He also refused to allow New Hampshire to mar party harmony by bringing his name forward.

When Mr.Clay was nominated, in May, 1844, Mr.Webster, who had beheld with anxiety the rise of the Liberty party and prophesied the annexation of Texas, decided, although he was dissatisfied with the silence of the Whigs on this subject, to sustain their candidate.

This was undoubtedly the wisest course; and, having once enlisted, he gave Mr.Clay a hearty and vigorous support, making a series of powerful speeches, chiefly on the tariff, and second in variety and ability only to those which he had delivered in the Harrison campaign.

Mr.Clay was defeated largely by the action of the Liberty party, and the silence of the Whigs about Texas and slavery cost them the election.

At the beginning of the year Mr.Webster had declined a reelection to the Senate, but it was impossible for him to remain out of politics, and the pressure to return soon became too strong to be resisted.