The Diplomatic and Official Papers of Daniel Webster, While Secretary of State (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Diplomatic and Official Papers of Daniel Webster, While Secretary of State

Such was the state of things when General Harrison acced ed to the Presidency, after an election more strenuously con tested than any former political struggle, and by a larger pop ular vote than had ever before been given in the United States. As soon as the result of the election was known, he addressed a letter to Mr. Webster, offering him any place he might choose in his cabinet, and asking his advice as to the other members of which it should be composed. The wants and wishes of the country in reference to currency and finance having brought about the revolution which placed General Harrison in the chair, he was rather desirous that the Department of the Treasury should be assumed by Mr. Webster, who had studied those subjects profoundly, and whose opinions were in full concur rence with his own. Averse to the daily drudgery of the Treasury, Mr. Webster gave his preference to the Department of State, without concealing from himself that it might be the post of greater care and responsibility. In this anticipation he was not disappointed. Although the whole of the danger did not at once appear, it was evident from the outset that the mo ment was extremely criticalst Still, however, the circumstan ces under which General Harrison was elected were such as to give to his administration a moral power and a freedom of action, as to pre-existing controversies, favorable to their set tlement on honorable terms.

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