What Mr.Webster's views had always been on the subject of slavery extension every one knew then and knows now.

He had been the steady and uncompromising opponent of the Southern policy, and in season and out of season, sometimes vehemently sometimes gently, but always with firmness and clearness, he had declared against it.

The only question is, whether he departed from these often-expressed opinions on the 7th of March.

In the speech itself he declared that he had not abated one jot in his views in this respect, and he argued at great length to prove his consistency, which, if it were to be easily seen of men, certainly needed neither defence nor explanation.

The crucial point was, whether, in organizing the new territories, the principle of the Wilmot Proviso should be adopted as part of the measure.
This famous proviso Mr.Webster had declared in 1847 to represent exactly his own views.