WEBSTER 531 and certainly a more brilliant parliamentary success was never achieved. At the close of the second day Mr. Hayne attempted a reply. He spoke only about half an hour, principally in answer to Mr. Webster's constitutional ar- gument, and reaffirming the South Carolina theory ; but the report of the speech filled 19 columns in the public journals. Mr. Webster made a brief rejoinder, including a recapitula- tion of his own argument, which for conden- sation and force may be cited as a specimen of parliamentary logic never surpassed. The speech was more widely circulated throughout the country than any that had ever before been made, and except in South Carolina was universally considered as having given the coup de grdce to the doctrine that it is compe- tent for an individual state to annul an act of congress. From this time to the accession of Gen. Harrison to the presidency in 1841, the principal occurrences were the breaking up of the combinations which had borne Gen. Jack- son into the presidency ; the rejection of Mr. Van Buren's nomination as minister to Eng- land by the united votes of Messrs. Webster, Clay, and Calhoun, and their friends ; the bill to recharter the bank of the United States, and its veto by President Jackson ; the ordi- nance of nullification adopted by South Caro- lina ; the force bill in congress ; the compro- mise tariff of Mr. Clay; the removal of the public deposits from the bank of the United States and their distribution among the local banks ; the resolution of the senate disapprov- ing of that measure, and the message from the president protesting against the resolution ; the expunging resolution ; the election of Mr. Van Buren to the presidency; the financial crisis of 1837, and the extra session of con- gress occasioned by it, with the new govern- ment plan of finance. These events furnished the topics of a series of debates in the senate, in all of which Mr. Webster took a leading part. Mr. Webster's argument on what was called the " subtreasury " system of the ad- ministration was the most elaborate and effec- tive of his speeches on the currency. In the spring of 1839 Mr. Webster crossed the Atlantic and made a hasty tour in England, Scotland, and France. Returning in the early winter, he yielded the most efficient aid in bringing about the great political change which was consum- mated in the election of Gen. Harrison to the presidency. His own name had been promi- nently brought forward as candidate for vice president, but, in conformity with the almost invariable usage of the political parties, it was deemed expedient that the candidates for the two offices should not be from the same section of the Union. On this ground Mr. Webster withdrew his name, and that of Mr. Tyler was substituted. Gen. Harrison, as soon as it was ascertained that he was elected, offered to Mr. Webster the choice of places in his cabinet. The condition of the foreign relations of the country was extremely critical, and it was finally decided that he should take charge of the department of state. Harrison's death and the succession of Mr. Tyler to the presi- dency menaced the harmony of the admin- istration, and finally overturned it; but no changes took place immediately. Our rela- tions with England demanded prompt atten- tion. The differences between the two gov- ernments relative to the northeastern boun- dary, which for nearly two generations had tasked to the utmost the resources of diplo- macy, the affair of the Caroline and McLeod, and the detention and search of American ves- sels by British cruisers on the coast of Africa, were subjects of controversy which impera- tively demanded a peaceful solution. Fortu- nately a change of ministry took place in Eng- land at the end of August, 1841, and the new administrations in both countries were able to address themselves to the difficult task of a comprehensive settlement. Lord Ashburton was sent as a special envoy to the United States, and in a few months a convention was agreed upon equally advantageous and honorable to both parties. Mr. Webster retired from the administration of Mr. Tyler in the spring of 1843, the other members of the cabinet having resigned their places in the preceding summer. His continuance in office after the president's change of policy had been severely blamed in some quarters ; but the critical state of foreign relations and Mr. Tyler's undiminished confi- dence in him were deemed sufficient justifica- tion by the more moderate of his party. He remained in private life during the residue of Mr. Tyler's administration, for the first time in 20 years, occupied more than ever with pro- fessional duties. In the autumn of 1844 he supported Mr. Clay's nomination to the presi- dency. The question at issue was the annexa- tion of Texas, and was decided in favor of that measure by the election of Mr. Polk. At the first session of the 29th congress (December, 1845) Mr. Webster- took his seat in the senate of the United States, as the successor of Mr. Choate. He opposed the annexation of Texas as unconstitutional, but he thought it his duty, after the war with Mexico was actually com- menced, not to withhold the supplies which were required for the sustenance and reen- forcement of our troops. His second son, Ed- ward, obtained a major's commission in Gen. Scott's army, and died in the city of Mexico. The Oregon boundary question was settled at this time, and Mr. Webster, though holding no executive office, was able, through private channels of influence in England, to contribute materially to this result. In the spring of 1847 he set out upon a visit to the southern states, where he was uniformly received with cor- diality, especially at Charleston, Columbia, Au- gusta, and Savannah. At Savannah he was threatened with severe illness, and obliged to abandon the further prosecution of his tour. In the course of this year the Mexican war was brought to a triumphant close. Mr. Web-
