The formation of the Liberty party, in the summer of 1843, appeared to him a very grave circumstance.

He had always understood the force of the anti-slavery movement at the North, and it was with much anxiety that he now saw it take definite shape, and assume extreme grounds of opposition.
This feeling of anxiety was heightened when he discovered, in the following winter, while in attendance upon the Supreme Court at Washington, the intention of the administration to bring about the annexation of Texas, and spring the scheme suddenly upon the country.

This policy, with its consequence of an enormous extension of slave territory, Mr.Webster had always vigorously and consistently opposed, and he was now thoroughly alarmed.

He saw what an effect the annexation would produce upon the anti-slavery movement, and he dreaded the results.

He therefore procured the introduction of a resolution in Congress against annexation; wrote some articles in the newspapers against it himself; stirred up his friends in Washington and New York to do the same, and endeavored to start public meetings in Massachusetts.