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

instance, as those of New England-paid the full amount of the sums due to the Federal treasury; whereas other States, whose banks were at a heavy discount, defrauded the Government sometimes as much as twenty-five per cent. by paying their dues in the notes of the banks of those States, which did not bear par value. The resolutions offered by Mr. Webster, while they were perfectly just and equitable in the abstract, were also highly favorable to the interests of New England, and as such they greatly increased his popularity and influence with his constituents.

At the termination of this session of Congress Mr. Webster returned home covered with laurels. He now determined to seek a more enlarged arena for his future professional labors; and he resolved to remove either to Boston or Albany, in both of which places he had many influential friends. After some deliberations, he selected Boston as his future home, and in August, 1816, he removed his family thither. He had, indeed, another session to serve in Congress as representative for New Hampshire; but the events of that session were unimportant, and nothing occurred in it in reference to Mr. Webster which needs to be recapitulated in this narration of his history. At its close he refused all further political honors, and devoted himself to his professional duties in Boston. Great as were his talents, it was necessary even for him to exert himself, in order to acquire a lucrative and eminent position at such a bar as the capital of New England then possessed; and during some years Mr. Webster devoted himself assiduously to the duties of his profession. He rapidly rose to the first place at the bar of his adopted State. As may readily be supposed, his natural gifts and his acquired powers made him facile princeps among a host of able and distinguished advocates. Among his rivals there were indeed men who were his equals, perhaps

his superiors, in one single gift or intellectual accomplishment. Some may have had more technical legal learning, others more experience at the bar, and more craft. But he was unequalled for a rare and admirable combination of great gifts, which constituted in him a stupendous and unequalled whole.

Mr. Webster's practice soon became extensive and profitable. He entered into both civil and criminal causes. Some of these were of the first importance, and of general interest throughout the community. The ability, the eloquence, the learning and the success with which he conducted them won for him a wide reputation as an advocate, and added the laurels of the forum to the plaudits of the Senate, which he already enjoyed. One of these law-suits deserves to be described more minutely, from the degree of general attention which it attracted at the time. It was the case of the Kennistons vs. Goodridge. The latter was a respectable young man who resided at Bangor in Maine. On his way to Boston with a considerable sum of money, he was reported to have been robbed. Before commencing his journey, he procured a pair of pistols; and upon each piece of money which he carried he had made a private mark, by which he could readily identify it again. Mr. Marston of Newburyport, who was associated with Mr. Webster in the trial, thus describes the succeeding incidents of the case:

"When he arrived at Exeter, New Hampshire, he procured nine balls, and then, for the first time, made no secret of having pistols. At this place he left his sleigh, obtained a saddle, and started for Newburyport on horseback, late in the afternoon of the 19th of December, 1817, passing the Essex Merrimack bridge a few minutes before nine o'clock. On the brow of the hill, a short distance from the bridge, is the place of the robbery, in full

view of several houses, on a great thoroughfare, where people are constantly passing, and where the mail-coach and two wagons were known to have passed within a few minutes of the time of the alleged robbery.

"The major's story was as follows: Three men suddenly appeared before him, one of whom seized the bridle of the horse, presented a pistol, and demanded his money. The major, pretending to be getting his money, seized a pistol from his portmanteau with his right hand, grasped the ruffian at the horse's head with his left, and both discharged their pistols at the same instant, the ball of his adversary passing through the major's hand. The three robbers then pulled him from his horse, dragged him over the frozen ground, and over the fence, beating him till he was senseless, and robbed him of about seventeen hundred dollars in gold and paper money, and left him with his gold watch and all his papers in the field. Recovering in about half an hour, he went back to the bridge, passed several houses without calling, and, at the toll-house, accused the first person he met with-a female-of robbing him; and so continued charging various people about him with the robbery. After some time, a lantern was procured, and himself with others started for the place of the robbery, where were found his watch, papers, penknife, and other articles. He represented to them that the robbers had bruised his head, stamped upon his breast, and stabbed him in several places. Physicians were called; and he appeared to be insane. The next day he went to Newburyport, and was confined to his bed for several weeks. A reward of three hundred dollars, soon increased by voluntary subscriptions to one thousand, was offered for the detection of the robbers and the recovery of the money. As soon as the major was able to leave his bed, he went to Danvers, consulted his friends there;