Sp e e c hes
o
f
DAN I EL W E B S T ER
H E N R Y C L AY
’
J O H N C C AL H O I X
.
CO N T EN T S
PA! E
B I O ! R A PH I C A L
B U N!
ON
TO
THE
H AY N E
C O N ST IT U T IO N A N D T H E U N IO N
’
B I O ! RA PH I CA L S !
ON
ON
TH E
THE
WE B STE R
ET C H
H I L L M O N U M E N T A DD R E S S
ER
R E PL Y
S!
ET C H
R E C E PT I O N
CA L H O U N
OF
ET C H
T H E C O M PR O M IS E
OF 1
3
1 2
6
AB O L IT IO N P E T I
S L A V E RY Q U E S T I O N
B I O ! R A PH I C A L S !
1 2
— C LA Y
8 50
I39
I 7S
I 78
ILLU S T RAT IO N S
DAN IEL W
J
O HN
EB
S T ER
C C AL H O U N
H EN R Y
.
C LAY
F ac i n g p a g e
4
1 24
I
6
7
DAN I EL W E BST E R
L ib e r t y
U n io n
o ne
ins e p arabl e
.
DAN I E L W E B S T E R
B I O!
RA PH I CA L
S!
ET C H
DA N IE L W E B S T E R wa s b orn i n th e town
isbu r y,
o
f
Sal
th e
N ew Hamp sh i re J a nu a ry 1 8 I 7 S 2
last yea r o f th e R evoluti ona ry Wa r
Hi s ea rly y ea rs brou gh t h im l i ttl e opp ortu ni ty
fo r sch o oling He attended th e small di stri ct
scho ols i n th e w i nte r m o re tha n h i s b roth ers b e
cau s e h e wa s c onsi dere d to o deli c a te f o r th e fa rm
wo rk a n d sh owe d a grea t ea gerness fo r r eadin g
an d l ea rn i ng D an i el ha d few b o oks an d S O
r ea d the m ove r a nd ove r u nt i l h e kn ew th em b y
h eart N o doub t th e t ea c h ing o f h i s e x p eri ence d
fa th e r a n d h is l ov i ng amb iti ou s m oth er fo rmed
th e foun dat i on fo r h i s edu c a t i o n Pa r t o f h i s
tim e wa s s p ent i n r a m bles i n th e wo ods an d
fields a nd a lon g th e r iver wher e h e l ea rn e d to
love natu re I n th e lon g winter evenings D a n
’
ie l s father tol d th e c hildren st or i es o f the R evo
l u t io n th e t ra dit i ons o f th e Indi an wars a nd o f
th e ha r dships o f p i one er li fe
Wh en D an i el wa s fou rteen h e was s ent to E x e
te r A c a d e m y wh e r e h e r e m a i ne d onl y a f ew
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3
B IO ! RAPH IC AL S !
4
E T CH
m onths pr o v i n g h oweve r to b e th e b est schola r
Th en for a S hort tim e h e stu di ed
in h i s cl ass
w i th D r Sa m u el Wo od a m in i ste r i n a n a dj o i n
i ng town I n Au gus t 1 79 7 b e for e he was s ix
t een h e entere d D artmouth C ollege sh ow i n g
h i ms el f to b e a thorou ghly geni a l c omp a ni on a nd
a kind a ffe c ti onate fri en d A fter th e s e c on d
yea r h e de ci de d t o t ea ch s c ho ol in th e winte r
i n order
t o h elp p ay h is own college exp enses
t ha t h i s b ro the r E z ek i e l m ight als o p rep ar e
h i msel f fo r c oll ege Fo r o n e y ea r he ed i te d a
sm a ll we ek ly p ap e r t o a d d to hi s m eage r in
com e
’
Webste r s firs t pub l i c sp eech was a F ourth O f
J u ly ora ti on given during h i s th i rd yea r i n college
a t th e r equ est o f the ci ti z ens O f Hanover Up on
l eaving c ollege i n 1 8 0 1 he comm en ced th e stu dy
o f law
bu t s oon ab a ndon ed i t a nd ob ta in e d a
scho ol a t F ryebu rg M a in e ; a nd to enable h im
to s ave a ll o f h is sala ry for h i s b roth er who ha d
j ust enter e d D artmouth h e cop i e d de eds to ea rn
m on ey f o r hi s p ersonal exp ens es Th e following
r
e
s
u
m
h
ea
r
h
e
stu
dy
law
a
n
d
e
d
t
e
o
f
a
s
a
d
w
y
m it t e d t o th e b a r i n B oston in 1 8 0 5
D ani el
w i she d t o b e n ea r h i s fath e r s o went to B O S
c a w e n a n e i ghb orin g village o f Salisbu ry to com
m ence th e p ra ctice o f his chosen pro fessi on Hi s
n oble gene rous fath e r h eard hi s first sp eech at
th e b a r bu t di ed i n 1 8 0 6 Th e n e x t y ea r Web
,
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-
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BI O ! RAPHICA L S ! E TCH
S
ster r em ove d to Portsmouth wh ere h e to ok a
promin ent pla ce am ong lawyers h avin g a la rge
thou gh n o t very lu crative p ra cti ce
In 1 8 1 2 h e wa s el ecte d to C ongr ess from N ew
Hampsh i r e an d re el ecte d f o r the s econd t erm
I n 1 8 1 6 h e w i thdr e w from a c tive publi c s ervi ce
an d r emove d to B oston to a ga i n devot e h ims el f
t o h i s pr o fess i on H e first di stingu ish e d h imsel f
i n th e c eleb rate d D a rtmouth C olleg e c a s e Bu t
i t wa s n o t a l on e h i s s ervi ces to h i s c ountry whi ch
m a de h i m c onsp i cu ou s i n all N e w E ngl and ; i n
D e c emb e r 1 8 2 0 a t th e c om m e m ora t i on o f th e
tw o hundredth a nn iversary o f th e landin g o f th e
“
p ilgrim s h e del i vered h is fa mou s
Plym ou th
'
”
O ra ti on
Su ch wa s hi s p op u l ar i ty tha t in 1 8 2 2
h e was ch os en C ongressman ff bm M as s a chu setts
rema in ing i n th e Hou s e until
I n 1 8 2 5 h i s a ddress delivere d a t th e l ayin g o f
th e c o rn er ston e o f Bunker H i ll mo num ent ma de
Anoth er o f
h im the l ea ding o rato r o f Am er i ca
h i s note d a ddress es i s the eulogy up on Adams and
J e ff erson wh o d i e d w i th i n a few hou rs o f ea ch
oth e r o n J u ly 4 1 8 2 6
M r Webste r was Un i ted S tate s S ena tor from
1 8 2 8 to
1 8 41
an d a ga i n fro m 1 8 4 5 t o 1 8 50
Re
Hi s wonder fu l sp e ech o f J anu a r y 2 6 1 8 3 0
”
ply to Hayne i s p rob ably wh e re h i s fam e rests ;
“
th ough hi s las t note d sp e ech
O n the C onsti
”
c o mm only c alle d th e
t u t io n and th e Uni on
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BI O ! RAPHICA L S ! E TCH
6
”
“
M a r ch th e S eventh sp e ech delivered i n the
S enate M a r c h 7 1 8 5 0 wa s qu it e a s grea t
Th e em i n ent sta tesm an l e ft Wa shi ngton i n
1 8 52
a n d reti re d t o h i s qu i et ho m e i n M arsh
fi e l d wh er e h e di e d O ct o b e r 2 4 o f th e sa m e
y ea r
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N O TED
8
S PE E CHE S
0 F
neve r b e en b orn th e 1 7t h o f J un e 1 775 would
have b e en a day o n whi ch all sub s e qu ent h istory
would h ave p ou red i ts li ght an d th e emi nence
wh er e w e stand a p o int o f attra cti on to th e eyes
o f su cc essive gen erat i ons Bu t w e a r e Am eri
c ans We l ive in wh at m ay b e calle d the ea rly
a ge o f th i s gr ea t c ontin ent ; an d w e kn ow th a t o u r
p osteri ty throu gh all tim e a re h er e to enj oy and
su ffer th e a llotm ents o f hum anity W e se e b e
fore u s a p robabl e tra i n o f gr ea t events ; w e know
tha t o u r o w n fortun es h ave b e en h app i ly ca st ;
a nd i t i s natu ral ther e fo re tha t we S hould b e
m ove d by th e c ontemp l ati on o f o ccu rrences wh i ch
have gu i de d o u r destiny b e fo re m any o f u s w ere
b orn an d s ettle d th e c onditi on i n whi ch we sh ould
p a ss th a t p orti o n o f ou r exi stence whi ch G o d a l
l ows t o m en on ea rth
We do n o t r ea d even o f th e discovery o f thi s
contin ent w i thou t fe elin g s om eth in g o f a p er
sona l i nteres t i n t h e event ; wi thou t b eing r em in de d
h ow mu ch i t ha s a ffecte d o u r own fo rtu nes an d
o u r o w n exi sten ce
I t woul d b e still m o re u n
natu ra l f o r u s there for e than for oth ers to con
templa te with una ffecte d m inds th at i nt er esting
I m ay s a y tha t m ost touchi ng a nd p a th eti c scene
wh en th e gr ea t di scover er O f Am eri ca sto o d o n
th e de ck o f h is S hattere d b ark th e sha des o f night
falling o n t he s ea ye t n o m an S l eep ing ; toss ed o n
th e b illows o f an u nknown o cean yet th e stronge r
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
9
b illows o f a lternate hop e an d despa i r t o s s mg h i s
trouble d thoughts ; extending forwa rd h is
o wn
h a rasse d frame stra ining w estwa rd h i s a n x i ous
an d ea ge r eyes ti ll H eaven a t last grante d hi m
a m oment o f r aptu re and e c sta sy i n bl es sing
h is vi si on w i t h the s i ght o f th e u nknown
wo rld
N earer t o o u r ti m es m or e c los ely c onn ect ed
with o u r fates an d th ere for e still m o re i nter est
in g t o our fe elings a nd affecti ons i s th e s ettlem en t
o f o u r o w n c ountry by colon i sts from E ngland
We ch eri sh every m em ori al o f thes e w o rthy a n
c e s t o r s ; w e celebrate th ei r p a ti en ce a n d fortitu de ;
w e a dm i r e th e i r da r i ng ent erp ri se ; w e t ea ch o u r
ch ildr en to venera te thei r p l e t y ; a n d we a re j ustly
p rou d o f b ein g descende d from m en w h o h ave s e t
the worl d an e x ample o f fou n ding civi l i nstituti ons
o n th e grea t a nd u nite d p ri nciples O f human fr ee
,
,
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,
,
,
.
d o nl
zu u
i lu n n a n k n o u de dg e
7T0
.
