By this proviso slavery was to be excluded from all territory thereafter acquired or annexed by the United States.

A fortnight later Mr.Webster, who was opposed to the acquisition of more territory on any terms, introduced two resolutions in the Senate, declaring that the war ought not to be prosecuted for the acquisition of territory, and that Mexico should be informed that we did not aim at seizing her domain.

A similar resolution was offered by Mr.Berrien of Georgia, and defeated by a party vote.

On this occasion Mr.Webster spoke with great force and in a tone of solemn warning against the whole policy of territorial aggrandizement.

He denounced all that had been done in this direction, and attacked with telling force the Northern democracy, which, while it opposed slavery and favored the Wilmot Proviso, was yet ready to admit new territory, even without the proviso.