CHAPTER XV. 1828-1829. INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT JACKSON-DEATH OF MR. EZEKIEL WEBSTER-SECOND MARRIAGE. TH HE second session of the Twentieth Congress found Mr. Webster, in December, 1828, again in the Senate and in the Supreme Court. Great uncertainty prevailed at Washington concerning the course likely to be taken by the Presidentelect. General Jackson remained in Tennessee, answering very few of the multitude of letters that were sent to him, urging him to make a general removal of the incumbents of the public offices. It was not known who were to form his Cabinet. Of this state of "syncope," arising from ignorance of the views of the new President, Mr. Webster writes, in January, 1828: "My opinion is, that, when he comes, he will bring a breeze with him. Which way it will blow, I cannot tell. "He will either go with the party, as they say in New York, or go 'the whole hog,' as it is phrased elsewhere, making all the places he can for his friends and supporters, and shaking a rod of terror at his opposers. "Or else he will continue to keep his own counsels, make friends and advisers of whom he pleases, and be President upon his own strength. "The first would show boldness where there is no danger, and decision where the opposite virtue of moderation would be more useful. The latter would show real nerve, and, if he have talents to maintain himself in that course, true greatness. "My fear is stronger than my hope. "Mr. Adams is in good health, and complains not at all of the measure meted out to him. "Mr. Clay's health is much improved, and his spirits excellent. He goes to Kentucky in March, and, I conjecture, will be pressed into the next House of Representatives. His chance of being at the head of affairs is now better, in my judgment, than ever before. "Keep New England firm and steady, and she may make him President if she chooses. "Sundry important nominations are postponed, probably to know General Jackson's pleasure. "The above contains all that is known here at this time." General Jackson arrived in due time, and the "breeze" which he brought and the direction in which it blew are well known. Mr. Webster was disposed to look on calmly; and he was certainly much amused with whatever was going on. as well as greatly anxious about what was to ensue. [TO MRS. EZEKIEL WEBSTER.] "SENATE-CHAMBER, February 19, 1829. "MY DEAR SISTER: I must begin with apology; or, let me rather say, with confession; for, though I am willing to confess great and censurable omissions, I have little to urge by way of apology, and nothing which amounts to justification. Let me pray you, therefore, in the exercise of your clemency, to adopt the rule which Hamlet prescribes for passing judg ment on the players. Do not treat me according to my deserts, for, if so, 'who would escape whipping;' but, according to your bounty and dignity, the less I deserve forgiveness, the more will forgiveness exalt your forbearance and mercy. “The children, under your good superintendence, have written me continually, day by day, very good letters. Mr. Paige, also, has been kind, as he always is. "Your own letters have completed my circle of domestic correspondence, and I must say that it has been very punctual, and highly gratifying. And now what can I tell you worth hearing? "General Jackson has been here about ten days. Of course, the city is full of speculation and speculators. A great multitude,' too many to be fed without a miracle, are already in the city, hungry for office. Especially, I learn, that the typographical corps is assembled in great force. From New Hampshire, our friend Hill; from Boston, Mr. Greene; from Connecticut, Mr. Norton; from New York, Mr. Noah; fron Kentucky, Mr. Kendall; and, from everywhere else, somebody else. So many friends ready to advise, and whose advice is so disinterested, make somewhat of a numerous council about the President-elect; and, if report be true, it is a council which only makes that darker which was dark enough before.' For these reasons, or these with others, nothing is settled yet about the new Cabinet. I suppose Mr. Van Buren will be Secretary of State; but, beyond that, I do not think any thing is yet determined. "For ten or twelve days our Senate has been acting, with closed doors, on certain nominations to office by Mr. Adams. What we have done is not yet known, though one day it will be, probably. "The general spirit prevailing here, with the friends of the new President, is that of a pretty decided party character. It is not quite so fierce as our New-England Jackson men are actuated by; still, I think it likely to grow more and more bitter, unless, which is highly probable, the party itself should divide. "We have all read the dispute between Mr. Adams and the Boston gentlemen. Thus far, I believe, the universal feeling is, that Mr. Adams has the worst side of it. I hear, however, that he is about to reply in another pamphlet ! The fashionable world is, and has been, full and gay. Crowds have come, and are coming, to see the inauguration, etc. I have been to three parties—to wit, Mrs. Adams's last, Mrs. Clay's last, and Mrs. Porter's last. Mrs. Porter, wife of the Secretary of War, is a fine woman, whom we visited at Niagara, when there four years ago. With these manifestations of regard for the setting sun and stars, I have satisfied my desire of seeing the social circles. If there should be a ball on the 22d, I shall attend as usual, to commemorate the great and good man born on that day. "Judge Story is well, and in his usual spirits. The court is deeply engaged, and, as soon as I get rid of these secret sessions of the Senate, I have enough to do in it. "We are looking to New Hampshire; I shall not engage lodgings for you and your husband next winter, till I see the returns.' [Conclusion cut off.] [TO MRS. EZEKIEL WEBSTER.] "WASHINGTON, March 4, 1829. "First year of the Administration of Andrew Jackson, and the first day. "MY