u s,
t h eh
'
c hfl
dren th e sto ry o f the i r lab ors an d suffe rings ca n
n ever b e with ou t i nterest We sh all n o t stand
u nmove d on th e S hore o f Plym ou th wh ile th e
s e a continu es t o w ash i t ; nor will o u r br ethren
i n another early a n d a n ci ent C olony forget th e
pla c e o f its first establishm ent till th ei r rive r S hall
c eas e to fl ow by i t No vi gor o f youth n o ma
t u r it y o f manhood w i ll l ea d th e na ti on to fo rget
th e sp ots wh ere it s i n fancy w a s cra dl ed and de
fended
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N O TE D SPEE CHE S
IO
OF
B u t the grea t event i n th e h i sto ry o f th e cont i
n ent wh i ch w e a re n o w m et h er e to c o m m e m o
rate tha t p rod i gy o f m odern tim es a t once th e
w on d er a nd th e bless i n g o f th e world i s th e A m er
i c an R evolut i on I n a day o f extra o rdina ry p ro s
i
r
a
nd
happ
i
n
ess
o
f
h
i
gh
nati
ona
l
h
ono
r
d
i
s
e
t
p
y
t i ncti on an d p owe r w e a re b rou ght togeth er in
thi s p l a c e b y ou r love o f country by o u r a dmi ra
ti o n o f exa l te d ch a ra cte r by ou r grat i tu de f o r S i g
na l s ervi ce s a nd pa tr i ot i c devoti on
AT h e Soc i ety wh os e organ I am wa s fo rm e d
fo r th e pu rp os e O f rea r i ng som e h onorabl e a n d
durab l e m onum ent t o th e m em ory O f th e ea rly
fr i en d s o f Am eri ca n In dep enden ce T he y h ave
thou ght th a t f o r thi s obj ect n o tim e could b e m o re
p rop i ti ou s tha n th e p res ent p rosp erou s and p e a ce
fu l p e r i od ; th a t n o pla ce coul d cla im p re ferenc e
ov er thi s m em o rabl e sp ot ; a n d tha t n o day coul d
b e m or e au sp i ci ou s t o th e u ndertaki ng tha n th e
anniversa ry o f th e b a ttle wh i ch was h er e fou gh t
T h e foundati on o f tha t m onum en t w e h ave n o w
la i d Wi th s olemniti es su i ted t o th e occasi on
wi th p raye rs t o Alm i ghty G od fo r hi s bl essin g
a n d i n th e mi dst o f this clou d o f witn esses w e
ha ve b egu n th e wo rk We tru st i t will b e p ro s
spring i ng from a b roa d f o u n da
e c u t e d and tha t
t i on r i s i ng h igh i n ma ssiv e soli dity and u na dorne d
grandeu r i t m ay rema in a s long a s H eaven p er
m i ts th e works o f m an to las t a fi t e m ble m b oth
P
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
1 1
o f th e event s i n m emory o f wh i ch i t i s ra i sed a n d
O f th e grati tu de o f th os e who h ave r ear ed i t
7 W 1: know i nde ed th a t th e r ecor d o f illustri ou s
a cti ons i s m ost s a fe l y d eposi ted i n th e u niversa l
rem e mbrance o f m ank i nd We know tha t i f w e
cou ld caus e th i s stru c tu re t o a s c end not only t ill
i t r ea ch e d th e s k i es bu t t i ll i t p i er c e d them i ts
broa d su r fa c e s c oul d st i ll c onta i n bu t p art o f
th a t w h i c h i n a n a ge o f knowledge h ath already
b e en sp rea d over th e earth a nd wh i c h h i stor y
c ha rge s i tsel f with m ak i n g kn own t o a ll futu re
tim es We kno w t h a t n o i ns c rip ti o n on e n t a b
l a t u r e s l es s b ro a d tha n th e ea rth i ts el f c an ca rr y
i n form at i on O f th e events w e c omm em orat e
wh er e i t h a s n o t a l re ady gon e ; a nd tha t n o stru e
tu re wh i ch shall n o t ou tlive th e du rati on o f l etter s
a nd knowl edge a mong m en can p rolon g th e
m em or i al Bu t ou r O bj ect i s by thi s edifice to
sh o w o u r own d e ep s ens e o f th e va l u e an d im
p ortance O f th e a c h i evem ents o f ou r an c estors ;
and by p res ent i n g th i s work o f grat i tu de to th e
eye to k eep aliv e S imila r s ent i m ents a n d to fos
te r a c on stant r e g a rd for th e principles o f th e
R evolu t i on Hum a n b eings a re c omp osed n ot o f
rea son only bu t o f im aginat i on als o an d s enti
m ent ; an d tha t i s n eithe r wa ste d n or m is a p
li
e
d
wh
i
ch
i
s
app
rop
ri
ated
to
th
e
pu
rp
os
e
o
f
p
giv i n g r i ght di re c ti on t o s enti m ents a nd op en i n g
prop er sp rings o f fe elin g i n th e h eart L et
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S
12
OF
i t not b e supposed tha t o u r obj ect i s to p erp etu ate
nati onal host i l i ty o r even to ch eri sh a m ere m ili
ta ry sp i r i t I t i s hi gher purer noble r W e con
s e c ra t e ou r work to th e sp i r i t o f n a ti ona l in
dep enden c e a nd w e w i sh th a t th e li gh t o f p ea ce
m a y r est up on i t forever
We r ea r a m em ori al o f
o u r c onv i cti on o f tha t u nm ea su re d b en efit wh i ch
ha s b e en con ferre d on o u r o wn land a n d o f th e
happy i nflu ence s wh i ch h ave b een produ c ed by th e
s a m e events o n the gen era l i nterests o f m ank i nd
We c om e a s Am eri cans to m a rk a sp ot whi ch
mu st fo reve r b e dea r t o u s a n d ou r p ost erity
We wi sh tha t wh oso eve r i n all com in g ti m e S h all
tu rn h i s ey e h ith er may b eh old tha t th e pla c e i s
n o t undi stin gu i sh e d wh er e th e first grea t b attl e o f
th e R evoluti on w a s fought We wi sh tha t th i s
stru ctu re m ay p roclai m th e m a gni tu de and im
p ortance o f th a t even t t o every class a nd every
a ge We wi sh tha t i n fancy m ay l ea rn th e pu r
p os e o f i ts erecti on fr o m m a terna l lip s a nd th a t
w ea ry an d with ered a ge m ay b eh ol d i t a n d b e
sola c ed by th e r ecoll ecti ons whi ch i t su ggests
We wi sh th a t lab o r m ay look u p h ere and b e
p rou d i n th e mi dst o f i ts toi l We wi sh th at i n
th os e days o f di sa ster whi ch a s th ey c ome
u p on al l nat i ons
mu st b e exp e cted t o com e up on
u s also desp ondin g pa tr i oti sm m ay tu rn i ts eye s
h i th erwa r d a nd b e a ssu red tha t th e foundati on s
o f o u r n ati onal p owe r a r e still str ong
We wi sh
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
1
3
tha t this column ri s ing towa rds Heaven a mong
the p ointe d sp ir es o f S O m an y t emples dedi cate d to
! o d m ay contribu te a lso to produ ce i n a ll m inds
a pi ou s fe eling o f dep endence and gratitu de We
wi sh finally tha t th e l a st obj ect t o th e S i ght o f
h im wh o l eaves h is nat ive sh ore an d th e first to
gla dden h im wh o r ev i si ts i t m ay b e s om ething
wh i ch S hall rem in d h im O f th e lib erty and th e
glory O f h i s c ountry L et i t ri s e ! l et i t ri s e ti ll
i t m e et th e su n i n h i s c om ing ; l et the e arli est li ght
o f th e morning gi ld i t an d pa rtin g day li nge r a nd
p lay o n i ts summi t
We liv e i n a m ost e x tra ord i n a ry a ge E vents
s o va ri ou s an d s o imp ortant tha t th ey m i ght c rowd
a nd di stingu i sh centuri e s a re i n o u r tim es
comp resse d withi n th e comp ass o f a S in gle li fe
Wh en h a s i t happ ene d tha t h i story ha s h a d so
mu ch to r e c ord in the sam e term o f years a s S in c e
th e 1 7th o f J un e 1 775 ? O u r o wn r evoluti on
wh i ch unde r oth er ci rcumstan c es mi ght i tself have
b e en exp ecte d t o o cca s i on a war o f h alf a
centu ry ha s b een a ch i eved ; tw enty fou r s overe i gn
and i ndep endent States erected ; an d a gen eral g o v
s o s a fe
s o wi s e
e r n m e n t establi sh e d over th em
th a t we m i ght w ell wonder
s o pra cti cal
s o fr e e
i ts establi shm ent sh ou ld have b e en a ccompli sh ed
wer e i t n ot fa r th e great er wonder tha t
s o s oon
i t sh ou ld h ave b een establish e d a t all Two o r
th re e m illi ons O f p eopl e h ave b e en au gm ented t o
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N O TE D S P EE CH ES
14
0 F
twe l ve th e gr ea t forests o f th e West pr o strat e d
b eneath th e a r m o f s uc c ess fu l i n d ustry a n d th e
dweller s on th e b anks o f th e O hi o a nd th e M iss i s
s ipp i b eco m e the fellow c i ti z ens a nd ne i ghb ors o f
thos e wh o c u l t i va te th e h ills o f N ew E ngland
We have a c om me r c e th a t l eave s n o s ea u n e x
r
a
w
n
av
i
es
whi
ch
take
n
o
fro
m
sup
e
r
i
o
o
r
l
l
d
e
;
p
force ; r evenu es a dequ ate t o a ll th e e xi genci es o f
govern m ent a l most w i thou t ta x at i on ; an d p ea ce
w i th a l l nat i ons founde d o n e qua l r i ghts a n d mu
tu al resp ect
2 E u rop e w i th i n th e s am e p e ri od h as b e en a g i
t a t e d by a m igh t y revoluti on wh i ch whil e i t h a s
b e en felt i n th e ind i vidual conditi on and hap
i
n
e
s
o
f
alm
ost
every
m
a
n
h
as
sh
aken
to
th
e
s
p
c enter he r p oli t i ca l fab r i c a n d da she d a ga i ns t o n e
a noth er th ron es wh i ch h a d sto od tranqu i l fo r a ges
O n t h i s o u r c onti nent ou r own exampl e ha s b ee n
followed a n d co l on i es h ave sp rung u p to b e na
ti ons Una c cu stom e d sounds o f l ib e r ty an d fre e
governm ent ha ve rea ch e d u s fro m b eyond t h e
tra ck o f th e s u n ; a n d a t thi s m om ent th e do
m in io n o f E urop ea n p owe r i n thi s c onti nent fro m
th e pla c e wh er e we stand to th e s ou th p ol e i s a n
n ih il a t e d foreve r
I n th e m eantim e b oth i n E u r op e an d A m er ic a
su ch has b ee n th e gen era l progress o f knowledge
su ch th e im p r ovem ent i n l egislat i on i n comm erce
in th e a rts i n l etters and ab ove a l l i n lib era l
,
,
-
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i
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N O T ED S PEECHE S
16
OI
!
