The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-13
Mr.. webster,s Confession.

Mr.. SIDNEY WEBSTER has made and pub
lished confession. He admits that he has
been acting as counsel for the Spanish Gov.
eminent, and, at the same time, does not
deny that lie is the son.inl law of the Amer-
can Secretary of State. lie states that he
has been paid in grecnbacks--as if that were
an important point. We suppose he means
to imply that the virtue of the Secretary
could withstand the influence of grecnbocks
paid into bis family, although it might
have been overcome if the payment had been
in gold.
Mr.. WEBSTER complains that the fees
which he has received from the Spanish Gov
eminent amount TO only $3.50, and he pub
fishes certificate from the Hon. EDWARDS
P1ERREPoNT to show that the sum paid was
not asmuch as the services were worth. Mr..
PIEIREPoST says: Those services were
arduous, involving great responsibility, in
dustry. and legal ability p and that "they
were performed with the greatest fidelity to
the Spanish Government" We do not doubt
it and the Spanish Government can well
afford to pay large additional sum for them.
Eight thousand eight hundred and seventy
dollars to Mr.. WEBSTER makes the
amount paid to the firm of which he
is a partner twice that sum, or seventeen
thousand seven hundred and forty dollars
Whether this fee lie large enough to exer-
else any influence over the conduct of the
Secretary OF State is, we admit fair sub
icct for argument. And in determining that,
it may be pertinent TO consider that the great
Office which the Secretary holds seems to
have been conferred upon him in consideration
of the paltry sum of one thousand dollars
also in greenbacks-wh.ch he gave TO Prcsi-
dent GRANT short time before lie received
the appointment. When offices themselves
are held so cheap, we do not know what
would he deemed an adequate price for a few
official acts. Moreover, we do not say-we
have never charged and we do not believe
that there has been any vulgar
negotiation, any direct bargain, be
tween Mr. WEBSTER and Mr.. FISH.
that the seventeen thousand seven hundred
aud forty dollars paid by the Spanish Gov
ernmcnt to Mr. WEDsTER's law firm was
TO have an influence on the official conduct
of his fathcr.in-law. What we have urged,
and what we do contend is, that it is highly
indicate and improper for Mr. FISH to
occupy the position Of Secretary of State
pursuing a course extremely hostile TO Cuba
while at the same time the Spanish Govern.
ment is pouring money into the pockets Of
his son,iulaw-aud, as L were, into the lap
Of his own family. TLa circumstance. are
suspicious Thcy are such rs prudent man
should avoid permitting himself TO be
placed in.
Mr. WEBSTER declares it far from agree.
able to make these explanations in regard
to lis luriness. This is not strange. 1t
must be disagrccollc both TO himself aud TO
Mr. FISH. 1t must be disagreeablc and
damaging TO the Administration.
The doctrines which we have applied TO
the conduct Of Mr.. WEBSTER and Mr. FISH
are no invention Of our own. They are not
new. They are based upon the inherent
principles Of human nature, and they are con
secrItcd by the wisdom Of ages. II is an
ancient as well AZ n universal pIinci.
pie of law that ties of affinity, no less than
those of consanguinity, 10 a person interest
ed in the decision, shah dsquolify a Judge
from acting in any case, We apprchcnd
that if the Office of Secretary OF State were to
be filled Ivy a popular election to-day, Mr.
FISH would receive very few votes. ltwould
he found that he docs not possess the public
confidence.