His friends in Boston and elsewhere, and the Whigs generally, were disposed to think his alarm ill-founded.

They were absorbed in the coming presidential election, and were too ready to do Mr.
Webster the injustice of supposing that his views upon the probability of annexation sprang from jealousy of Mr.Clay.The suspicion was unfounded and unfair.

Mr.Webster was wholly right and perfectly sincere.

He did a good deal in an attempt to rouse the North.

The only criticism to be made is that he did not do more.