ime. Afterward a
bill which was introduced by him passed, requiring all payments to the
treasury to be made in specie or its equivalent, restored the
depreciated currency of the country.

His home and library was burned and after some hesitation as to whether
to locate in Boston or Albany, he decided on the former whither he
moved, and where he lived the remainder of his life. This change of
location gave greater scope for the extension of his legal business, and
his resignation from Congress increased still further his time and
opportunities. During the next seven years he devoted his exclusive
attention to his profession, taking a position as counsellor, above
which no one has ever risen in this country, and the best class of
business passed into his hands.

In 1816 the legislature of New Hampshire reorganized the corporation of
Dartmouth College, changing its name to Dartmouth University, and
selecting new trustees. The newly-created body took possession of the
institution, and the old board brought action against the new
management. The case involved the powers of the legislature over the old
corporation without their consent. It was decided twice in the
affirmative by the courts of the State, when it was appealed to
Washington, the highest court.

Mr. Webster opened the case, delivering a most eloquent and exhaustive
argument for the college. His argument was that it was a private
institution supported through charity, over which the State had no
control, and that the legislature could not annul except for acts in
violation of its charter, which had not been shown. Chief Justice
Marshal decided that the act of the legisature was unconstitutional and
reversed the previous decisions. This established Mr. Webster's
reputation in the Supreme Court, and he was retained in every
considerable case thereafter, being considered one of the greatest
expounders of constitutional law in the Union.

He was already acknowledged to be among the greatest criminal lawyers,
and at the anniversary of the landing of the pilgrim fathers he
delivered the first of a series of orations which, aside from his legal
and legislative achievements must have made him renowned. He was elected
in 1822 to congress, being chosen from Boston, and during 1823 made his
world-famous speech on the Greek revolution; a most powerful
remonstrance against what has passed into history as "The holy
alliance," and he also opposed an extravagant increase of