"The former journal [The Times], of the 18th instant, acknowledges that Mr. Webster 'has not exaggerated the hardships and evils which the practice of impressment occasioned in the last war.' It ratifies his ideas of the probable aggravation of them, if the practice should be ever renewed; it would even dispense with press-warrants at home, as adverse to the general principles of British liberty and law: it advises some general measure for the entire abolition of arbitrary impressment both at home and abroad, and it expresses its belief of a very strong probability, that, in the event of a war, no instructions for the impressment of British seamen found in American merchant-vessels will be issued to her Majesty's cruisers. The Standard chimes with the great oracle, and concludes in this strain: 'We may infer that, whatever may be the plan hereafter for managing our navy, impressment will never again be resorted to; this is beyond a doubt: _the practice complained of by Mr. Webster will be abandoned_.'" [29] Mr. Cushing. CHAPTER IX. Mr. Webster resigns his Place in Mr. Tyler's Cabinet.--Attempts to draw public Attention to the projected Annexation of Texas.--Supports Mr. Clay's Nomination for the Presidency.--Causes of the Failure of that Nomination.--Mr. Webster returns to the Senate of the United States.--Admission of Texas to the Union.--The War with Mexico.--Mr. Webster's Course in Reference to the War.--Death of Major Webster in Mexico.--Mr. Webster's unfavorable Opinion of the Mexican Government.--Settlement of the Oregon Controversy.--Mr. Webster's Agency in effecting the Adjustment.--Revival of the Sub-Treasury System and Repeal of the Tariff Law of 1842.--Southern Tour.--Success of the Mexican War and Acquisition of the Mexican Provinces.--Efforts in Congress to organize a Territorial Government for these Provinces.--Great Exertions of Mr. Webster on the last Night of the Session.--Nomination of General Taylor, and Course of Mr. Webster in Reference to it.--A Constitution of State Government adopted by California prohibiting Slavery.--Increase of Antislavery Agitation.--Alarming State of Affairs.--Mr. Webster's Speech for the Union.--Circumstances under which it was made, and Motives by which he was influenced.--General Taylor's Death, and the Accession of Mr. Fillmore to the Presidency.--Mr. Webster called to the Department of State.