The shouts of "No, no; too late" were nearly, if not quite, equal to the expressions of approval.
But the president declared that it was passed.
Mr.Webster sulked in his tent during the summer, and at last, September 1, 1848, made a speech at Marshfield, in which he declared the nomination of Taylor not fit to be made, but gave it a half-hearted support.

My brother, Judge E.R.
Hoar, had been an enthusiastic admirer of Webster, who had treated him with great personal kindness; and, as I have said, he had been associated with Mr.Webster in the famous Wyman trial.

Mr.Webster made a speech in the Senate in August, declaring his renewed opposition to the extension of slavery.
Mr.Hoar wrote a letter expressing his satisfaction with that speech, and urging him to take his proper place at the head of the Northern Free Soil movement.

This is Mr.Webster's reply.

It is interesting as the last anti-slavery utterance of Daniel Webster.
MARSHFIELD, August 23, 1848.
_My Dear Sir:_ I am greatly obliged to you, for your kind and friendly letter.
You overrate, I am sure, the value of my speech, it was quite unpremeditated and its merit, if any, consists I presume in its directness and brevity.