i mp etu ou s ch arge ; the stea dy a nd su ccess fu l r e
puls e ; the lou d cal l to r ep eate d a ssau lt ; th e sum
m on ing o f a ll th a t i s manl y t o r ep eate d resi stan ce ;
a th ousand b osom s fr eel y and fe a rlessl y ba red i n
a n i nsta nt to wh atever o f t erro r ther e m a y b e i n
wa r an d de ath ;
a ll th es e y ou have w itnessed
bu t you w i tn ess th em no m o re All i s p ea c e Th e
h eights o f yonder m etrop olis i ts tow ers a nd ro o fs
whi ch you then s a w fille d w i th w i ve s an d ch i ldren
a nd countrym e n i n distress a nd t erro r a nd looking
wi th u nutterable em oti ons fo r th e issu e O f th e com
b a t have p res ente d you t o d ay w i th th e S i ght o f i ts
wh ol e h appy p opulati on com e o u t to welcom e a nd
gre et yo u wi th a u niversa l j ub ile e Y on der p rou d
sh ips b y a feli city o f p o s i ti on approp ri at ely lyin g
a t th e foo t O f thi s m ount a nd s e em ing fondly to
clin g a roun d i t a re n ot m e a ns O f a nnoyance t o
’
you bu t you r c ountry s own m ea ns o f distincti on
and de fense All i s p ea ce ; a n d G od h a s g ra nted
’
o
o
u
thi
s
s
ight
o
f
you
r
c
ountr
y
s
happ
iness
ere
u
y
y
slumb e r i n th e grave H e h a s allo w e d you to b e
h old a nd t o p a rtake th e r e wa r d o f y ou r p atri oti c
toi ls ; a nd h e h a s a llowed u s you r sons and c oun
t r ym e n t o m e et you h ere a nd i n th e n am e o f the
p r esent genera ti on In the n am e o f y ou r country
i n the nam e o f l ib erty to th ank you !
I
B ut alas ! yo u ar e not a ll h er e ! Tim e an d th e
sword have th inn e d you r ra nks Prescott Put
,
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
1
7
na m Sta rk B rooks R ea d Pom eroy B ri dge ! ou r
eyes s e ek fo r yo u i n va i n ami d th i s b roken h a n d
You a re gath ered t o your fathers and live onl y
t o you r country i n he r grat e fu l rem emb rance an d
you r o wn b ri gh t example Bu t let u s n ot t o o
mu ch gri eve th at you have m et th e c ommo n fat e
o f m en
You live d a t l east long en ough to kno w
tha t y ou r work h a d b e en n obly an d su ccess fully a c
’
complish ed Yo u lived to s e e you r c ountry s in
dep endence establish ed a n d to sh eath e you r
swords from wa r O n th e light O f L ib erty y ou
s a w a ris e th e l ight o f Pea ce like
,
,
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,
“
R i sen on
a no t her
m id
-
m orn ,
noon ;
a n d th e sky on wh i ch you close d you r eyes wa s
clou dless
“
’
Bu t a h ! Him ! th e first grea t m a rtyr in th i s
gr ea t cau se ! H i m ! th e pr em atu re Vi ctim o f hi s
o w n s el f devoting h ea rt !
H im ! th e h ea d o f o u r
civil coun c i ls a nd th e destine d l ea der o f o u r m i li
ta ry b ands whom nothing b rou ght h ith e r bu t th e
u nqu ench able fire o f h i s o w n sp i r i t ! H im ! cu t
o ff by Pr ovi dence in th e h ou r o f overwhelm ing
anx i ety an d thi ck glo om ; fallin g er e he s a w th e
sta r o f h is country ris e ; p ouring o u t h i s generous
blood like water b e fore h e kn ew wh eth er i t would
ferti li z e a lan d o f fre edo m o r o f b ondag e !
.
,
-
,
,
,
N O TE D S PEE CH ES O F
18
how sh al l I st r u g gle wi th the emot i on s th a t st i fl e
th e u tte r a n c e o f th y n am e !
O u r p oo r work
m ay p er i sh ; bu t th i n e s hall endure ! T h i s m onu
m en t m a y m older away ; the s oli d ground i t res ts
up on m ay Si nk down t o a l evel w ith th e s ea ; bu t
thy m emory shall n ot fa il ! Wh ereso ever a mong
m en a hea rt shall b e foun d tha t b ea t s to the tra ns
p orts o f p a tri otism an d li b erty i ts a sp i rat i on s
shall b e to cl a i m kin dre d with thy sp i r it !
B u t th e s c en e am i dst wh i ch we stan d doe s not
p erm i t u s to c onfin e our th oughts o r ou r s ym
p ath i c s to tho s e fe a r l es s sp i r i ts wh o ha z a rded o r
lost the i r l ives o n th i s cons ecrated sp ot We h ave
th e happ in es s t o r ej oi c e h er e i n th e p resen c e o f a
most wo rthy r ep res entati on o f th e surv i vors o f t h e
wh ol e R evol u ti ona ry a rmy
,
.
.
V E T E R AN S yo u a re th e re m na n t o f m an y a well
fou gh t fi eld You b ring w ith you m a rks o f hono r
from Trento n a n d M onm outh fro m Yorktown
Camden B enn i ngton an d Sa ratoga V E T E R A N S
O F H A L F A C E N T U RY wh e n i n yo u r y outh fu l days
’
y ou pu t e v erythin g a t h a z a r d i n your c ountry s
c au se go o d a s that c au s e wa s a n d s angu i n e a s
youth i s still y our fondest hop e s di d n ot stretch
onwar d to a n hou r l ik e thi s ! At a p eri o d to whi c h
you coul d n o t rea sonably have e x p e c te d to a rr i ve
a t a m om ent o f n ati ona l pr o sp er i ty su c h a s y ou
,
.
,
,
,
,
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,
,
,
,
,
Jo s e p h W a r r e n
.
D ANIE L WEB S TER
19
c ould n eve r h ave fo res e en yo u a re now m e t he re
t o enj oy the fel l owship o f o l d soldi ers a nd to r e
c e iv e th e o v e r fl o w in g s o f a un i versa l gratitu de
B u t you r a g i ta te d c ountenan c es an d you r h e a v
i n g b rea st s i n for m m e th a t even th is i s not a n u n
mix e d j oy I p er c eive tha t a tumult o f c ontending
feelin g s r ushe s up o n y ou Th e i m ages o f th e
dead a s we ll a s th e p ers on s o f th e l i ving p res ent
th e m s e l ve s b e f or e yo u T h e s c en e ove rwh elm s
y ou an d I tu r n fro m i t M ay th e Fath er o f a l l
M er ci e s s m i l e up o n you r d e c linin g yea rs a n d bl ess
the m ! An d wh en you shal l h er e have e x ch ange d
you r e mb ra c es wh en yo u s hal l on c e m o re h ave
p resse d th e h ands whi ch h ave b e en s o o ften e x
tended to g i ve su cc o r i n a dve r s i ty o r g ra sp e d i n
th e e x ultati on o f v i cto r y then look abroa d up on
th i s lovely lan d wh i ch you r young valo r de fended
an d m a rk th e h app i n ess w ith w h i ch i t i s fill ed ; y ea
lo ok ab roa d up o n th e wh o l e e arth an d s e e wha t a
na m e you h ave c ontribute d t o give t o your coun
try a n d wh a t a p ra i s e yo u h ave a dde d to fre edom
an d th e n r ej o i c e i n th e symp athy an d gratitu de
wh i ch b eam u p on you r la s t day s fr om th e im
prove d c ond i t i on O f m ank in d
Th e o c ca s i on do es n o t r equ ir e o f m e any p a r t ic
u la r a c c ount o f th e b att l e o f th e 1 7th o f J une
1 75
no
r
a
ny
deta
ile
d
n
a
r
r
ative
the
event
s
f
o
7
wh ich imm ed i a tely pr e c ede d i t T h es e a r e fami l
ia r l y kn ow n to all
In th e p rogress o f th e grea t
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S
20
0 F
a nd inte r esting controversy M assa chu setts an d
th e town o f B oston ha d b ecom e ea rly a nd m a rked
O bj ects o f th e displeasu r e o f th e B ritish Pa rli a
m ent T h i s ha d b een m an i feste d i n th e a ct
for a ltering th e governm ent o f the Prov i n c e a nd
i n tha t f o r shutting up the p o rt o f B oston N oth
i ng she ds m or e h on o r o n o u r e arly h i sto ry
a nd noth ing b etter S hows h o w li ttle th e fe elings
a n d s entim ents o f th e Coloni es w e r e known o r
r egar de d i n E nglan d tha n th e i mp ressi on wh ich
thes e m easures every wher e pro duce d i n Am eri ca
I t ha d b e en a nti cipated th at whi l e the C oloni es
in g enera l would b e terrifi e d by th e s eve rity O f
th e puni shm ent i nfl i cte d on M ass a chu s etts th e
oth e r s eap orts w ou ld b e govern e d by a m er e sp i ri t
o f ga in ; an d tha t a s B oston wa s n ow cu t o ff from
a ll comm erce th e u nexp ecte d a dva nta ge wh i ch
th i s b lo w o n h er wa s calculate d to con fe r o n oth er
towns would b e gr e edi ly enj oye d H ow mi s era
b l y su ch r easoners de c e ive d th em s elves !
