CHAPTER I.

CONTENTS

Biographical Memoir

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Former Editions of the Works of Mr. Webster, and Plan of this

Edition. Parentage and Birth. - First Settlements in the Interior

of New Hampshire. Establishment of his Father at Salisbury.-

Scanty Opportunities of Early Education. — First Teachers, and

recent Letter to Master Tappan. — Placed at Exeter Academy.—

Anecdotes while there. Dartmouth College. Study of the

Law at Salisbury. - Residence at Fryeburg in Maine, and Occu-

pations there. Continuance of the Study of the Law at Boston,

in the Office of Hon. Christopher Gore. — Admission to the Bar

of Suffolk, Massachusetts. Commencement of Practice at Bos-

Removal to Portsmouth. Contem-

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cawen, New Hampshire.

poraries in the Profession.

CHAPTER II. .

Entrance on Public Life.

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State of Parties in 1812.

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Election to

Foreign Relations of the

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Country. — Resolutions relative to the Berlin and Milan Decrees.

- Naval Defence. - Re-elected to Congress in 1814.- Peace

with England. Projects for a National Bank. Mr. Webster's

Course on that Question. - Battle of New Orleans. New Ques-

tions arising on the Return of Peace. - Course of Prominent Men

of Different Parties. - Mr. Webster's Opinions on the Constitu-

tionality of the Tariff Policy. - The Resolution to restore Specie

Payments moved by Mr. Webster. - Removal to Boston.

Professional Character particularly in Reference to Constitutional

Law. The Dartmouth College Case argued at Washington in

The

Mr. Ticknor's Description of that Argument.

Case of Gibbons and Ogden in 1824. Mr. Justice Wayne's

Allusion to that Case in 1847. - The Case of Ogden and Saunders

in 1827.

The Case of the Proprietors of the Charles River

Bridge. The Alabama Bank Case. - The Case relative to the

Boundary between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. - The Girard

Will Case. - The Case of the Constitution of Rhode Island. —

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General Remarks on Mr. Webster's Practice in the Supreme

Court of the United States. - Practice in the State Courts. The

Case of Goodridge,
and the Case of Knapp.

CHAPTER IV. .

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The Convention to revise the Constitution of Massachusetts. — John

Adams a Delegate. Mr. Webster's Share in its Proceedings.

Speeches on Oaths of Office, Basis of Senatorial Representation,

and Independence of the Judiciary. - Centennial Anniversary at

Plymouth on the 22d of December, 1820. - Discourse delivered

by Mr. Webster. - Bunker Hill Monument, and Address by Mr.

Webster on the Laying of the Corner-Stone, 17th of June, 1825.

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- Discourse on the Completion of the Monument, 17th of June,

1843. Simultaneous Decease of Adams and Jefferson on the

4th of July, 1826. Eulogy by Mr. Webster in Faneuil Hall.

Address at the Laying of the Corner-Stone of the New Wing of

the Capitol. Remarks on the Patriotic Discourses of Mr. Webster,

and on the Character of his Eloquence in Efforts of this Class.

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CHAPTER V. .

Election to Congress from Boston.

the Eighteenth Congress.

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State of Parties. Meeting of

- Mr. Webster's Resolution and Speech

in favor of the Greeks. Argument in the Supreme Court in the

Case of Gibbons and Ogden. - Circumstances under which it was

made. Speech on the Tariff Law of 1824. A complete

Revision of the Law for the Punishment of Crimes against the

United States reported by Mr. Webster, and enacted. The

Election of Mr. Adams as President of the United States. Meet-

ing of the Nineteenth Congress, and State of Parties. - Congress

of Panama, and Mr. Webster's Speech on that Subject. — Election

as a Senator of the United States. Revision of the Tariff Law

by the Twentieth Congress. — Embarrassments of the Question.

Mr. Webster's Course and Speech on this Subject.

CHAPTER VI. .

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Election of General Jackson. - Debate on Foot's Resolution. - Sub-

ject of the Resolution, and Objects of its Mover. Mr. Hayne's

First Speech. Mr. Webster's original Participation in the

Debate unpremeditated. — His First Speech. Reply of Mr.

Hayne with increased Asperity. Mr. Webster's Great Speech.

Its Threefold Object. Description of the Manner of Mr.

Webster in the Delivery of this Speech, from Mr. March's

"Reminiscences of Congress."- Reception of his Speech through-

out the Country. The Dinner at New York. · Chancellor

Kent's Remarks. - Final Disposal of Foot's Resolution.

Report of Mr. Webster's Speech. Mr. Healey's Painting.

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CHAPTER VII.

General Character of President Jackson's Administrations. — Speedy

Discord among the Parties which had united for his Elevation.

