 10 biz election. My
colleague sick, and gentleman from Boston,
MIR Dana, a man Of high character and standing
Delouging 20 my colleague party, came up and
addressed that meeting. AZ undcrstand-snd my
colleague can correct me II ] am wrong-thi'
gentleman. before he went to that meeting, had q
personal interview with my colleague at which il
wns arranged and understood what were the views
I 90 be prescnted as regards this matter.
Mr. ALLEN. No.
Mr. DAVE. Dycs my colleague deny that he
saW SIR Dams Just before that mcetingt
MIR ALLES. ] do not deny that had an inter
! view with Mr.. Dana.
] Mr.. DAVIS. ! ask my colleague whether be de
mics that AT this interview With Mr.. Dana he talked
/ about that subject
/ VIZ. ALLss responded, but his response no
/ heard by the reporter.
Mr. DAVIS No, Of course not. ] knew the fac
| upon the authority of a gentleman to whom Mr.
Dana himself told o.. He told that gentleman tina
/ De- had such an interview with my colleague beOr