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Government of the existence of the said decree of the 28th of April, 1811, and to lay before the House any correspondence that may have taken place with the said. Minister relative thereto, which the President may not think improper to be communicated.

"Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to this House any other information which may be in his possession, and which he may not deem injurious to the public interest to disclose, relative to the said decree of the 28th of April, 1811, and tending to show at what time, by whom, and in what manner the said decree was first made known to this Government or to any of its representatives or agents.

"Resolved, That the President be requested, in case the fact be that the first information of the existence of said decree of the 28th of April, 1811, ever received by this Government or any of its ministers or agents, was that communicated in May, 1812, by the Duke of Bassano, to Mr. Barlow, and by him to his Government, as mentioned in his letter to the Secretary of State, of May 12, 1812, and the accompanying papers, to inform this House whether the Government of the United States hath ever received from that of France any explanation of the reasons of that decree being concealed from this Government and its Ministers for so long a time after its date; and, if such explanation has been asked by this Government, and has been omitted to be given by that of France, whether this Government has made any remonstrance, or expressed any dissatisfaction, to the Government of France, at such concealment.'

These resolutions Mr. Webster supported by an argument of much ability. It was his maiden speech in Congress. It impressed all who heard it with a high estimate of his talents; and among the rest was Chief-Justice

Marshall, who declared, in a letter subsequently written to a friend, "that though he was then unacquainted with Mr. Webster, he readily discerned from that speech that he was a very able man, and would become one of the first statesmen in America, and perhaps the very first."

The

So well had Mr. Webster acquitted himself during his first term of office as representative in Congress, that, after its conclusion, in August, 1814, he was re-elected from his former district by an immense majority. On his return to the national councils, a very different state of affairs existed, and called for a different species of legislation. In December, 1814, peace with England was proclaimed; and thenceforth the internal and commercial affairs of the country demanded the attention of Congress. The currency was in a state of miserable derangement, and the Government proposed the establishment of a United States Bank as the most efficient remedy for the existing evils. The charter of the first United States Bank had expired several years prior to this date. constitutionality of such an institution was one of the chief points under discussion. Mr. Madison directed his Secretary of State, Mr. Dallas, to send a bill to the House proposing to erect a new bank with a capital of fifty millions, forty-five millions of which should consist of the public stocks and five millions of specie. It was not to be a specie-paying bank, and was to lend the Government thirty millions at any time in payment for the immunities which were thus conferred upon it. Mr. Webster was not opposed to a United States Bank in the abstract; but he condemned an institution which should be based entirely upon such questionable principles. He denounced it as a mere paper-money and flimsy contrivance, calculated to rob the community and to embarrass both the Government. and the currency. So ably did he and some other repre

sentatives oppose the passage of the bill, that it was lost as originally reported; but, being afterward reconsidered, some important amendments were introduced into it and then adopted. It was immediately submitted to the President for his approval; but the latter was not disposed thus to abandon his first position, and he returned it with his objections. The period for the adjournment of Congress supervened at this crisis; and the subject was postponed until a subsequent occasion, when it again assumed a prominent position in the deliberations of Congress and in the interest of the nation.

CHAPTER IV.

Calamity at Portsmouth-Webster's Second Term in Congress-The Tariff-Webster's Opposition to it-His Removal to Boston-His Professional Distinction-Case of Kenniston vs. Goodridge-Mr.Webster declines Political Honors-Continues his Professional Labors--Serves in the Convention to Revise the Constitution of Massachusetts-Celebrated Dartmouth College Case-Signal Display of Mr. Webster's Abilities.

IN December, 1813, Mr. Webster suffered a heavy loss in the burning of his house at Portsmouth, together with his library and all his private papers. This calamity embarrassed him in several ways. It was not merely a pecuniary loss, but it occasioned him great inconvenience by being deprived of many important and valuable memoranda, which contained the fruits of long study and laborious research both in regard to legal and literary subjects. But a mind as powerful as his could not be disheartened by any misfortune, however great; and he resumed his professional pursuits with undiminished ardor and success.

The interval between the thirteenth and the fourteenth Congress, from March to December, 1815, was actively employed by Mr. Webster. When Congress reassembled, he took his place as a representative from New Hampshire. Already had he made his mark and acquired an eminence in the national legislature; and his conduct and policy were watched with interest. The first subject of importance which came up for discussion was the question of revenue and taxation. The revenues of the Federal

Government were then in an embarrassed condition. The expenses of the recent war with England had loaded the country with heavy debts; and a protective tariff was proposed by the war-party for the purpose of increasing the revenue, and for promoting the interests of those. domestic manufactures which had commenced to exist and to flourish in certain portions of the Confederacy. The interests of New England at that period were chiefly of a commercial and maritime nature; and a high tariff was consequently repugnant to the feelings and the welfare of her people. Mr. Webster, therefore, as one of her representatives in Congress, felt it to be his duty to oppose a tariff at that time. He admitted the constitutionality of the measure, though he denied its expediency. But the Middle and Southern States combined their resources together, and it was thereby triumphantly carried.

The next measure of importance which occupied the attention of Congress was the establishment of the United States Bank. Mr. Webster again opposed the creation of an institution which should be closely connected with the Government. He contended that both should be entirely independent of each other. He defended his opinions with great logical force and ability in several speeches made on the occasion; but his efforts were again unsuccessful, and the bank was established. He was more fortunate in his next movement. He offered resolutions in the House the purport of which was to ordain, in substance, that all debts due to the Federal Government in all the several States should be liquidated only in gold or silver, or in the notes of such banks as paid specie at their counters on demand. Previous to this period, the revenues collected in the different States had been paid in the bills of the banks of those States respectively. Some States therefore whose notes constantly bore a par value-such, for

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