DEDICATION

OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

TO MY NIECES,

MRS. ALICE BRIDGE WHIFFLE,

AltO

MRS. MARY ANN SANBORN:

«

Many of the Speeches contained in this volume were delivered and printed in the lifetime of your father, whose fraternal affection led him to speak of them with approbation.

His death, which happened when he had only just past the middle period of life, left you without a father, and me without a brother. . I dedicate this volume to you, not only for the love I have for yourselves, but also as a tribute of affection to his memory, and from a desire that the name of my brother,

EZEKIEL WEBSTER,

may be associated with mine, so long as any thing written or spoken by me shall be regarded or read.

DANIEL WEBSTER.

CONTENTS

OF THE FIEST VOLUME.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR.

Pau

Chapter I xiii

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

Parentage and Birth. — First Settlements in the Interior of New Hamp-

shire. — Establishment of his Father at Salisbury. — Scanty Opportunities

of Early Education. — First Teachers, and recent Letter to Master Tap-

pan. — Placed at Exeter Academy. — Anecdotes while there. — Dart-

mouth College. — Study of the Law at Salisbury. — Residence at Frye-

burg in Maine, and Occupations 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

Boscawcn, New Hampshire. — Removal to Portsmouth.— Contemporaries

in the Profession.—Increasing Practice. •

Chapter II xxxiii

Entrance on Public Life. — State of Parties in 1812. — Election to Congress.

— Extra Session of 1813. — Foreign Relations of the Country. — Resolu-

tions 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 Questions arising on the Return of Peace. — Course

of Prominent Men of Different Parties. — Mr. Webster's Opinions on the

Constitutionality of the Tariff Policy. — The Resolution to restore Specie

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

Chapter III xlviii

Professional Character particularly in Reference to Constitutional Law.—

The Dartmouth College Caso argued at Washington in 1818. — Mr. Tick-

nor's Description of that Argument. — The Case of Gibbons and Ogden

in 1824. — Mr. Justice Wayne's Allusion to that Case in 1847.— The

Case of Ogden and Saundcrs in 1827. — The Case of the Proprietors of

the Charles River Bridge. — The Alabama Bank Case. — The Case rela-

tive to the Boundary between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. — The

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

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. Ix

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. — Discourse on the Completion of the Monu-

ment, 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.

Chapter V. Ixxii

Election to Congress from Boston. — State of Parties. — Meeting of the

Eighteenth Congress. — Mr. Webster's Resolution and Speech in favor of

the Greeks. — Argument in the Supreme Court in the Case of Gibbons

and Ogdeu. — Circumstances under which it was made. — Speech on the

Tariff Law of 1824. — A complete Revision of the Law for the Punish-

ment of Crimes against the United States reported by Mr. Webster, and

enacted. — The Election of Mr. Adams as President of the United States.

— Meeting 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 Twen-

tieth Congress. — Embarrassments of the Question. — Mr. Webster's

Course and Speech on this Subject.

fjHAPTER VI l.XXXvii

Election of General Jackson. — Debate on Foot's Resolution. — Subject 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 throughout 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.

Chapter VII. ci

General Character of President Jackson's Administrations. — Speedy Dis-

cord among the Parties which had united for his Elevation. — Mr. Web-

ster'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 Administration on Mr. "Webster's Aid.—

His Speech in Defence of the Bill, and in Opposition to Mr. Calhoun's

Resolutions. — Mr. Madison's Letter on Secession. — The Removal of the

Deposits. — Motives for that Measure. — The Resolution of the Senate

disapproving it. — The President's Protest. — Mr. JJebster's Speech on

the Subject of the Protest. — Opinions of Chancellor Kent and Mr. Taze-

well. — The Expunging Resolution. — Mr. Webster's Protest against it.

— Mr. Van Buren's Election. — The Financial Crisis and the Extra Ses-

sion of Congress. — The Government Plan of Finance supported by Mr.

Calhoun and opposed by Mr. Webster. — Personalities. — Mr. Webster's

Visit to Europe and distinguished Reception. — The Presidential Canvass

of 1840. — Election of General Harrison.

Chapter VIII cxix

Critical State of Foreign Affairs on the Accession of General Harrison. —

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 overcome. — Other Subjects of Negotiation. — Extra-

dition 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 Relations of

the Government. — Intercourse with China. — Independence of the Sand-

wich Islands. — Correspondence with Mexico. — Sound Duties and the

Zoll-Verein. — Importance of Mr. Webster's Services as Secretary of

State.

Chapter IX cxliii

Mr. Webster resigns his Place in Mr. Tyler's Cabinet. — Attempts 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 AVar with Mexico. — Mr.

Webster's Course in Reference to the War. — Death of Major Webster in

Mexico. — Mr. Webster's unfavorable Opinion of the Mexican Govern-

ment. — Settlement 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 Government for these Provinces.—

Great Exertions of Mr. Webster on the last Night of the Session. — Nomi-

nation of General Taylor, and Course of Mr. Webster in Reference to it.

— A Constitution of State Government adopted by California prohibiting

Slavery. — Increase of Antislavcry 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. Web-

ster called to the Department of State.