Part 6 (1/2)

Webster's speech did not prevent its being copied into the leading newspapers throughout the country It was the universal theratulation frouished individuals, froers, fro with all Mr

Webster's views, from distant parts of the Union, were addressed to him by every mail Immense editions of the speech in a pamphlet form were called for A proposal was made to the friends of Mr Hayne to unite in the publication of a joint edition of the two speeches for general circulation throughout the country, but this offer was declined Mr

Webster's friends in Boston published a pamphlet edition of the speeches of Mr Hayne and Mr Webster It is no exaggeration to say, that throughout the country Mr Webster's speech was regarded, not only as a brilliant and successful personal defence and a triuland, but as a coerous constitutional heresies which had ht it was looked upon by a large nuuished citizens of New York, who took occasion to offer Mr

Webster the co winter

Circumstances delayed the execution of their purpose till some time had elapsed from the delivery of the speech, but the recollection of it was vivid, and it was referred to by Chancellor Kent, the president of the day, as the service especially denition of the country After alluding to the debate on Foot's resolution and to the character of Mr Webster's speech, the venerable Chancellor added:--

”The consequences of that discussion have been extremely beneficial

It turned the attention of the public to the great doctrines of national rights and national union Constitutional law ceased to reht only by the responses, of the living oracles of the law Socrates was said to have dran philosophy fro the schools

It may with equal truth be said that constitutional law, by enius that guided them, was rescued from the archives of our tribunals and the libraries of our lawyers, and placed under the eye and subment of the American people _Their verdict is with us, and from it there lies no appeal_”[16]

With respect to Mr Foot's resolution itti subject of discussion One half at least of the members of the Senate took part in the debate, which daily assu-point Many speeches were made which, under other circumstances, would have attracted notice, but the interest of the controversy expired with the great effort of the 26th and 27th of January At length, on the 21st of May, a motion for indefinite postponement, submitted by Mr Webster at the close of his first speech, prevailed, and thus the whole discussion ended

It may be worthy of remark, that Mr Webster's speech was taken in short-hand by Mr Gales, the veteran editor of the National Intelligencer, a stenographer of great experience and skill It ritten out in common hand by a member of his family, and sent to Mr

Webster for correction It remained in his hands for that purpose a part of one day, and then went to the press

A young and gifted Aely put in requisition by King Louis Philippe to adorn the walls of Versailles, conceived a few years ago the happy idea of a grand historical picture of this debate On a canvas of the largest size he has nobly delineated the person of the principal individual in the act of replying to Mr Hayne, with those of his colleagues in the Senate

The passages and galleries of the Senate-Chamber are filled with attentive listeners of both sexes Above a hundred accurate studies froive authenticity to a work in which posterity will find the sensible presentreat intellectual effort

FOOTNOTES

[12] This case is known as that of Carver's Lessees against John Jacob Astor, and is reported in 4 Peters, I

[13] Mr Chambers referred to the case in court just ed, and in which the arguun

[14] Mr Hayne subsequently disclairess

[16] Chancellor Kent's reiven entire in the introduction to Mr Webster's Speech at the New York Dinner, Vol I p 194

[17] Mr Geo P A Healey

CHAPTER VII

General Character of President Jackson's Ad the Parties which had united for his Elevation--Mr

Webster's Relations to the Adress of Nullification in South Carolina--The Force Bill, and the Reliance of General Jackson's Administration on Mr

Webster's Aid--His Speech in Defence of the Bill, and in Opposition to Mr Calhoun's Resolutions--Mr Madison's Letter on Secession--The Removal of the Deposits--Motives for that Measure--The Resolution of the Senate disapproving it--The President's Protest--Mr Webster's Speech on the Subject of the Protest--Opinions of Chancellor Kent and Mr Tazewell--The Expunging Resolution--Mr Webster's Protest against it--Mr

Van Buren's Election--The Financial Crisis and the Extra Session of Congress--The Government Plan of Finance supported by Mr

Calhoun and opposed by Mr Webster--Personalities--Mr Webster's Visit to Europe and distinguished Reception--The Presidential Canvass of 1840--Election of General Harrison

It would require a volume of ample dimensions to relate the history of Mr Webster's Senatorial career from this time till the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, in 1841 In this interval the government was administered for two successive terle terreat iovern character at the ti a permanent influence on the condition of the country It eneral characteristic of the political tendencies of this period, that there was a decided weakening of respect for constitutional restraint Vague ideas of executive discretion prevailed on the one hand in the interpretation of the Constitution, and of popular sovereignty on the other, as represented by a President elevated to office by overwhel majorities of the people The expulsion of the Indian tribes from the Southern States, in violation of the faith of treaties and in open disregard of the opinion of the Supreation; the claieneral government; the violation of the charter of the bank, and the Presidential veto of the act of Congress rechartering it; the deposit of the public money in the selected State banks with a view to its safe keeping and for the greater encouragement of trade by the loan of the public funds; the explosion of this system, and the adoption of one directly opposed to it, which rejected wholly the aid of the banks and denied the right of the government to employ the public funds for any but fiscal purposes; the executive ainst France; the unsuccessful atteovernment upon General Jackson's syste of the country and the universal de incidents in the chronicle of the period in question Most of the events referred to are discussed in the following volumes On some of them Mr Webster put forth all his power

The questions pertaining to the construction of the Constitution, to the bank, to the veto power, to the currency, to the constitutionality of the tariff, to the right of removal from office, and to the finances, were discussed in alument and illustration

It has already been observed, that General Jackson was brought into power by a soinal friends and a portion of the friends of the other candidates of 1824 As far as Mr Calhoun and his folloere concerned, the cordiality of the union was gone before the inauguration of the new President There was not only on the list of the cabinet to be appointed no adequate representative of the Vice-President, but his rival candidate for the succession (Mr Van Buren) was placed at the head of the administration

There is reason to suppose that General Jackson, who, though his policy tended greatly to i a warm Unionist, witnessed with no dissatisfaction the result of the great constitutional debate and its influence upon the country