Those giants strove each for his conviction, not
against a section--not against each other; they stood to each other in
the relation of personal affection and esteem, and never did I see Mr.
Webster so agitated, never did I hear his voice falter, as when he
delivered the eulogy on John C. Calhoun.
But allusion was made to my own connection with your great and favorite
departed statesman. Of that I will only say, on this occasion, that very
early in my Congressional life Mr. Webster was arraigned for an offense
which affected him most deeply. He was no accountant, and all knew that.
He was arraigned on a pecuniary charge--the misapplication of what is
known as the secret-service fund--and I was one of the committee that
had to investigate the charge. I endeavored to do justice. I endeavored
to examine the evidence with a view to ascertain the truth. It is true I
remembered that he was an eminent American statesman. It is true that as
an American I hoped he would come out without a stain upon his garments.
But I entered upon the investigation to find the truth and to do
justice. The result was, he was acquitted of every charge that was made
against him, and it was equally my pride and my pleasure to vindicate
him in every form which lay within my power. No one that knew Daniel
Webster could have believed that he would ever ask whether a charge was
made against a Massachusetts man or a Mississippian.
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