But from the day he was sworn in as Vice-President his antipathy to Mr.Seward began to develop.

With the conceded ability of the latter, and with his constant opportunity on the floor of the Senate, where he won laurels from the day of his entrance, Mr.Fillmore felt that he would himself be subordinated and lost in the crowd of followers if he coincided with Seward.
Older in years, long senior to Mr.Seward in the national service, he apparently could not endure to see himself displaced by a more brilliant and more capable leader.

The two men, therefore, gradually separated; Mr.Fillmore using what influence he possessed as Vice- President in favor of Mr.Clay's plan of compromise, while Mr.
Seward became the Northern leader of the Administration Whigs,--a remarkable if not unprecedented advance for a senator in the first session of his service.
In succeeding to the Presidency, Mr.Fillmore naturally gave the full influence of his administration to the Compromise.

To signalize his position, he appointed Mr.Webster secretary of State, and placed Mr.Corwin of Ohio at the head of the Treasury.

Mr.Corwin, with a strong anti-slavery record, had been recently drifting in the opposite direction, and his appointment was significant.