Peter Buell Porter letter to Henry Clay, 11 October 1843

New York, October 11, 1843.

My dear Sir, I received, yesterday, your favor of the 3d instant, and find it to be precisely what I knew it ought to be, and was sure it would be.

The following facts, which have been confidentially communicated to me by his confidential friend, may be relied on, viz :

That Mr. Webster, on leaving here two days ago, assured this friend, that he should return to Massachusetts with a determination to re-unite himself to the Whig party, and give it his best support. That, although there were some things in your course which he did not entirely approve, yet that he had a high respect for you, and should give you his vote and support for the Presidency. That, some few weeks since (probably when on his way to Rochester), he wrote a long letter to President Tyler, expostulating with him in the freest and most severe terms, upon the wickedness and folly of his late official course, and advising him to stop at once his wild career, or he would d n himself and ruin his country ; asking no reply to his letter, but requesting that it might be carefully put on file, as a subject of future reference and reflection. That, in his recent visit to Washington, he dined twice with the President once alone and in private when their whole political creed was canvassed and reviewed and once in company with the whole Cabinet, when not a word was said on politics and that Webster had a confidential interview with Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State, in which their political views in regard both to the present and the future, were found on comparison to be perfectly harmonious, and moreover, that they were thoroughly Whig.

On the whole our political prospects are uncommonly bright and promising. The cheering and unexpected result of the elections in Maryland and Georgia, seems to have inspired our friends with new ardor and energy; and we anticipate with a confidence, that we have never before felt, on your triumphant election a year from this time.