The debates leading to the Compromise of 1850 were the last great hurrah for the triad as they saw at the same time the emergence of a new generation of political leaders like Jefferson Davis, William H. Seward and Stephen A. Douglas. Calhoun was so ill at the time of the Senate debate on the Compromise that he was unable to deliver his fiery speech opposing it, instead having it read for him by James Mason while he sat in the chamber. Calhoun would die just two weeks later on March 31, 1850. Within three years, Clay and Webster would die as well, passing the torch to the next generation of political leadership.