Mr.Clay prevailed, and the manufacturers of New England, as well as elsewhere, finding that he had secured for them the benefit of time and of the chapter of accidents, rapidly came over to his support.

The pressure was too much for Mr.Webster.

Mr.Clay thought that if Mr.Webster "had to go over the work of the last few weeks he would have been for the compromise, which commands the approbation of a great majority." Whether Mr.Webster repented his opposition to the compromise no one can say, but the change of opinion in New England, the general assent of the Whig party, and the dazzling temptations of presidential candidacy prevailed with him.

He fell in behind Mr.Clay, and remained there in a party sense and as a party man for the rest of his life.
The terrible prize of the presidency was indeed again before his eyes.

Mr.
Clay's overthrow at the previous election had removed him, for the time being at least, from the list of candidates, and thus freed Mr.Webster from his most dangerous rival.