DEAR SISTER: I thank you for yours, received to-day; and thank you both for the letter itself and for your pardon which it contains, and of which I stood in so much need. Your benignity is memorable and praiseworthy. To be serious, however, my dear sister, let me say, once for all, that I have a very affectionate regard for you, that I am very glad you are my sister, and the wife of the best of all brothers; and if, like him, I am not the most punctual of all correspondents, I am like him in sincerity and constancy of esteem. If you find in your connection with my own 1 Mr. E. Webster had reluctantly con- shire for a seat in Congress; but he was sented to be a candidate in New Hamp- not elected. little broken circle but one-half as much pleasure as you bestow, you will have no reason to regret it. Your presence with my children through the winter has relieved me from a pressing weight of anxiety. "To-day we have had the inauguration. A monstrous crowd of people is in the city. I never saw any thing like it before. Persons have come five hundred miles to see General Jackson; and they really seem to think that the country is rescued from some dreadful danger. "The inauguration speech you will see. I cannot make much of it, except that it is anti-tariff, at least in some degree. What it says about reform in office may be either a prelude to a general change in office, or a mere sop to soothe the hunger, without satisfying it, of the thousand expectants for office who throng the city, and clamor all over the country. I expect some changes, but not a great many at present. The show lasted only about half an hour. The Senate assembled at eleven; the judges and foreign ministers came in; the President-elect was introduced, and all seated by half-past eleven. The Senate was full of ladies; a pause ensued till twelve. Then the President, followed by the Senate, etc., went through the great rotunda, and all became confusion. On the portico, in the open air, the day very warm and pleasant, he read his inaugural, and took the oath. A great shout followed from the multitude, and, in fifteen minutes, 'silence settled deep and still.' Everybody was dispersed. As I walked home, I called in at a bookstore, and saw a volume which I now send you; it may serve to regulate matters of etiquette at Boscawen. "I hope to write Edward to-night. If not, I shall not fail to do so to morrow. Yours very sincerely and truly, "D. WEBSTER." [TO MR. EZEKIEL WEBSTER.] "WASHINGTON, Sunday Evening, March 15, 1829. "DEAR EZEKIEL: The Senate will probably adjourn to-morrow, and 1 hope the court will rise, or, at least, will dismiss me by Wednesday or Thursday. I shall be immediately off. My books are in trunks. I shall hear from New Hampshire to-morrow, and dispose of them according to circumstances. If no change takes place in my own condition, of which I have not the slightest expectation, and if you are not elected, I shall not return. This, inter nos, but my mind is settled. Under present circumstances, public and domestic, it is disagreeable being here, and to me there is no novelty to make compensation. It will be better for me and my children that I should be with them. If I do not come in a public, I shall not in a professional character. I can leave the court now as well as ever, and can earn my bread as well at home as here. "Your company, and that of your wife, would make a great difference. I have not much expectation that you will be returned. Our fortune is, as connected with recent and current events, that, if there be opposite chances, the unfavorable one turns up. You had a snow of five feet, which of itself might turn the election against the well-disposed and indifferent, and in favor of the mischievous and the active. I shall not be disappointed if I hear bad news. "I make my point to be home the first day of April, when I trust I shall meet you. We will then settle what is best to do with the children. I shall want Julia and Edward to stay a little while with me. Edward, I think, should then go to Boscawen. I hardly know what I shall think best to do with Julia. ' 66 Yours, as ever, "D. WEBSTER. “P. S.—We have had one important cause here. It is from New York, respecting what is called the Sailors' Snug Harbor. I have made a greater exertion in it than in any other since Dartmouth College vs. Woodward, or than it is probable I shall ever make in another." But this was the last of the hopes that turned on the future society of his brother and the excellent lady who had had the care of his children through the preceding winter. Mr. Webster arrived at his own house, in Boston, in the second week in April, 1829. Mrs. Ezekiel Webster was there, with her eldest daughter. At three o'clock in the morning of the eleventh a messenger brought the sad intelligence that Mr. Ezekiel Webster had died suddenly on the previous day. His death, which was instantaneous, occurred in the court-house at Concord, New Hampshire, while he was addressing a jury.' I borrow the words of his son-in-law, Professor Sanborn, of Dartmouth College: "Mr. Webster was speaking, standing erect, on a plain floor, the house full, and the court and jurors and auditors intently listening to his words, with all their eyes fastened upon him. Speaking with full force, and perfect utterance, he arrived at the end of one branch of his argument. He closed that branch, uttered the last sentence, and the last word of that sentence, with perfect tone and emphasis, and then, in an instant, erect, and with arms depending by his side, he fell backward, without bending a joint, and, so far as appeared, was dead before his head reached the floor." He was at the age of only forty-nine at the time of his death. He was a man of high talent, much professional learning, and He died of a disease of the heart, of which Mr. Daniel Webster had long known the existence, although I am not aware that they ever spoke of it to each other. 2 Correspondence, i., 42. 2 |