on
received the nomination for President, Clay's friends were none
the less responsible for the nomination of Tyler as Vice-President.
He was consequently very angry when he learned what had taken place
at the White House, and he availed himself of the first opportunity
to speak of the scene in the Senate, portraying the principal
personages present with adroit sarcasm.

Some of his descriptions were life-like, especially that of Mr.
Calhoun, "tall, careworn, with fevered brow, haggard cheek, and
eye intensely gazing, looking as if he were dissecting the last
and newest abstraction which sprung from some metaphysician's brain,
and muttering to himself, in half uttered words, 'This is indeed
a crisis!'" The best word-portrait, however, was that of Senator
Buchanan, whose manner and voice were humorously imitated while he
was described as presenting his Democratic associates to the
President. Mr. Buchanan pleasantly retorted, describing in turn
a caucus of disappointed Whig Congressmen, who discussed whether
it would be best to make open war upon "Captain Tyler," or to resort
to strategem, and, in the elegant language of Mr. Botts, "head him,
or die."

The mission to Great Britain had been tendered by President Harrison
to John Sargent, a distinguished Philadelphia lawyer, who had been
the candidate for Vice-President on the unsuccessful Whig ticket
headed by Henry Clay in 1836. Mr. Sargent having declined, President
Harrison appointed Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, who accepted
and his name came before the Senate for confirmation. Mr. Everett
was among the most conservative of New England politicians, but he
had once, in reply to inquiries from Abolitionists, expressed the
opinion that Congress had power to abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia. When the nomination came before the Senate, it was
opposed by Mr. Buchanan and Mr. King, of Alabama, and advocated by
Mr. Choate and Henry Clay. Mr. King, who would have received the
appointment had Mr. Everett's rejection created a vacancy, concluded
a bitter speech by saying that if Mr. Everett, holding views in
opposition to the South, was confirmed, the Union would be dissolved!
Mr. Clay sprang to his feet, and pointing his long arm and index
finger at Mr. King, said: "And I tell you, Mr. President, that if
a gentleman so pre-eminently qualified for the position of Minister
should be rejected by the Senate, and for the reason given by the
Senator from Alab