on Taylor’s nomination, 295;
  adheres to Whigs, declares his belief in Free Soil principles, 296;
  effort to put slavery aside, 297;
  plan for dealing with slavery in Mexican conquests, refutes Calhoun’s
    argument as to Constitution in territories, 298;
  Clay’s plan of compromise submitted to, 300;
  delivers 7th of March speech, 301;
  analysis of 7th of March speech, 301, 302;
  speech disapproved at the North, 303;
  previous course as to slavery summed up, change after reply to Hayne,
    304;
  grievances of South, 305;
  treatment of Fugitive Slave Law, 305-308;
  course in regard to general policy of compromise; merits of that policy,
    308-312;
  views as to danger of secession, 313, 314;
  necessity of compromise in 1850, 315;
  attitude of various parties in regard to slavery, 316;
  wishes to finally settle slavery question, 317;
  treatment of extension of slavery, 318;
  disregards use of slaves in mines, 319;
  inconsistent on this point, 321;
  interviews with Giddings and Free-Soilers, 322;
  real object of speech, 323;
  immediate effect of speech in producing conservative reaction, 324;
  compliments Southern leaders in 7th of March speech, 325, 326;
  effort to sustain the compromise measures, bitter tone, 327;
  attacks anti-slavery movement, 328, 329;
  uneasiness evident, 330;
  motives of speech, 330-332;
  accepts secretaryship of state, 333;
  writes the Huelsemann letter, 334;
  treatment of Kossuth and Hungarian question, 335;
  of other affairs of the department, 336: 
  hopes for nomination for presidency, 337;
  belief that he will be nominated, 338;
  loss of the nomination, 339;
  refuses to support Scott, 340;
  character of such a course, 341-343;
  declining health, accident at Marshfield, 344;
  death and burial, 345;
  disappointments in his later years, 346;
  his great success in life, 347;
  his presence, 348;
  character of his intellect, 348, 349;
  dignity, 349;
  character as a statesman, 350;
  sense of humor, 351;
  charm in conversation, 352;
  large nature, love of large things, 353;
  affection, generosity, treatment of friends, 355;
  admired but not generally popular, 356;
  distrust of his sincerity, 355, 356;
  failings, indifference to debt, 356;
  extravagance, 357;
  attacked on money matters, 358;
  attitude toward New England capitalists and in regard to sources of
    money, 359;
  moral force not equal to intellectual, 360;
  devotion to Union, place in history, 361-362.

Webster, Ebenezer, born in Kingston, enlists in “Rangers,” 5;
  settles at Salisbury, 6;
  marries again, serves in Revolution, 7;
  physical and mental qualities, 8;
  made a judge, 11;
  resolves to educate Daniel, 12;
  consents to let Ezekiel go to college, 24;
  disappointment at Daniel’s refusal of clerkship, 31;
  death, 32;
  strong federalist, anecdote, 48.