The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-29
MR.. HALE'S EXPLANATION.

MN HALE D EXPLANATION
The ancient prestige Of senatorial authority has
not vet altogether ceased to have some consideration
amongst the people Of the United States. The
echoes Of those mighty voices which, in the days Of
Jackson and his immediate successors. vibrated
through the green valleys and deep gorges Of
away and the penny whistles which are now
blown daily from the rostrum occupied by
Calhoun, Webster, and Clay have only the authority
which grows out Of q association Of ideas.
Mr. Hale aspires to that brightness which shone
from the effulgence Of Daniel Webster. The Down
Fast wag struts before the American people in a
role formerly played by the great New England
tor and philosopher. Times. indeed, have changed,
and men have changed with the times.
But we are not without hope that something may
vet be made out Of Mr. Hale. We have done some
thing towards his Improvement We hope to do much
more We have induced him to lay off his cap and
bells to doif his spotted coat to throw of the ati
tuiinous grin of Silenus, and for single moment to
assume virtue though he hath il not, that of a
gravity slightly becoming the dignity of the place
he occupies.
We have in single lesson done much for Mr..
Hale's manners. We hope, with proper efforts, to
do something even for Mr.. Hale's morals. We are
fully aware of how presumptuous such effort may
seem in the eyes Of mankind generally; but We re-
member how Magdalen was reclaimed, and how a
thief found grace even in the agonies Of death.
Mr. Hale proclaims a. facts to the American peo-
pie that the army expenditures peace basis are
,.fsctnf,tsir millions" Of dollars. We show to the
honorable senator that the army expenditures for
peace purposes fourteen mIfions of dolars-thc
outfit for the proposed Utah expedition, embracing
provision for eighteen months TO come, being esti-
mated and asked for at cost Of six millions and
three-quarters. The official documents from which
showed to him that the peace expenditures of the
army were only fourteen millions. And yet the hon
orable senator persists in proclaming from his seat
in the Senate that twenty-siX millions and not four
teen millions, is the amount Of army expenditures
on basis Of profound peace"
The honorable senator wishes to oppose tho ad-
minstration with effectiveness and power; indeed
he aspres to the leadership Of the opposition and he
has evidently joined his faith TO the dogma which
teaches that Misrepresentation stuck to with per
sstence are almost effective as truth ITSELF The
morals of the editor of the Tribune, and all the wor-
shippers Of niggerdom and bleeding Kansas. have
found deep root in the genial soil Of the hon.
orable senator's breast.
The honorable senator sticks to his perversion oil
facts. He adheres TO his misrepresentation Of the
figures and documents before his eyes--no doubt
upon the idea that he knows best what service his
party eIpects at his hands.
We wish to give the honorable senator his first
lesson in ethics. He may find instruction in that
commandment which is set against Justification Of
record and testimony, and then We suggest to
him the trial Of the unsccustomed weapon Of
truthful assertion and manly argument They tell
well in all attitudes, and in nearly all emergencies.
The honorable senator has reached high position,
no doubt by contrary appliances but he might now
win something Of applause by essaying to hold his
position by means esteemed reputable and honest by
the majority Of mankind II this, our first Lesson
shall produce hopeful effects upon the honorable
senator, we will again essay to help him onward and
upward.