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"the nomination was not fit to be made" but he argued that General Taylor was personally a brave and honorable man, and as the choice lay between him and the Democratic candidate, General Cass, he should vote for Taylor and advise all his friends to do so.

After Taylor was elected and before he was inaugurated, in the winter of 1848-49, there began a conflict in Congress which led to the delivery of Webster's celebrated address on "The Compromises of the Constitution."

This speech which called forth much severe criticism, was strongly in favor of the Union. Indeed his great love for the Union was apparently the cause of the great mistake of his life which was voiced in this speech, for as he advanced in years he became so anxious for peace between the North and South, that he advocated the great compromise of Henry Clay in regard to slavery.

The main features of the compromise being the admission of California with her free Constitution; the organization of the acquired territory without reference to slavery; a guaranty of the existence of slavery in the District of Columbia, until Maryland should consent to its abolition; provision for the more effectual enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law, and a declaration that Congress had no power over the slave trade, between the slave holding

states.

Webster, the invincible, had become anxious for peace at any price, and he felt that the rising tide of the free soil movement in the north must be checked, or civil war and possibly a disruption of the Union would result.

He wished to act as a peace maker between the aggres

sive South, bound together by slavery, as the greatest political force in the country, and the Free Soil party with its earnest moral sentiment without political power.

But "God and one make a majority," and a few years more, saw the little Free Soil party in 1856 polling nearly a million and a half of votes for Fremont. After that, its strides were magnificent, but freedom was blood bought,

and dearly our Republic

paid for the support which she had given to a great and terrible wrong.

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General Taylor died suddenly on July 9, 1850, and Fillmore succeeded to the Presidency. He at once offered the portfolio of State to Mr. Webster, who accepted it, resigned his seat in the Senate, and on July23, assumed the new position. It is true that during the second term of office as Secretary of State, there was no great international negotiation like that of the Ashburton treaty, but there were many questions of an important character which were adjusted with Mr. Webster's usual tact and ability.

Millard Fillmore. Thirteenth President Born 1800. Died 1874.

Besides his official duties, a vast amount of matter from his pen found its way into the public prints, as his utterances upon all important topics were freely circulated and read.

In the meantime, another presidential election was

drawing near, and another attempt was made to secure the Whig nomination for Webster.

It was evidently the last opportunity which his country would have for conferring this honor upon him, for he was now advancing in years, and his health was by no means assured. His nomination was also desired by a large body of men throughout the country, who did not ordinarily take a very active interest in politics, but who looked to him as an exponent of the highest principles, as well as a representative of the greatest ability of the nation.

His administration of the Department of State had always been considered prudent and successful, while his services to the party seemed to make him the legitimate candidate.

His friends made a formal and organized movement, the Webster delegates being led by Mr. Choate who went to Washington, before the convention assembled, to interview his chief. Choate himself was not very hopeful of the result, but he found Webster so sure of the nomination, and so happy in his approaching success, that he had not the heart to communicate his own fears.

The Whig convention assembled in Baltimore on the 10th of June, 1852, and remained in session six days. The nomination of Webster might have been secured but for the fact, that a large number of delegates had come with the determination of making Fillmore the candidate.

Through fifty-two successive ballots, the great majority continued to divide their votes between Fillmore and Webster, thus making it probable that in the end General Scott would be the successful candidate. And thus it

happened, for on the fifty-third ballot, Scott received more than the necessary number of votes, and poor Webster was again bitterly disappointed.

The most brilliant man by far

General Winfield Scott. Born 1786. Died 1866.

in his party, and one who had given a long life to the advancing of her interests, was in the end ignored by the very men he had so faithfully served. It was little wonder that the old party as such scarcely survived his death.

Mr. Webster's health had not been very good for some time, and he seemed to fail faster after this last great disappointment. In May

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of 1852 while driving near Marshfield, he had been thrown from his carriage and severely injured, and during the following summer he failed rapidly. At the earnest request of the President however, he retained his position, and continued to transact the business of his department until the 8th of September when he returned to Marshfield, never again to visit the capitol of his country. The distinguished patient seemed to feel that his life work

was done. On Sunday evening of October 10th his friend, and secretary, G. J. Abbott, was with him, and Mr. Webster desired him to read aloud the ninth chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and afterwards requested him to turn to the tenth chapter of John. He then dictated an inscription which he said was to be placed upon his monument. A few days later (on the 15th) he revised and corrected this document with his own hand, wrote out a fair copy and signed it. It reads as follows:

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

"Philosophical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my reason for the faith that is in me; but my heart has assured and reassured me, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be a Divine Reality.

"The Sermon on the Mount cannot be a merely human production. This belief enters into the very depth of my conscience. The whole history of man proves it.

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When he first dictated this inscription, he said to Mr. Abbott: "If I get well and write the book on Christianity, about which we have talked, we can attend more fully to this matter. But if I should be taken away suddenly, I do not wish to leave any duty of this kind unperformed. I want to leave somewhere, a declaration of my belief in Christianity. I do not wish to go into any doctrinal distinctions in regard to the person of Jesus, but I wish to express my belief in His divine mission."

His patriotism also remained strong and healthful even while the body grew weaker. He had a little boat on the pond back of his house, and during his illness he gave orders to have the flag run up to the mast-head and illu

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