H OW
littl e th ey kn ew o f the depth a n d th e strength
a n d th e i ntens en ess o f tha t fe eling o f r esi stance to
i llega l a cts o f p o w e r wh i ch p ossess e d th e wh ole
Am er i can p eopl e ! E verywher e th e u nworthy
b oon w as rej ecte d with scorn Th e fortunate
o cca si o n wa s s ei z ed everywh er e to S how t o th e
wh ol e world tha t th e C oloni es wer e swaye d by n o
loca l interest n o p a rti al interest n o selfish inter
e st
Th e temp tati on to p rofit by the puni shment
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
21
B osto n wa s strongest t o o u r n eighb ors o f S a
lem Yet Sale m wa s p re cisely th e plac e where
th i s m i serabl e p roff er wa s spu rn ed i n a tone o f th e
m ost lo fty sel f resp ect an d th e m ost i ndignant p a
“
”
We a r e de eply affected sa i d its in
t r io t ism
h ab i tants
w i th th e sens e O f ou r pub li c calami
t i es ; bu t th e m i seri es th a t a re n o w rapi dly
h a stenin g o n ou r b reth r en i n th e cap ital o f th e
Province grea tly excite Ou r c ommi serati on By
shu tting u p th e p ort o f B osto n som e ima gi n e th a t
th e c ou rs e o f tra de m i ght b e tu rne d h i th er an d to
o u r b en efit ; bu t w e m u st b e dea d t o every i dea o f
j u sti ce lost to all fe el ings o f humanity c oul d we
indulge a th oug h t to sei z e o n w ea lth an d ra i s e
o u r fortunes o n th e ru i n o f o u r sufferin g n ei gh
”
bors
Th ese n obl e s entim ents w er e not confined
t o o u r imm edi at e Vi cin ity I n th a t day o f g en eral
a ffecti on a nd b rother h oo d t h e blo w gi ven t o B os
ton sm ote o n every p atri oti c h ea rt from o n e en d
o f th e country to th e other
V i rgi n i a and the
C arolin as a s well a s C onn ect i cu t an d N ew Hamp
shi re felt an d pro c la im e d th e cau s e t o b e th ei r
o wn
Th e C ontinenta l Congress th en h oldin g
i ts first s ess i on in Phi lad elph i a express ed i ts sym
p athy fo r th e su fferi n g inh ab itants O f B oston a nd
a d d r esse s w er e re ceive d from all qu a rters a ssur
i n g th em th a t th e cau s e wa s a comm on o n e
an d should b e m et by common efforts a nd comm on
sa cri fices Th e Congress o f M a ssa chu setts r e
O
f
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N O TE D S PEE CHES O F
22
sp o n d e d
to the s e a ssu ran c es ; an d in a n a ddres s to
th e C ongress a t Phila delph i a b ear in g th e o flic ia l
s i gna tur e p erh aps a m ong th e la st o f th e imm orta l
Wa rren n otwithsta nding th e severity o f its s uffe r
i n g a n d th e m agn itu de o f th e dangers wh i ch
threa tene d i t i t wa s decla red tha t th i s C olon y i s
r e a dy a t a ll tim es to sp en d a n d t o b e sp ent in th e
”
caus e o f Am eri c a
WB u t th e hou r dr ew n i gh wh ic h wa s t o p u t pro
fess i on s t o th e p ro o f an d t o determ i n e wh eth e r
th e a uth or s o f th es e m u tu al pledges we r e r ea d y
to s ea l th e m i n bloo d T he ti d i ngs o f L e xi ngto n
an d Con c o r d h a d n o soon er sp re a d tha n i t wa s u ni
v e r s a lly felt tha t th e t i m e w a s a t last c om e fo r
a cti o n A sp i ri t p erva de d all ranks n o t trans i ent
no t b o ister ou s bu t de ep s ol emn dete r m in ed
,
,
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“
M en s
a g it a t
,
T o t a mq u e
m ol e m,
et
,
,
i n fu s a
a rt
p er
m g no
a
se
c
us
orp or e
Wa r o n th e i r own s o i l a nd a t the i r own do o r s wa s
i nde e d a strange work t o th e yeom anry o f N e w
E ngland ; bu t th ei r c onsci en ces w er e c onvince d o f
i ts n e c ess i t y th ei r c ou ntry calle d them to i t a n d
th ey di d n o t wi thh old th em selve s from th e p eri l
o u s tr i a l
T h e ordina ry o ccupa ti ons o f li fe w er e
abandon ed ; th e plow w a s staye d i n th e u nfinish e d
f u rr o w ; w i ves gav e u p th e i r hu sb ands an d
M i d d i ff u e d t h u g h u t t h m e mb r g i e e e g y t t he
A d
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
w
h le
o
n
a
ma s s
,
n
and
,
m
i
s
ng
l
es
ro
w
it h t he
o
va s
t
e s,
e
b o dy
”
.
v
s
n
r
o
S P EE CH E S 0 F
N O TE D
24
C oloni es the i r app ea ls r e s oluti ons a nd a dd resse s
ha d ma de th e ir c aus e known to E urop e W i th
o ut
boastin g w e m ay say tha t i n n o a ge o r
country h as the p ubli c cause b e en m a i nta in e d
wi th m or e forc e o f a rgum ent m o re p ower o f i llus
t r a t io n o r m or e O f th a t p ersu a s i on wh i ch excite d
feeling an d el evate d p rinciple c a n alon e b estow
tha n th e R evoluti ona ry s tate p ap ers exh ib i t
Th es e p ap ers w ill for eve r deserve to b e stu di ed
not only fo r the sp i ri t whi ch th ey b re a th e bu t fo r
the ab i lit y wi th w h i ch th ey w e re wr itten
T o thi s ab l e vindi c at i on o f th ei r c au s e th e C ol
o n ies ha d n o w a dde d a p ra cti cal and s evere p ro o f
o f
th e i r o wn t ru e devoti on to i t a nd given
evi denc e al s o o f the p owe r whi ch they could
b ring t o i ts supp ort All n ow s aw th a t i f Am er i ca
fell s h e wo u ld n ot fall withou t a struggl e
M en
felt sympa thy a n d r ega rd a s well a s surp ri s e when
th ey b eh eld th es e i n fan t states r em ote unknown
u na i ded encounte r th e p ower o f E ngla nd a nd
i n th e fi rst co n s i de r abl e b attle l eave m ore o f th ei r
en emi es dea d o n th e fi eld i n p rop orti on to th e
numb er o f c omb atants than h a d b e e n r e c ently
known to fall i n th e war s o f E u rop e
In fo rmati on o f th es e events
ci r c u lat i ng
throu ghou t th e world a t length rea ch e d th e ea rs
o f o n e wh o n o w hea rs
H e h a s not forgot
ten th e em oti on wh i ch th e fam e o f Bunker H ill
Th
M q u i d L f y e tt e
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e
ar
s
e
a
a
.
D A NIE L
WEB S TER
25
a nd th e na m e O f Wa r r en e xci te d i n hi s you th ful
br ea s t
Si r w e a r e a ss embled to comm em orat e th e e s
t a b l is hm e n t o f grea t publi c p rinciples o f lib erty
an d t o do h on o r to th e di st i n gu i sh ed d ea d Th e
o cca si on i s t o o s evere f o r eulogy o f th e living
Bu t s i r you r i nter esting relati on t o th i s country
th e p e c u li a r ci rcumstances wh i ch surround you and
su rroun d u s c all on m e t o e x pr ess th e h app iness
wh i ch w e der i ve fro m you r pr es en c e an d a i d in
thi s solemn c om m em orati on
F ortun a te fortun at e m a n ! w i th wh a t m ea su re
o f
devoti on w i ll yo u n o t t h a nk ! o d fo r th e
ci rcum stan c e s o f you r extra o rdi na ry li fe ! Y ou
ar e c onn ecte d w i th b oth h em i sph ere s an d with
tw o gen erati ons H eaven s a w fi t t o or d a in
tha t th e electri c sp ark o f lib erty sh oul d b e
condu c te d through you from th e N ew Worl d
t o th e O ld ; a nd w e wh o a r e n o w h ere to
p er for m th i s duty o f p a tri ot i sm h ave all o f u s
long a go r ece ive d i t i n ch arge from o u r f a
t h e r s to ch eri sh you r n am e a n d y ou r Vi rtu es
Yo u w ill a c count i t an i nstance o f y ou r go o d for
tun e s ir th a t you c ro ss e d th e s ea s to Visi t
u s a t a ti m e whi c h enables you to b e pr es ent a t thi s
solemnity Y ou n o w b eh ol d th e fie l d th e ren own
o f whi ch r eac h e d you i n th e h ea rt o f F rance a n d
caused a thril l i n you r a rdent b osom Yo u s e e
th e l ines o f the li ttle r e d oub t th rown up by th e in
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
26
cre d ibl e dili gence o f Pr es cott ; de fen ded to th e
last e x tre mi t y b y his l i on h earte d va lor ; an d w i thi n
wh i ch th e c orn er ston e o f o u r m onum ent h a s
Yo u s e e wh er e Wa rren
n o w taken i ts p os iti on
fell an d wh ere Pa rke r G a rdn er M c C l e a r y
M o o r e a n d o the r e a r l y p a t ri o ts fe ll wi th h i m
Th os e wh o su rvive d th at day an d wh os e lives
h ave b e en p rolonge d t o th e p res ent h ou r a re n o w
a roun d y ou S om e o f them you h ave known i n
th e tryin g s c en es o f th e wa r B eh old ! they n ow
stretch fo rth th e i r fe eb le a rms t o emb ra c e y ou
B eh ol d ! th ey ra i s e th ei r tremb ling vo i ce s to in
voke th e bl essin g o f G o d o n y ou an d you rs for
ever
S i r y ou h ave a ss i sted u s i n l ayin g th e founda t i o n
Y ou have h ea r d u s r ehea rs e
o f th i s stru ctur e
with o u r fe eble c omm endat i on the nam es o f de
p arted p at ri ots M onum ents an d eulogy b elong
t o th e dea d We gi ve th en th is day t o W a rre n
a nd hi s a sso ci a tes O n oth er o ccasi ons th ey have
b e en given t o you r m or e i mm edi ate c omp ani ons
i n a rms to Wa shington t o Gre ene to G ates to
Sull i va n a n d to L incoln We have b ecom e r e
l u c t a n t to grant th es e o u r h i gh es t an d last h on ors
furth er We w ould gla dly h old th e m yet b a ck
from th e l ittle r emnant o f tha t immortal b and
”
“
r e de a s
I llustri ous a s a re
S e r u s in 6 62911a
e
ou
r
m
erits
t
far
O
very
fa
r
di
stant
b
e
th
e
y
y
e t u t he e
L te m y y
,
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a
a
ou
r
rn
o
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av
n.
D ANIE L WE B S TE R
2
7
day when a ny ins cripti on shall b e a r you r nam e o r
a ny tongu e p ronounce i ts eu logy !
