John Quincy Adams, who had no love for Mr. Webster, and who was then in the
midst of his desperate struggle for the right of petition, says, in his
diary, in March, 1838, speaking of the delegation from Massachusetts:--
"Their policy is dalliance with the South; and they care no more
for the right of petition than is absolutely necessary to satisfy
the feeling of their constituents. They are jealous of Cushing,
who, they think, is playing a double game. They are envious of my
position as the supporter of the right of petition; and they
truckle to the South to court their favor for Webster. He is now
himself tampering with the South on the slavery and the Texas
question."
This harsh judgment may or may not be correct, but it shows very plainly
that Mr. Webster's caution in dealing with these topics was noticed and
criticised at this period. The annexation of Texas, moreover, which he had
so warmly opposed, seemed to him, at this juncture, and not without reason,
to be less threatening, owing to the course of events in the young
republic.
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