Chapter 4

REMINISCENCES OF THE THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Novel Political Complications--Compromise Measures--First Election to Congress--Sketch of the "Immortal Nine"--The Speakership and Wm. J. Brown--Gen. Taylor and the Wilmot Proviso--Slaveholding Bluster--Compromise Resolutions of Clay and Retreat of Northern Whigs--Visit to Gen. Taylor--To Mr. Clay--His Speeches--Webster's Seventh of March Speech--Calhoun--Speech on the Slavery Question.