Th e l ea din g r e fl ecti o n t o whi ch this o cca si o n
se ems t o i nvit e u s resp ects th e grea t ch anges
w h i ch have h app ene d i n th e fi fty years S ince th e
b attle o f Bunker H ill wa s fou gh t And i t p e c u l
ia r ly ma rks th e c h ara cte r o f th e p resent a ge th at
in lookin g a t th es e ch a nges an d i n e stim a ting th ei r
e ffect o n ou r c ondi ti on we a re ob li ge d t o c o n
s i der n o t wh a t h a s b e en don e i n o u r c ountry only
bu t in others also In th es e interesting t im es
whil e n ati ons a re m aking s ep a ra t e an d i n d ivi du a l
a dvance s i n i mp rovem ent th ey m ake to o a c o m
m o n p rogres s ; l i ke vess els o n a c ommon ti de pro
ll
b
y
th
e
gal
es
a
t
di
ffer
en
t
rates
a
ccording
to
e
e
d
p
th e i r s evera l stru ctu r e a nd managem ent bu t al l
m ove d forwar d by o n e m i gh ty c urr ent s tron g
enough t o b ea r onwa rd wh at ever do es not s ink
b en eath i t
A c h i e f d i stincti on o f th e presen t d ay i s a com
m uni ty o f op in i ons and knowl edg e amon gst m en
i n different na ti ons ex i sting i n a degre e h ereto
for e unknown Kn owledge ha s i n o u r time tri
umph e d an d i s trium p h i n g over di stance ove r
di fferenc e o f langu a ges over divers ity o f hab its
ove r p rej u di ce an d ove r b i gotry Th e civi li z e d
a nd Christi an world i s fas t lea rnin g th e grea t les
s o n tha t di ff er ence o f nati on do es not imply n e c e s
sa ry h ostility an d that a ll conta ct n e ed no t b e wa r
,
,
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2
N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
8
Th e wh ol e w orld i s b ecom ing a comm on fi eld for
i ntellec t to a ct in E ne rgy o f m i nd genius
p owe r W h eres o eve r i t exi sts may sp eak o u t i n a ny
tongu e an d th e world wi ll h ea r it
A grea t c h o rd
o f s entim ent a nd fe eling runs th rou gh two c ont i
ments an d vib rates over b oth
E very b re e z e
w a fts i ntelli gence from c ou ntry to c ountry every
wav e rolls i t ; all give i t fo rth an d a ll i n turn r e
c e iv e 1t
Th ere i s a vas t comm erce o f i deas ;
th er e ar e m a rts an d exch anges fo r intellectu al d i s
an d a wonder f u l fellowshi p o f those in
c o v e r ie s
div i du a l intelli gen ces whi ch m ake up th e m i nd a nd
op in i on o f th e age M in d i s th e gre a t l ever o f
a ll things ; human thou gh t i s th e p ro cess by whi ch
huma n ends a re u ltima tely answered ; an d th e di f
fu si on o f knowledge s o a stoni shing in th e las t
h al f centu ry ha s r en dered i nnum erabl e m inds
vari ously gi fte d by n atu re comp etent to b e c o m
i
r
e
t
t
o
s
o
r
fellow workers o n th e theater o f i ntel
p
l ectu a l op erati on
F rom th es e caus es im p ort ant im p rove m ents
have taken pla ce i n th e p ers onal c onditi on o f in
d iv idu a l s
G en erally sp eaking mankin d a re not
onl y b ett e r fe d an d b etter cloth ed b ut th ey ar e
ab le also to enj oy m ore le isure ; th ey p oss ess m or e
r efin em ent a nd m o r e s el f r esp ect A sup eri or
ton e o f e ducat i on m anners a nd h ab its p reva ils
Thi s r em a rk m ost tru e in its appli ca ti on to o u r
o w n country i s a lso p artly tru e wh en appli e d else
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
29
wh ere I t i s prove d b y th e va stly augm ented
consumpti o n o f thos e a rti cles o f manu fa ctu re and
o f comm erce wh i ch contribut e to th e com fo rts a nd
th e decenci es o f li fe ; a n au gmenta ti on wh ich ha s
fa r outru n the progress o f p opula ti on An d
wh i l e th e u n exampl e d and alm ost i ncredible u s e
o f m a ch in ery would s eem t o supply th e pla ce o f
lab or lab or still finds i ts o ccupati on an d it s r e
’
ward ; s o wi s ely has Prov i dence a dj u ste d m en s
wa nts an d d es i res t o th eir condi t i on a nd th ei r c a
.
.
,
i
a
t
c
p
y
.
Any a de qua te su rvey h oweve r o f th e p rogress
ma de durin g th e last h a l f centu ry i n th e p oli te an d
th e m ech ani c a rts i n m a ch in ery an d m anu fa ctu res
i n comm erce a nd a gr i cultu re i n l etters a nd in
sci ence woul d re qu i re volum es I mus t absta i n
wholly from thes e subj ects and turn fo r a m o
m ent to th e contempla ti o n o f what ha s b een don e
on the grea t qu esti on o f p oli ti cs an d governm en t
Thi s i s th e m aste r top i c o f th e a ge ; and during
th e whole fi fty yea rs i t h a s intensely o ccup i e d th e
thou ghts o f m en Th e natu re o f c i v i l govern
m ent its ends a nd u se s have b e en c anva ssed an d
i nvesti gate d ; anc i ent op i n i ons a tta cke d and de
fended ; n e w i dea s re c omm ende d a n d r es i sted by
wh a tever p ower th e m i n d o f m an c ould b ring to
th e controversy From the clos et a nd th e publi c
halls th e deb ate h as b e en trans ferre d to the fi eld ;
a nd th e wo rld h as b een shaken by wa rs o f u n ex
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S P EE CH E S 0 P
N O TE D
3o
m agn itu de a nd th e greatest va ri ety o f
fortun e A day o f p ea ce ha s a t length su c ce ede d ;
and n ow th a t th e stri fe ha s subsi ded a nd th e
s m oke c le are d away w e m ay b egin to s e e wh a t
ha s a c tu a lly b e en done p ermanently ch an ging th e
sta te a nd c ondi ti on o f huma n soci ety And w i th
o u t dwell i n g o n p arti cula r ci r c umsta nces i t is m ost
app a r ent tha t from th e b e fore m enti one d cau s es
o f au gm ente d knowledge a nd improve d indivi d
u a l c onditi on a r eal sub sta nti al an d i mp ortant
change h a s taken pl a ce an d i s taking pla ce h igh l y
favo rable o n th e whole to hum an lib erty an d
huma n happ in ess
Th e grea t wh ee l o f p oli ti cal r evoluti on b egan
to m ove in A m eri ca H er e i ts rotati on wa s
gu a rded r e gula r a n d s a fe Trans ferred t o th e
oth e r contin en t fro m u n fortunate bu t natu ra l
cau s es i t r eceive d a n i rregula r an d vi ol ent im
pu ls e ; it wh i rled alon g wi th a fea r fu l celeri ty ; ti l !
at l ength like th e cha ri ot wh e els i n th e ra ces o f
ant i qu i ty i t took fir e from th e rap i dity o f i ts own
m oti on a nd bla z e d onwa rd sp rea ding c o n fl a g r a
ti on an d terror a round
W e learn from th e r esul t o f th i s exp erim ent
how fortuna te was o u r o w n con diti on a nd h o w
a dm i rably th e ch ara cter o f o u r p eopl e wa s cal eu
lated f o r sett i ng th e great exampl e o f p opu la r
governm ents Th e p oss ess ion o f p owe r di d n o t
tu r n th e h ea ds o f th e Am eri ca n p eople for th e y
a
mp l e d
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N O TE D S PEE C HE S
32
0 F
govern m ents entir ely p opular o n la sting f o u n da
t i ons ; n or i s it ea sy i n de ed to introdu ce th e p o p u
la r p r i n ci ple a t a ll i nto governments to whi ch i t
h a s b e en altogeth er a stranger I t cannot b e
doubted h owever th a t E u rop e h a s c o m e o u t O f
th e c ontest i n whi ch s h e h a s b een s o long e n
ga ged wi th greatly sup er i or knowl edge and i n
m any r esp ects i n a h i ghly i mprove d conditi on
Wh atever b en efi t h a s b e en a cqu i re d i s l ikely to b e
r eta i ned fo r i t consists m a inly i n th e a cqui s iti o n
o f m ore enli ghtene d i dea s An d a lth ou gh king
doms an d p rovinces m ay b e wreste d from th e
h ands th a t h old them i n th e sam e m a nn er th ey
wer e obta i ne d ; a lthou gh ordina ry a n d vulga r
p ower m ay i n huma n affa i rs b e lost a s i t h a s b een
won ; yet i t i s the glori ous pr erogative o f th e em
p ir e o f knowledge th a t wh a t i t ga ins i t n eve r
loses O n th e contra ry i t i ncre a s es by th e multi
p le o f i ts o w n p ow er ; a ll i ts en ds b ecom e m ea ns ;
a ll i ts atta inm ents h elp s to n ew conqu ests Its
wh ol e abundant ha rvest i s bu t s o m u ch se e d wh ea t
a nd nothing ha s limi te d an d nothing c an lim it th e
am ount o f u ltima te p ro du ct
Unde r th e i nflu en ce o f th i s rap i dly i ncrea s i n g
knowledge th e p eopl e h ave b egun i n a ll form s
o f governm ent to think and t o r ea son
on affa irs
o f s ta te
R egarding governm ent a s an i nstituti on
for th e publ i c good they demand a knowledge o f
it s op erati ons and a p a rt i cip ati on i n i ts exercise
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
33
A call fo r th e repr es entative system wh erever i t
i s no t enj oyed a n d where th ere i s alrea dy i ntel
lig e n c e enough to estimate i ts valu e i s p ersever
in g ly m a de
Wh ere m en m ay sp eak out th ey
deman d i t ; wh er e th e b ayon et is a t th ei r thro ats
th ey p ray for i t
“
”
Wh en L ou is X IV sa i d :
I a m th e State
h e exp resse d th e ess en c e o f th e doctrin e o f u n
lim i te d p ower By th e rules o f that system th e
p eopl e a re dis connected from th e state ; th ey a re
i ts subj ects i t is th e ir lord Th es e i deas foun de d
i n th e l ove o f p ower an d long supp orte d by the
excess a nd th e abus e o f i t ar e yi elding i n o u r age
to oth e r op ini ons ; an d th e civi li z e d world s eem s
a t las t t o b e p roce eding to th e convi cti o n o f tha t
fundam enta l a nd m a ni fest truth th at th e p owers
o f governm ent a re bu t a trust
a nd that th ey can
not b e lawfully e x ercis e d bu t f o r th e good o f th e
communi t y AS knowledge i s m or e a nd m ore
extended this convi cti on b e com es m or e a nd m ore
general Knowl edge i n tru th i s th e grea t su n
i n th e fi r m a m e n t L i fe a nd p ower a re s c attere d
w ith all i ts b ea m s Th e prayer o f th e Grecian
champ i on wh en envelop e d i n u nna tura l clou ds
an d darkness i s th e app rop ri at e p oli ti cal supp li
cati on f o r th e p eopl e o f every c ountry n ot yet
bl ess e d w ith fre e i nst i t u ti ons :
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“
D i s p el t h is
! iv
e
me
to
C
lo u d t h e l i g h t
S EE,
,
a nd
Aj a x
h e a v en r es t ore
a k s no m or e
o
f
s
”
.
