Editing Daniel Webster (section)

===Taylor administration, 1849–1850===
{{see also|Presidency of Zachary Taylor}}
{{quote box|style=background:#b0c4de; width:35em; max-width: 40%
|quote =
I shall stand by the Union...with absolute disregard of personal consequences. What are personal consequences...in comparison with the good or evil that may befall a great country in a crisis like this?...Let the consequences be what they will.... No man can suffer too much, and no man can fall too soon, if he suffer or if he fall in defense of the liberties and constitution of his country.
| source = '''Daniel Webster''' (''July 17, 1850 address to the Senate'')
}}

Having only tepidly endorsed Taylor's campaign, Webster was excluded from the new administration's Cabinet and was not consulted on major appointments.{{sfn|Remini|1997|pp=656–660}} After the 1848 election, the fate of the territories acquired in the Mexican-American War became a major subject of debate in Congress, as Northern and Southern leaders quarreled over the extension of slavery.{{sfn|Remini|1997|pp=658–659}} In January 1850, Clay introduced a plan which combined the major subjects under discussion. His legislative package included the admission of [[California]] as a free state, the [[State cessions|cession]] by Texas of some of its northern and western territorial claims in return for debt relief, the establishment of [[New Mexico Territory|New Mexico]] and [[Utah Territory|Utah]] territories, a ban on the importation of slaves into the District of Columbia for sale, and a more stringent [[fugitive slave law]].{{sfn|Smith|1988|pp=111–112}} The plan faced opposition from strongly pro-slavery Southern leaders like Calhoun{{sfn|Smith|1988|pp=112–113, 117}} and anti-slavery Northerners like [[William Seward]] and [[Salmon Chase]].{{sfn|Smith|1988|pp=119–120}} President Taylor also opposed Clay's proposal, since he favored granting California statehood immediately and denied the legitimacy of Texas's claims over New Mexico.{{sfn|Smith|1988|pp=136–142}}

{{anchor|Seventh of March Speech}}<!--[[Seventh of March Speech]] redirects here-->Clay had won Webster's backing for his proposal before presenting it to Congress, and Webster provided strong support for Clay's bill in the Senate.{{sfn|Remini|1997|pp=665–666}} In what became known as the "Seventh of March Speech", Webster attacked Northerners and Southerners alike for stirring up tensions over slavery. He admonished Northerners for obstructing the return of [[Fugitive slaves in the United States|fugitive slaves]] but attacked Southern leaders for openly contemplating secession.{{sfn|Remini|1997|pp=669–673}} After the speech, Webster was bitterly attacked by New England [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionists]]. [[Theodore Parker]] complained, "No living man has done so much to debauch the conscience of the nation," while [[Horace Mann]] described Webster as "a fallen star! Lucifer descending from Heaven!"<ref>{{cite book|last=Kennedy|title=Profiles in Courage| year=2004| pages=69–70}}</ref> In contrast to that view, [[James G. Blaine]] wrote a few decades later:

{{blockquote| Mr. Webster had in his own lifetime seen the thirteen colonies grow into thirty powerful States. He had seen three millions of people, enfeebled and impoverished by a long struggle, increased eightfold in number, surrounded by all the comforts, charms, and securities of life. All this spoke to him of the Union and of its priceless blessings. He now heard its advantages discussed, its perpetuity doubted, its existence threatened.&nbsp;... Mr. Webster felt that a generation had been born who were undervaluing their inheritance, and who might, by temerity, destroy it. Under motives inspired by these surroundings, he spoke for the preservation of the Union.<ref name=Blaine>[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/21128/pg21128.html Blaine, James Gillespie, ''Twenty Years of Congress'', Vol. 1, Ch. V.]</ref>}}
The debate over Clay's compromise proposal continued into July 1850, when Taylor suddenly and unexpectedly died of an illness.{{sfn|Remini|1997|p=683}}