n public occasions, but did
not for some years enter into politics. Mr. Webster came forward in a
time when party spirit ran high, and the declaration of war in 1812,
long deprecated by his party, created a demand for the best talent the
country afforded. Mr. Webster now held a commanding reputation, and in
1812 he was sent to Congress. This was a most favorable time for Webster
to enter Congress, as measures of the greatest importance were now to be
discussed.

Henry Clay was speaker of the house, and placed this new member on a
most important committee. June 10, 1813, he delivered his maiden speech
on the repeal of the Berlin and Milan decrees. These decrees were a
scheme of Napoleon's, avowedly directed against the commercial
interests of Great Britain.

They closed all ports of France, and her allied countries against all
vessels coming from England or any English colony. All commerce and
correspondence was prohibited. All English merchandise was seized, and
English subjects found in any country governed by France were held
prisoners of war.

Great Britain retaliated by prohibiting neutral vessels from entering
the ports of France under pain of confiscation; and a later order placed
France and her allies, together with all countries with whom England was
at war, under the same restriction.

Napoleon then issued his decree from Milan and the Tuileries declaring
that any vessel that had ever been searched by English authority, or had
ever paid duty to England, should be treated as a lawful prize of war.

Mr. Webster's first speech, as before stated, was upon a resolution on
the repeal of these decrees, and so ably did he define our duty as a
country, in the matter, and so clearly did he show wherein both England
and France had transgressed; that, being a new member, unknown outside
of his own section of the Union, his lucid and eloquent appeal took the
house and nation by surprise.

His subsequent speeches on the increase of the navy and the repeal of
the embargo act won for him a first place among the great debaters of
his day. He cultivated a friendly relation with political opponents as
well as partisan friends, which soon gained for him the respect of all
and he became the acknowledged leader of the Federal party. He was
re-elected to Congress in 1814 by a large majority, and in the debates
upon the United States bank which followed, he displayed a most
remarkable mastery of the financial questions of his t