,
N O TE D
34
W
S P EE CH E S 0 F
m a y h op e tha t th e grow i ng i nflu ence o f
enl ighten ed sentim en t will promot e th e p e rma n en t
p ea ce o f th e world Wa rs t o m a inta in fam i ly
alli an ces t o uph old o r to c ast down dyna sti es
a nd to regu late su ccessi ons to thron es whi ch h ave
o ccup i e d so mu ch room i n th e h i story o f m odern
ti m es i f n ot l ess likely to happ en a t all w i ll b e
le s s likely to b ecom e gen era l an d i nvolve man y
nati ons a s th e grea t p rincipl e sh all b e m o re an d
m ore establ i sh ed th at th e interest o f th e worl d
i s p ea ce an d i ts firs t grea t statute th a t every na
ti on p ossesse s th e p ower o f establi shing a govern
m ent f o r i ts el f B u t publi c op ini on h a s a tta in e d
a l so a n i nflu ence ove r governm ents wh i ch do n o t
a dm i t th e p opu la r p ri ncipl e i nto th ei r organi z a
ti on A n ecessa ry r esp ect f o r th e j u dgm ent o f
the world op e ra tes i n som e m e a su r e a s a con
trol over th e m ost u nlim it e d fo rm s o f auth ority
I t i s owi n g p erhaps t o thi s tru th th at th e i nterest
in g stru ggl e o f th e G re eks h a s b e en su ff ered to go
on s o long w ithou t a di rect inter ference eith er
to wrest tha t c ountry from i ts pr esent masters
o r to execu t e th e syst em o f
i
o
by
fo
rce
ifi
a
t
n
a
c
c
;
p
and wi th uni t ed strength lay th e n eck O f C hri s
ti a n an d ci vili z e d Gr e ek a t th e foot o f th e b ar
ba ri a n Tu rk L et u s thank ! o d th a t we liv e i n
an a ge wh en s om eth in g h a s influ ence b esi des th e
b ayonet a n d wh en th e stern es t auth o rity do es
n ot ventur e t o encou nter th e scor ch ing p ow er o f
e
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
35
publi c r ep r o a ch Any a ttemp t o f th e ki nd I have
m enti on e d sh ou l d b e m et by o n e universa l burs t
th e a i r o f th e c ivili z e d wo rld
o f i ndi gnati on ;
ough t to b e m ad e to o wa rm t o b e c om fortabl y
breathe d b y any on e wh o woul d ha z ard i t
I t i s i nd e ed a touch i ng re fl ecti on th at wh i le
’
i n th e fu lln es s o f ou r c ountry s happi ness w e r ea r
t h i s monu m ent to h er h onor w e l ook fo r in s t r u c
ti on i n o u r undertakin g to a c ountry whi ch i s n ow
i n fea r fu l c ontest no t f o r w orks o f a rt o r m e
m o r ia l s o f glory bu t f o r h er o wn ex i sten c e
Let
h e r b e a ssu re d th a t sh e i s n ot forgotten i n th e
world ; th a t h er e fforts a r e applau ded an d tha t
c onstant p rayers a scend for he r su ccess An d
l et u s ch er ish a c onfident hop e f o r he r final tri
umph
I f t h e tru e spa rk o f r eli gi ou s an d civi l
l ib erty b e k i ndl ed i t wil l b u rn Hu m a n a gency
’
cann ot extingui sh i t L ike th e ea rth s centr a l
fir e i t m ay b e sm oth ere d fo r a t i m e ; th e o c ea n
m a y overwh el m i t ; m ounta ins may press i t down ;
but i ts i nh erent an d un c onqu erable for c e wi ll
h eave b oth th e o c ea n and th e land a n d a t som e
t i m e o r other i n som e pla c e o r oth er th e volcano
will b rea k ou t an d fl am e up t o Heaven
Am on g th e grea t events o f th e hal f centu ry
w e mu st r eckon c erta inly th e r evoluti on o f Sou th
Ameri ca ; a n d w e a r e n o t likely to overra te th e
importance o f tha t r evolu ti on e i th e r to th e p eo
pl e o f th e c ountry i ts el f o r to th e r est o f th e
.
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N O TE D
36
S PEE CH E S 0 F
world T he l at e Spanish C olon i es n ow i nde
p endent states un de r ci rcumstances less f a v o r a
ble dou b tless th a n attende d o u r o w n r evoluti on
h ave y et su ccess fu lly comm e nce d th e i r nati ona l
e xi sten c e T h ey hav e a c compli sh e d th e grea t o h
j c e t o f establi sh ing th ei r indep en dence ; th ey a r e
known an d a cknowl edge d i n t h e world ; a n d a l
th ough in r egar d to t hei r systems O f governm ent
th e i r s entim ents o n r eli gi ou s tol erati on an d th ei r
p rov i si o n fo r publi c in stru cti on th ey m ay h ave
yet m u ch t o l ea rn i t m us t b e a dmi tte d th a t th ey
h ave ri s en to th e conditi on o f settl e d an d estab
l ish e d states m o re rap i dly than cou ld h ave b e en
r ea son ably a nti ci pated Th ey a lrea dy furni sh a n
e xh i lara tin g exampl e O f th e di ffer en ce b etw ee n
fre e governm ents an d desp oti c m i srul e Th ei r
comm er c e a t th i s m om ent c reate s a n ew a c t i vi ty
i n a ll th e grea t marts o f th e world Th ey S h o w
th ems e l ve s a b l e by a n exch ange o f c omm odi ti es
to b ea r a u s e fu l p a rt i n th e i nte rcou rs e o f na ti ons
A n ew sp i ri t o f enterpri se and i ndustry b eg ins to
p reva i l ; a ll th e grea t interests o f s oci ety r ece ive a
salutary impulse ; a nd th e p rogress o f in form ati on
no t only testi fies to a n improved con d iti on bu t
i ts el f c onstitutes th e hi gh est a n d m ost essenti a l
i mpr ovem ent
When th e ba ttl e O f Bunker Hi ll was fough t
th e exi stence o f Sou th Am eri ca wa s sca rcely fe lt
i n th e civili z e d world Th e th i rte en li ttle colo
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D A NIE L WEB S TE R
37
i es o f North Am eri ca hab itu ally called th em
”
s elves th e c ontin ent
B orn e down by coloni a l
subj u gati on m onop oly a nd b i gotry th es e vast
r egi ons o f th e South were h a rdly vi sible ab ove th e
Bu t i n o u r day th er e h a s b e en a s i t
ho r l z o n
w ere a n e w cr eat i on T h e s outh ern h emi sph ere
em erges from th e s e a
I ts l o fty m ou nta i ns b egi n
to l i ft them s elves i nto t h e l i ght o f H e aven ; i ts
b roa d an d ferti l e pla ins s tretch o u t i n b eauty t o
th e eye o f c ivili z e d man an d a t th e m i gh ty b i d
ding O f th e voi ce o f p oliti ca l lib e r ty the w a te r s o f
darkn es s r eti r e
And now l et u s i ndulge a n honest e x u l tat i on i n
th e convi cti on o f th e b en efit wh i ch th e exampl e o f
o u r c ountry h a s p ro du ced
an d i s l ikely to pro
duce o n huma n fre edom a nd hum an happ iness
L et u s endeavor to compreh en d i n a ll i ts ma gni
tu de an d to fe el i n a ll i ts imp ortance th e p a rt
a ssi gne d t o u s i n th e great dram a o f huma n a ffa i rs
We a r e pla c e d a t th e h ea d o f th e system O f r ep
r e s e n t a t iv e
a n d p opu la r governm e nts T hu s
fa r o u r exa m pl e sh ows tha t such govern m ents
a re compatible n o t onl y wi th r esp e c tab ility and
p owe r bu t wi th rep os e wi th p ea c e w i th s e c urity
o f p ersona l r i ghts wi th goo d l aws
a n d a j u st a d
m ini strati on
We a re not p rop a gand i sts Wh er ever oth er
syste m s a re pr e ferred either a s b ein g th ought
b etter i n thems elves o r a s b ette r su ited to e x i st
n
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N O TE D S P EE CHE S
38
0 F
i ng c ond i t i ons we l eave th e p re feren c e t o b e e n
j oyed O u r h i story h i therto p roves howeve r
th a t th e p opula r form i s p ra c ti cable a nd tha t
w ith wi sdo m a n d kn owledge m en m ay govern
th ems elves ; a n d th e duty i n c umb ent o n u s i s t o
p reserve th e c o ns i stency o f thi s c h e er i n g example
a nd take c a r e tha t nothin g m ay w eaken i ts a u
t h o r it y wi th th e world
If i n o u r ca s e th e r ep
r e s e n t a t iv e system u ltimately fa i l p opula r govern
m ents m u st b e p ronounce d i mp o ssibl e N O
comb i nati on o f c i r c umstan c e s m or e favorabl e t o
th e exp erim ent c a n eve r b e exp ecte d t o o ccu r
Th e last h op es o f m ankind th ere fo re r est w i th
us ; a nd i f i t shou ld b e procla i m ed th a t o u r ex
ampl e ha d b e c om e a n a rgum ent a ga inst th e ex
r
i
n
e
m
e
t
th
e
kn
ell
o
f
p
opula
r
lib
erty
wou
l
d
p
b e s ounde d throu gh ou t th e ea rth
Th es e a r e exci tem ents to duty ; bu t the y a r e
not su ggesti on s o f doub t O u r h i sto ry an d o u r
conditi on a ll th a t i s gon e b e for e u s an d a ll tha t
surrounds u s au th ori z e th e b eli e f tha t p opu la r
governm ents th ough subj ect to o ccas i ona l vari a
ti ons in fo r m p erhap s n o t always fo r th e
b ette r m ay ye t in th ei r g enera l c hara c te r b e as
durab le a n d p e rmanent a s oth er systems We
know in de ed tha t i n o u r country a ny oth er i s
imp oss i bl e Th e p rinciple o f fre e governm ents
a dh eres t o th e Am eri ca n s o il I t i s b edde d i n i t
imm ovabl e a s i ts mounta ins
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
4O
ci rcle o f o u r duti es L et u s extend ou r i dea s
ove r th e whole o f th e vast fi eld i n wh i ch w e a re
calle d to a ct L et o u r O bj ect b e O U R C O U N T RY
.
,
.
W
O UR
,
H O L E C O U N T RY , A N D N O T H I N !
C O U N T RY
B UT
O UR
And by th e bl ess i ng o f G od may tha t
country i tsel f b ecom e a va st and splendi d m onu
m ent no t o f oppressi on and terro r bu t o f Wi s
dom O f Pea ce and o f L ib erty up on wh i ch
th e w o rld ma y ga z e w i th a d mir a t i on f or ever
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R E PL Y T O
H AY N E
D e l i vere d i n th e Un ite d Stat es S enat e J anu a ry
,
M R PR E S I D E NT
Wh en th e m a r i n e r has b e en
tosse d fo r many days i n thi ck weath er and on an
u nkn own s e a h e na tu rally ava ils hi msel f o f th e
first p au s e i n th e storm th e e arli est glance o f th e
su n
t o take h i s lati tu de a nd a scerta i n h ow f a r
th e elem ents h ave dri ven h im from h i s tru e c ou rse
L et u s i m itat e thi s prudence and b e fore w e fl oa t
fa rthe r o n th e waves o f th i s deba te r e fer to th e
p oi nt from wh i ch w e depa rted th a t we may a t
least b e able to conj e c tu re wh er e w e n o w a re I
a sk for th e r ea ding o f th e r esoluti on
[ Th e r es o l u t i on was th en r e a d !
