tion and its partisans; but Mr. Webster's sagacity was clearly vindicated by the fact, that Mr. Polk was himself compelled at last to accept the very line of settlement which Mr. Webster had in the first instance designated and defended. In his speech of the 12th of August, 1848, on this subject, he insisted on the right of Congress to exclude slavery from the Territory; on the expediency of exercising that right; and against the farther extension of slave territory. In regard to the complaint of Southern Senators that their slave property would be thus excluded from the Territory, he laid down these three propositions :

"First. That when this Constitution was adopted, nobody looked for any new acquisition of territory to be formed into slaveholding States.

"Second. That the principles of the Constitution prohibited, and were intended to prohibit, and should be construed to prohibit, all interference of the General Government with slavery, as it existed, and as it still exists, in the States. And

"Third. Looking to the operation of these new acquisitions, which have in this great degree had the effect of strengthening that interest in the South by the addition of five States, I feel that there is nothing unjust, nothing of which any honest man can complain, if he is intelligent; I feel that there is nothing with which the civilized world, if they take notice of so humble a person as myself, will reproach me when I say, as I said the other day, that I have made up my mind, for one, that under no circumstances will I consent to the further extension of the area of slavery in the United States, or to the further increase of slave representation in the House of Representatives."

The same principles of political prudence and sagacity which had induced Mr. Webster to oppose the annexation of Texas constrained him to resist the admission of Cali

fornia and New Mexico into the Confederacy. He thought that those vast and often savage realms would cost the Government much more than they would actually be worth; and he believed that the existence of such States located so far from the centre of the Republic would prove injurious to its unity, its compactness, and its harmony. In spite of his opposition and that of his friends, these Territories were ultimately incorporated with the Union; but the unfavorable prognostications which Mr. Webster had entertained on the subject have been happily disappointed.

The Mexican War was at length concluded with honor to the American arms; and its chief hero, Zachary Taylor, was rewarded for his brilliant services by his election to the Presidency. His inauguration took place on the 4th of March, 1849. Very soon afterward the subject of slavery again assumed a portentous aspect in the country; and when California demanded to be admitted into the Union as a free State, with her free Constitution already adopted and approved, the opposition of the South and of Southern representatives to the measure became intense and formidable. Large public meetings were held in all the non-slaveholding States in support of the admission of California; and thus the question received a sectional character and generated a sectional and hostile feeling. Soon a meeting of Southern representatives was held at Washington to deliberate on the subject; and at this meeting Mr. Calhoun, still the great leader and Achilles of the Southern party, was appointed to prepare an address to the constituents of the Southern delegates. This address received the signatures of forty-eight Southern representatives. The excitement became intense throughout the country. To allay it, and to settle the difficulty, Mr. Clay prepared and introduced his celebrated Compromise measure on the 25th of January, 1850. After a protracted

debate, his resolutions were negatived. It was on the 7th of March, after the discussion had continued during several months, that Mr. Webster delivered his memorable speech on this question. This oration was one of his most masterly efforts; and again the Senate-chamber and its vicinity were crowded by a vast assemblage, eager to hear him. He favored to some extent, on this occasion, the interests and prejudices of the South; and he lost in some degree, in consequence of this fact, his popularity at the North. But his chief purpose evidently was to administer soothing counsel, which would heal the existing exacerbation. of feeling between rival sections of the Republic, and thus to accomplish the best and noblest aim which an American statesman can ever possibly achieve.

CHAPTER XI.

Death of General Taylor-Mr. Webster's Eulogy upon Him-Mr. Webster's Last Speech in the Senate-Mr. Fillmore appoints him Secretary of State-Mr. Webster's Celebrated Letter to Chevalier Hülsemann— Disputed Authorship-Expedition of Lopez against Cuba-Its Results -Other Questions of Importance disposed of by Mr. Webster-His Treatment of Kossuth.

THE sudden death of General Taylor filled the nation with regret. The popular sentiment found suitable utterance in the eulogies which were pronounced in Congress; but among the many eloquent men who then offered the tribute of their praise to the memory and the virtues of the deceased hero, none equalled in felicity of thought and expression the remarks made by Mr. Webster. His manner and style on such an occasion may be inferred from the following extract from the speech addressed to the Senate:

"For a very short time, sir, I had a connection with the executive government of this country; and at that time very perilous and embarrassing circumstances existed between the United States and the Indians on the borders, and war was actually carried on between the United States and the Florida tribes. I very well remember that those who took counsel together on that occasion officially, and who were desirous of placing the military command in the safest hands, came to the conclusion that there was no man in the service more fully uniting the qualities of military ability and great personal prudence than Zachary Taylor; and he was appointed to the command.

"Unfortunately, his career at the head of this Government was short. For my part, in all that I have seen of him, I have found much to respect and nothing to condemn. The circumstances under which he conducted the Government, for the short time he was at the head of it, have been such as not to give him a very favorable opportunity of developing his principles and his policy, and carrying them out; but I believe he has left on the minds of the country a strong impression, first, of his absolute honesty and integrity of character; next, of his sound, practical good sense; and, lastly, of the mildness, kindness, and friendliness of his temper toward all his country

men.

"But he is gone. He is ours no more, except in the force of his example. Sir, I heard with infinite delight the sentiments expressed by my honorable friend from Louisiana, who has just resumed his seat, when he earnestly prayed that this event might be used to soften the animosities, to allay party criminations and recriminations, and to restore fellowship and good feeling among the various sections of the Union. Mr. Secretary, great as is our loss to-day, if these inestimable and inappreciable blessings shall have been secured to us even by the death of Zachary Taylor, they have not been purchased at too high a price; and if his spirit, from the regions to which he has ascended; could see these results from his unexpected and untimely end, if he could see that he had entwined a soldier's laurel around a martyr's crown, he would say exultingly, 'Happy am I, that by my death I have done more for that country which I loved and served, than I did or could do by all the devotion and all the efforts that I could make in her behalf during the short span of my earthly existence!'"

The obsequies of General Taylor interrupted the discussion of the famous Compromise Measures. After their