Henry Hallam, the historian, wrote of him:  “Mr. Webster approaches as nearly to the beau ideal of a republican senator as any man that I have ever seen in the course of my life.”

Even the Queen invited him to dine with her; and she was much pleased with his dignified ways and noble bearing.

And, indeed, his appearance was such as to win the respect of all who saw him.  When he walked the streets of London, people would stop and wonder who the noble stranger was; and workingmen whispered to one another:  “There goes a king!”

* * * * *

XV.—­THE LAST YEARS.

Many people believed that Daniel Webster would finally be elected president of the United States.  And, indeed, there was no man in all this country who was better fitted for that high position than he.

But it so happened that inferior men, who were willing to stoop to the tricks of politics, always stepped in before him.

In the meanwhile the question of slavery was becoming, every day, more and more important.  It was the one subject which claimed everybody’s attention.

Should slavery be allowed in the territories?

There was great excitement all over the country.  There were many hot debates in Congress.  It seemed as though the Union would be destroyed.

At last, the wiser and cooler-headed leaders in Congress said, “Let each side give up a little to the other.  Let us have a compromise.”

On the 7th of March, 1850, Mr. Webster delivered a speech before the senate.  It was a speech in favor of compromise, in favor of conciliation.

He thought that this was the only way to preserve the Union.  And he was willing to sacrifice everything for the Constitution and the Union.

He declared that all the ends he aimed at were for his country’s good.

“I speak to-day for the preservation of the Union,” he said.  “Hear me for my cause!  I speak to-day out of a solicitous and anxious heart, for the restoration to the country of that quiet and harmony, which make the blessings of this Union so rich and so dear to us all.”

He then went on to defend the law known as the Fugitive Slave Law.  He declared that this law was in accordance with the Constitution, and hence it should be enforced according to its true meaning.

The speech was a great disappointment to his friends.  They said that he had deserted them; that he had gone over to their enemies; that he was no longer a champion of freedom, but of slavery.

Those who had been his warmest supporters, now turned against him.

A few months after this, President Taylor died.  The vice-president, Millard Fillmore, then became president.  Mr. Fillmore was in sympathy with Daniel Webster, and soon gave him a seat in his cabinet as secretary of state.

This was the second time that Mr. Webster had been called to fill this high and honorable position.  But, under President Fillmore, he did no very great or important thing.