Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-01

conscientiously to himself, influenced by
the heavy retainer paid 10 Mr.. Webster
Is Congress certain that tbs foreign policy
Of the State Department is Wnlly unin-
fluenced By the Spanish gold paid TO and
received by Sidney Webster
Can any. man who has faith in human
nature say that Mr.. Fish's position is one
in which It is safe and prudent for Sec
rotary of State TO stand Wor'l John
Quincy Adams, or Andrew jackson, or
Caleb Gushing ever Lfle allowed such
shadow, such dcVt or such question
even, TO rest upon d. lsmo !"
The Sun wind up with reference to
magnificent d;r1sr party" given nt
Mr.. Fish's mr. nsicp INST as the Spanish
g1nboats were leaving. One of the Sec
retary's Journalistic admirers characterized
the banquet as &. la.e-like" The SIN
says:
''We do not object that the Fishes are
State-like, but that the State is becoming
Fish-like and Sidney Webster-like in IFS
foreign policy, and that Sidney Webster
savors all over of Spanish gold, the price
of patriot blood and of Cuban freedom.
The New York Journal of Commerce,
paper devoted TO the interests of the
mercantile class, very careful in its state
menis, and never giver TO sensations"
in any case, has an article even more
damaging, because more specific in its
charges, than the Sun. 1t says:
ga gentleman who makes it his bust
ness TO keep well posted on the sly moves
of Spanish diplomacy in this country, and
of whose early and accurate information
our correspondent has often availed him
self, is the authority for the assertion
that Mr.. Sidney Webster (son-in-law of
Secretary FISH received, some months
ago, retaining fee of $40, 900 from Mr..
Roberts, Spanish Minister at Washington,
and, since that date, $35, 600 more, and
that these large sums were paid to blr.
Webster Sin view of his relationship and
probable influence with the Secretary.
Mr. Webster has been, it is well known,
acting for some time as attorney for
Spain-his legal mahGuvres to procure
the release or the gunboats being his
principal feats in that line.
'Few people reading these statements
will be able to resist the impression that
the Spanish Government paid to Mr. Web
ster $75, 900, hoping and believing 1--WE
do not say agreeing with him) that his in
fuence would be exerted on Secretary
Fish to prevent the recognition of Cuban
belligerency. If the Spaniards intended
| that, they have no reason to be dissatis-
fed with the result-although it may not
have been achieved through The precise
instrumentality supposed. 1t is unfOrtu-
nate for the reputation of Mr.. Fish that
these alleged facts should have come to
Highland, if they cannot be con-
trsdicted, they will have a damaging
effect upon him, in the present
excited state of public opinion.
He may fold his arms and affect to
despise it. He may heaye benevolent
signs of pity for any man who would sup
pose for a moment that he (Mr. Fish,
could be swayed in his State policies
milliOnth part of an inch by family or
personal considerations. But the Ameri-
can people are too familiar, from long eX-
perience with nepotism and the PARTIAL
ties of friendship, as eyinced in the dis
tribution of government offices, contracts
and fsyors, to believe that Mr.. Fish is
more exempt from such influences than
other men in high public stations.
These are damaging insinuations and
statements, and if without foundation,
| should be met by an authoritative denial