Mr. Webster's Relations to the Administration. - Veto of the

Bank. - Rise and Progress of Nullification in South Carolina.

The Force Bill, and the Reliance of General Jackson's Adminis-

tration on Mr. Webster's Aid.

Bill, and in Opposition to Mr.

Madison's Letter on Secession.

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His Speech in Defence of the

Calhoun's Resolutions. Mr.

The Removal of the Deposits.

- The Resolution of the Senate

Motives for that Measure.

disapproving it.The President's Protest.- Mr. Webster's Speech

on the Subject of the Protest. Opinions of Chancellor Kent and

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Mr. Tazewell. -The Expunging Resolution. Mr. Webster's

Protest against it. Mr. Van Buren's Election. - The Financial

Crisis and the Extra Session of Congress. - The Government Plan

of Finance supported by Mr. Calhoun and opposed by Mr. Web-

ster. Personalities. Mr. Webster's Visit to Europe and dis-

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tinguished Reception. The Presidential Canvass of 1840.

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Election of General Harrison.

CHAPTER VIII.

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Critical State of Foreign Affairs on the Accession of General Harri-

son. - Mr. Webster appointed to the State Department. - Death

of General Harrison. - Embarrassed Relations with England.

Formation of Sir Robert Peel's Ministry, and Appointment of

Lord Ashburton as Special Minister to the United States. Course

pursued by Mr. Webster in the Negotiations. — The Northeastern

Boundary. - Peculiar Difficulties in its Settlement happily over-

come. · Other Subjects of Negotiation. Extradition of Fugitives

from Justice.
- Suppression of the Slave-Trade on the Coast of

Africa. History of that Question. - Affair of the Caroline. —

Impressment. - Other Subjects connected with the Foreign Rela-

tions of the Government. Intercourse with China. - Independ-

ence of the Sandwich Islands. — Correspondence with Mexico. —

Sound Duties and the Zoll-Verein. - Importance of Mr. Webster's

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Services as Secretary of State.

CHAPTER IX..

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Attempts

Mr. Webster resigns his Place in Mr. Tyler's Cabinet.

to draw public Attention to the projected Annexation of Texas.

-Supports Mr. Clay's Nomination for the Presidency. — Causes

of the Failure of that Nomination. - Mr. Webster returns to the

Senate of the United States. Admission of Texas to the Union.

-The War with Mexico. Mr. Webster's Course in Reference

to the War. Death of Major Webster in Mexico. - Mr. Web-

ster's unfavorable Opinion of the Mexican Government. · Settle-

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ment of the Oregon Controversy. Mr. Webster's Agency in

effecting the Adjustment. Revival of the Sub-Treasury System

and Repeal of the Tariff Law of 1842. - Southern Tour.

Success of the Mexican War and Acquisition of the Mexican

Provinces. Efforts in Congress to organize a Territorial Govern-

ment for these Provinces. · Great Exertions of Mr. Webster on

the last Night of the Session. Nomination of General Taylor,

and Course of Mr. Webster in Reference to it. A Constitution

of State Government adopted by California prohibiting Slavery.

Increase of Antislavery Agitation. Alarming State of Affairs.

- Mr. Webster's Speech for the Union. — Circumstances under

which it was made, and Motives by which he was influenced.

General Taylor's Death, and the Accession of Mr. Fillmore to

the Presidency. Mr. Webster called to the Department of

State.

CHAPTER X. .

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Personal Appearance and Habits of Mr. Webster. A Member of

Mr. Fillmore's Cabinet. Efforts to rally the Whigs to a support

of the Compromise. Speech of 4 July, 1851. - Foreign ques-

tions: Hungary, Cuba, Nicaragua. Accident. - Action of the

Boston. — Last

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Whig Nominating Convention. - Reception at

Illness and Death. - Remarks at Public Services.

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A Discourse delivered at Plymouth, on the 22d of December, 1820.

THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT

An Address delivered at the Laying of the Corner-Stone of the

Bunker Hill Monument at Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the

17th of June, 1825.

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231

THE COMPLETION OF THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT .

An Address delivered on Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, 1843,

on Occasion of the Completion of the Monument.

255

285

ADAMS AND JEFFERSON

A Discourse in Commemoration of the Lives and Services of John

Adams and Thomas Jefferson, delivered in Faneuil Hall, Boston,

on the 2d of August, 1826.

The Embarkation of the Pilgrims from Delft-Haven

From the painting by Edgar Parker after the picture by Robert
W. Weir, in the Rotunda of the Capitol, Washington

The Battle of Bunker Hill .

From the painting by John Trumbull, in the Yale School
of Fine Arts, New Haven, Conn.

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