We h ave thu s h eard s ir wha t th e res olu ti on
i s whi ch i s a c tu ally b e for e u s for cons i dera ti on ;
an d i t w i l l rea dily o cc u r to every o n e tha t i t i s
a lmost th e only subj ect ab ou t wh i ch som ethi ng
ha s not b e en sa i d in th e sp e ech ru nnin g th rou gh
tw o days by wh i ch th e S enat e h a s b een n ow e n
t e r t a in e d by th e gentl eman from South C a roli n a
E ver y to p i c i n th e wi de range o f o u r publi c a ffa i rs
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1
4
N O TE D S P EE CHE S
42
0 F
wh ethe r p a s t or pr e s ent — everyth i n g gen eral
o r l o c a l wh eth e r b e l on gi n g to nati onal p oliti cs
o r p ar t y p oli t ic s s eems to h ave attracted m or e o r
’
l ess o f th e h onorabl e m emb er s attent i on s ave
only th e r eso l uti on b e for e th e S en ate He ha s
sp oken o f everyth i ng bu t th e publi c lan ds Th ey
h ave es cap e d h i s n o t ic e T o tha t subj e ct i n a ll
h i s e x curs i ons h e h a s n o t p a i d even th e c old r e
sp ect o f a p a ss ing glan ce
When thi s deba te s ir was t o b e resum ed o n
Thu rsday m orn ing i t s o h app ened th at i t would
hav e b e en conven i en t fo r m e t o b e elsewh ere
Th e h on o rab le m emb e r h oweve r di d n o t inclin e
t o pu t o ff th e discuss i on t o anoth er day H e h a d
a sho t h e s a i d to r etu rn a nd h e wish e d to di s
ch a rge it T ha t sho t s ir whi ch i t w a s kin d thu s
to i n form u s w as coming tha t w e m ight stan d
o u t o f th e w ay o r p rep ar e ou rs elves to fa ll b e for e
i t an d d i e w i th decency h a s n o w b e en r eceived
Under a ll a dvantages an d w i th exp ectati o n
awaken e d by th e ton e wh i ch p recede d i t i t h a s
b e en di scha rge d an d h a s sp ent i ts for c e I t m ay
b e com e m e t o s a y n o m o re o f i ts effe c t tha n th a t
i f n ob ody i s found a fter a ll either kille d o r
wounde d by i t i t is not th e first tim e i n the h i s
tory o f huma n affa i rs tha t th e vi gor an d su cces s
o f th e wa r h av e n ot qu i te c om e u p to the lo fty
and sounding phra s e o f th e m an i festo
Th e h o n o rabl e m emb er compla in ed that I h a d
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D A N IE L WE B S T E R
43
slep t on h is sp e ech
I m u st have S l ept o n i t o r
n o t slept a t a ll
I di d sle ep o n th e gentl e
’
m an s sp eech ; a n d sl ep t s oundly And I S lep t
equally well o n h i s sp e ech o f yesterday t o whi ch
I a m n ow replyi ng I t i s qu i te p os s ibl e tha t i n
th i s r esp ect a lso I p o ss ess som e a dvanta ge over
the h on or abl e m emb er attributable doubtless t o
a co ol e r temp eram ent o n m y pa rt ; f o r i n truth I
slep t up on h i s sp e e ch e s r ema rkably w ell Bu t th e
gentlem a n i n qu i re s why h e wa s ma de th e obj ect
o f su c h a r eply ?
Why wa s he si ngle d o u t ? I f
an a tta ck h as b een m ade o n th e E ast h e he a s
su res u s di d n o t b egi n i t
i t wa s th e gentlema n
’
fro m M is sou ri S ir I a n swer e d th e gentl eman s
sp e ech b e cau s e I h app en e d t o h ea r i t a n d b e c au se
a ls o I chos e t o give a n answe r to tha t sp e ech
whi c h i f una nswered I th ou ght m ost likely to
pro du ce i nj uri ou s imp ress i ons I di d n o t stop t o
inqu i r e wh o was th e ori ginal draw er o f th e bi ll
I foun d a r esp onsibl e i ndo rser b e fore m e a n d it
wa s my pu rp os e t o h old h i m li able an d to b ring
him to h i s j u st r esp onsib ility withou t del ay Bu t
s ir
th i s i nte rrogatory o f th e h onor abl e m emb er
w a s only i ntro du cto r y t o a nothe r
H e p ro ceeded
to a sk m e whethe r I ha d turne d up on h im i n
thi s d eb a te from the consci ou sn ess tha t I S hould
find an ove rm a tch i f I ventu re d o n a contest wi th
hi s fri en d from M issour i I f s ir th e honorable
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Mr
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B
en t o n
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N O TE D
44
.
S PEE CHE S 0 F
m e mb e r e x g r a t ia Az o d e s t ia e ha d chos en t hu s
to de fe r to h is fri end an d to p ay h i m a compli
m ent with ou t intenti onal di sp ar a gem ent to others
i t wou ld h ave b een qu i te a ccording t o th e fri endly
c ou rtes i e s o f debate an d no t a t a ll ungrate ful to
my o w n fe elings I a m no t o n e o f those s ir wh o
este em any tribu te o f rega rd wh eth e r li ght o r o c
c a s io n a l
o r m ore s eri ous an d delib erate
wh i ch
m ay b e b estowe d o n oth ers a s s o mu ch u nj u stly
withholden from th e m s elves Bu t th e ton e and
’
manne r o f the gentlem an s qu esti on forb i d m e th a t
I thus i nterpr et i t I am n ot a t lib erty t o consi de r
i t a s nothin g m o re th an a c ivili ty t o h i s fri en d
I t h a d a n a i r o f tau nt an d disp a ra gem ent s om e
th in g o f th e lo fti ness o f a ss erted sup eri ori ty whi ch
does n ot allow m e to p a ss over i t w ith ou t noti ce
I t wa s pu t a s a qu est i on f o r m e to answer :
Wh eth er I de em e d th e m emb er from M i ss ou r i a n
overm at ch fo r mys el f i n deba te here It s e em s
to m e S i r tha t thi s i s extra ordin a ry langu age an d
a n extra ordinary ton e f o r th e dis cu ssi ons o f thi s
b o dy
M a tches an d overmatch es ! Th os e te r m s a re
m or e appli c able els ewh er e than h ere an d fitter fo r
oth e r a ss embli es tha n thi s S ir th e gentlem a n
s e ems t o forget wh ere an d wh a t we a re Th i s is
a S ena te ; a S ena te o f e quals : o f m en o f i ndivi du a l
h ono r an d p ersona l cha ra cte r a nd o f absolute in
dep enden c e We know n o m asters : w e a c kn o w l
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DA NIE L WE B S T E R
45
edge no di cta tors Thi s i s a h all fo r m u t u a l con
su l t a t io n and di scussi on ; n o t a n a rena fo r th e ex
I off er mys elf S ir a s a
h ib it io n o f ch amp i ons
m atch for n o m an ; I th row th e cha llenge o f
’
debate a t n o m an s fe et Bu t th en s ir S i nce th e
h on orabl e m emb er h a s pu t th e qu esti on f o r a n a n
s w e r I wi ll give h i m a n a n swer ; a n d I wi ll tell
h im th at h oldin g mysel f to b e th e hu mb l est o f th e
m emb ers h er e I yet know noth ing i n th e a rm o f
hi s fri en d from M i ssou ri ei th er a lon e o r wh en
a i de d by th e a rm o f h is fri en d fro m S outh Ca ro
l ina th a t n e e d deter even m e from esp ous in g
wh a tever op ini ons I m ay cho os e to esp ou s e from
deb ating wh en eve r I m ay ch o os e t o deb at e o r
from sp e aking wha teve r I may s e e fi t to s a y on
th e fl o o r o f th e S enate S i r wh en u tter e d a s m at
te r o f c omm endati on o r c omplim ent I should
di ss ent from n othin g wh i ch th e hono rabl e m emb er
m i ght s a y o f h i s fr i end St ill l es s d o I pu t forth
any p retens i ons o f my own But wh e n pu t to
m e a s a matter o f taunt I th ro w i t b a ck a nd s a y
to th e gentleman that h e c ould p ossibly sa y noth
i ng l es s likely than su c h a comp ari so n to woun d
my pri de o f p ersona l cha ra cter Th e anger o f
i ts ton e r es cu ed th e r emark from i ntenti onal i rony
whi ch oth erwis e p robably would have b een i ts gen
Sir I sh all n o t a llow mys el f
era l a c ceptati on
I h op e o n n o o ccasi on to b e b e
o n this occasi on
t r a ye d into any loss o f temp er ; but i f p rovoked
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N O TE D S P EE CH E S 0 F
46
a s I trust I n eve r shall b e i nto criminat i on an d
r ecrim inati on th e honorable m emb er m ay p erhap s
find th a t i n th a t c ontest th er e wi ll b e blows t o
take a s well a s blows to g i ve ; tha t oth ers ca n
sta te comp a ri sons a s S i gn i fica nt a t lea s t as h i s
o w n ; a nd th a t h is impun i ty m ay p ossibly deman d
o f him wh a teve r p owers o f tau nt and sa rcasm h e
may p oss es s I comm en d h i m to a p ru dent hus
b andry o f h i s resources
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We approa ch a t l ength Si r to a mor e imp or
’
tant p art o f th e h onorabl e gentleman s ob s erva
t i ons S ince i t does not a ccor d with my vi ews o f
j usti ce an d p oli cy t o give away th e publi c lands
altogeth e r a s m er e m atte r o f gratu ity I a m a ske d
by th e h onorabl e gentle m a n o n wh a t ground i t i s
tha t I c ons en t t o vote them away i n p a rti cula r
i nstances ? H o w h e i nqu i res do I r econ cil e wi th
th es e p ro fess e d s ent i m ents m y supp ort o f m ea s
u r es app rop r i a ting p orti ons o f th e lands t o p arti e
ula r roa ds p arti cula r c ana ls p a rti cula r rivers an d
p a r ti cula r i nsti tuti ons o f e du cati on i n th e West ?
Thi s l ea ds s ir t o the real an d wi de difference i n
p oli ti ca l op ini on b etwe en th e h onorable gentl e
m a n an d m ysel f O n m y p art I l ook up on a ll
th es e obj ects a s connecte d wi th th e comm on good
fa i rly emb ra ce d i n i ts obj ect a nd i ts terms ; he o n
th e contra ry de em s th em all i f good a t all only
loca l good T h i s i s o u r diff erence T h e inter
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N O TE D
48
SP EE CH E S 0 F
pl e o f N ew E nglan d do not reason thu s O u r
noti on o f things i s enti rely differ ent We look
up on th e States n o t a s sep a ra ted bu t a s united
We love to dwell o n th at un ion a n d on the mu
tu a l h app i n ess whi ch i t h as s o mu ch promoted and
th e comm on renown whi ch i t ha s so greatly c on
tribute d to a cqu i r e I n o u r contemplat i on Ca ro
l ina an d O hi o ar e p a rts o f th e sam e country ;
Sta tes u nite d unde r th e s am e G en era l G overn
m ent h aving i nterests common a ss oc i a ted inter
mi ngl ed In wha teve r i s wi th in th e pr op er sph ere
o f the c onsti tuti onal p owe r o f thi s governm en t we
l o ok up on th e Sta tes a s o n e We do not impose
geograph i ca l lim i ts to o u r p atri oti c fe eli ng o r r e
gar d ; w e do n o t follow rivers an d m ou nta i ns an d
lin e s o f l at i tu de t o fin d b ounda ri e s b eyond wh i ch
publi c i mprove m ents do n o t b enefit u s We w h o
c o m e h er e a s a gents an d rep resenta tives o f th es e
narrow m i nde d an d s elfish m en o f N ew E ngland
c ons i der ourselves a s b oun d to r egar d with a n
e qua l eye th e goo d o f th e wh ole i n wh ateve r i s
w i th in o u r p owe r o f l egis lat i on S i r i f a ra i lroa d
o r canal b eginn ing i n South Ca rolina a nd end i n g
i n Sou th Ca rolina app ea re d t o m e to b e o f na
t io n a l i mp ortance a n d nati ona l m agni tu de b e l ie v
ing as I do t ha t th e p ower o f governm ent extend s
to th e en c ourag em ent o f w orks o f tha t des c ripti on
i f I wer e to stan d up h ere an d a sk wh a t i nter es t
h a s M a ssa chusetts i n a ra i lroa d i n S outh Carolina
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DA NIE L WE B S TE R
49
I sh ould n ot b e willing t o fa c e my const i tu ents
Th es e s am e n a rrow m inde d m en would t ell m e
tha t th ey ha d s ent m e t o a c t f o r th e whol e country
an d tha t on e w h o p oss esse d t o o l ittl e c o mp r e h e n
o n e wh o w a s
si on eith e r o f i ntelle c t o r fe elin g
n ot large enou gh b oth i n m i n d a n d i n heart to
—
e m bra ce th e wh ol e
wa s n ot fit t o b e entru ste d
S i r I do not desi re
wi th th e inter est o f any p a rt
t o enla rge th e p owers o f th e gove r nm ent b y u n
u
i
fi
c
onstru
c
ti
on
no
r
t
o
e
x
ercis
e
a
ny
not
bl
s
t
a
e
;
j
with i n a fa i r i nterp reta t i on B u t wh en i t i s b e
l ie v e d tha t a p ow er do es ex i s t th en i t is i n my
j u dgment to b e exer c i se d f o r the general b enefit
o f th e whol e
S o fa r a s r esp e c ts th e exerci s e o f
su ch a p ower th e States a r e on e I t wa s th e ver y
obj ect o f th e C onstitu ti on to creat e u n i ty o f i nter
ests to th e extent o f the p ow ers o f th e genera l
overnm
ent
I
n
wa
r
a
nd
p
ea
ce
w
e
a
re
o ne ; i n
g
commerce o n e ; b ecau s e th e author ity o f th e gen
era l government r e a ch es t o w a r a n d p ea ce and
to th e regu lati on o f comm erce I h ave n ever se en
a ny m or e d ifli c u l t y i n er ecting li ght h ous e s o n th e
lake s tha n o n the ocea n ; in imp rovin g the ha r
b ors o f inla nd s ea s than i f th ey w er e within th e
ebb an d fl o w o f th e ti de ; o r o f removing o h
m or e
s t r u c t io n s i n th e va st str eam s o f th e West
tha n i n an y w ork to fa c i li ta te c omm erce o n th e
Atlanti c co a st I f ther e b e any p ower fo r on e
the re i s p owe r also f o r th e oth e r ; and th ey a re
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N O TE D S P EE CH E S 0 F
50
all a n d e qu ally fo r th e common goo d o f the
country
.
ta r i ff wh i c h Sou th C arolina ha d a n e fli
ci ent hand i n establi sh i n g In 1 8 1 6 a nd thi s a s
s e r t e d p ower o f internal imp rovem ent a dvance d
by h e r i n th e s am e yea r a nd a s w e have s een a p
prove d a n d sancti on e d by h er representatives i n
1 824
th e se two m ea su res a re th e grea t grounds
o n whi ch s h e i s n o w thou h t to b e j u stifi e d i n
g
b reaking u p th e Un i on i f sh e s e e s fit t o b re ak
i t up !
I m ay n o w s a fely say I think that w e h ave ha d
th e au thor i ty o f l ea ding and distingu i sh e d gentle
m en from Sou th Ca rolin a i n support o f the do c
trin e o f i nterna l i mprovem ent I rep ea t th a t u p
t o 1 8 2 4 I f o r o n e followe d South Ca roli na ; b u t
wh e n tha t sta r i n i ts a scensi on ve ere d o ff in a n
u n exp e c te d di recti on I r eli e d o n i ts li gh t n o
l onge r
T h e strenu ou s toi l o f th e gentl ema n h a s
b e en t o rai s e a n i nconsi sten c y b etwe en my di ss ent
to th e tari ff i n 1 8 2 4 a nd my vote i n 1 8 2 8
It is
lab or lost H e p ays u ndes erve d compliment t o
my sp eech i n 1 8 2 4 ; bu t th i s i s t o ra i s e m e h i gh
tha t m y fall a s h e wou ld have i t i n 1 8 2 8 m ay b e
m o r e S i gna l S i r ther e wa s n o fall a t all B e
tw e en th e ground I to ok in 1 8 2 8 th e re wa s n o t
only n o p recip i ce bu t n o decli vi ty I t was a
Th e
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D A N IE L WE B S T E R
1
5
chan ge o f p o siti on to m e et n ew ci rcumstan ces bu t
on th e sam e l evel A pla i n tal e e x pla ins th e whole
m a tte r I n 1 8 1 6 I ha d n o t a cqu i esce d i n th e
ta r i ff th en supp orte d by S outh Ca rolina T o
s om e p a rts o f i t esp e ci ally I fe l t an d expr ess ed
gr ea t r epu gnance I h eld th e sa m e o p i nions i n
1 82 1
a t th e m e etin g i n Fa n eu i l Hall to wh i c h
th e gentlem a n h a s allud e d I s a i d th e n and s a y
tha t a s a n ori gina l qu esti on th e author ity
no w
o f Congress to exe rci s e th e revenu e p owe r
wi th
dir e ct re ference t o the p rote c ti on o f m anu fa ctu res
i s a qu esti on able authori ty fa r m or e qu esti onable
i n m y j u d g m en t th a n th e p ower o f i nternal im
r
n
t
i
n
o
o
m
e
s
I
m
u
st
con
fess
S
i
r
tha
t
e
v
e
n
p
resp ect s om e i mp res s i ons h ave b e en m a de o n my
’
op ini ons lately M r M adi son s publi c a ti on h a s
put th e p ower i n a very strong li ght H e h a s
pla ce d i t I m ust a cknowl edge up on grounds o f
constru cti on an d a rgum ent whi ch s e em impr eg
nable B u t even i f th e p ower w er e doubtful o n
th e fa ce o f th e C onsti tuti on i tsel f i t ha d b een a s
sum e d an d a ss erte d i n th e first r evenu e l aw ever
pa ss e d under th at sam e C onsti tuti on ; an d o n thi s
groun d a s a m atte r s ettle d b y contemp o raneous
p ra cti ce I h a d r e fra i n ed from e x pr essing th e op in
i on tha t th e ta riff laws transcend ed c onsti tuti onal
limi ts a s th e gentlem a n supp os es What I di d
say a t F an eu i l H all as fa r a s I now r em emb er
wa s th a t th i s wa s o ri g i nally m a tter o f doubt fu l
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N O TED S PE E CHES O F
52
.
constru cti on Th e gentl em an h ims el f I su pp ose
th inks th er e is n o doub t ab ou t i t an d that th e l aws
a r e plainly a ga i nst th e C onstitut i on M r M ad i
’
s on s l etters alr ea d y r e ferr e d t o c onta i n in m y
j u dg m ent by fa r th e m ost abl e e xp osi ti on extant
o f th i s p art o f th e Constitu t i on
H e h a s s ati sfi e d
m e so fa r a s th e p r a c t i c e o f th e g overn m ent ha d
l e ft i t a n o p e n qu esti on W i th a great m aj or i ty
o f th e R ep resentatives o f M assa chu s ett s
I vote d
a ga i nst the ta ri ff o f 1 8 2 4 My r ea s on s w ere th en
gi ven a nd I will n o t n o w r ep ea t th em B u t n ot
with standing o u r dissen t th e gre at Sta tes o f N ew
York Pennsylvan i a O h i o an d Kentucky went
f o r th e b ill i n alm ost u nbroken c olumn an d i t
p ass e d Congress an d th e Presi dent s ancti on ed
i t a nd i t b ecam e th e law o f th e lan d Wh a t
then w er e w e to do ? O u r only opti on wa s
e ith er to fall i n wi th thi s s ettl e d cou rs e o f pub lic
p oli cy an d a ccomm odate ou rs elves to i t a s well a s
w e cou ld o r to emb rac e th e S outh Car olina do c
tri ne a n d talk o f nulli fy i n g th e statu te by State
i nter fer en c e
Th e l a st a lternat i ve d i d n o t su i t o u r pri nc i ples
a nd o f c ou r s e w e a dopte d th e form e r I n 1 8 2 7
th e subj ect c am e a ga i n b e fore C ongres s o n a
prop os it i on favor able to woo l an d wool ens We
lo oke d u p o n th e syste m o f p ro t ecti on a s b eing
fixe d an d s ettl ed
B e cau s e we h a d doubted
ab ou t a dopting th e s y ste m w er e we to re fu s e to
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
53
cu re i ts m an i fest de fe cts a fte r it b e cam e a d opted
and wh en no o n e a ttempte d i ts rep ea l ? And thi s
si r is th e i n c onsi stency so m u c h bru i te d I h a d
—
f
1
2
vote d a ga inst th e tar i f o f 8 4
bu t i t p asse d ;
and i n 1 8 2 7 a nd 1 8 2 8 I vote d t o am end i t i n a
po i nt e s senti a l t o th e i nterest o f m y co nsti tu ents
Wh er e i s th e i nc o n s i sten c y ?
S i r a s t o th e gene ra l subj e c t o f th e ta r i ff I have
I remarke d th e othe r
l i ttl e n o w t o s a y
day tha t th i s p oli cy di d no t b egi n w ith u s i n N e w
E nglan d ; an d ye t s i r N ew E nglan d i s c ha rged
with veh emence a s b ein g favorable o r ch a rge d
with e qu a l v eh e m en c e a s b e i n g u n favorable to
th e tariff p o lic y j u st a s b est su its th e ti m e pla ce
an d o c casi on fo r m ak i ng so m e c h arg e a ga i nst h e r
Th e cr e dul i ty o f th e publ i c ha s b e en pu t to i ts ex
trem e c ap a c i ty o f fals e im p ressi on r ela t i ve to he r
condu c t i n th i s p art ic ula r Th r ough al l th e
South du ring the l at e c ontest i t wa s N ew E ngland
p ol icy a n d a N e w E nglan d a d m inistrat i on tha t
wa s a fll ic t in g th e co u ntry w i th a t a riff b eyon d al l
endura n c e ; while o n th e oth e r Si de o f th e Alle
li
h
b
a
2
n
even
th
e
a
ct
o
f
1
i
ts
e
l
f
th
e
very
s
u
8
8
g
y
m a te d e s sen c e o f oppr ess ion a cc ording t o South ern
op i n i ons wa s p ronoun c e d to b e o n e o f thos e bless
i ngs fo r whi ch th e West was i n debte d to th e
”
generou s S ou th
With l a r g e i nvestm ents i n manu fa ctu ring e s
t a blis h m e n t s a n d m an y a n d va riou s interests c o n
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N O TE D S P EE CHE S
54
0 F
d
with a nd dep endent u p on th em i t i s n ot
to b e exp ecte d tha t N ew E ngland a ny m o re th a n
oth er p orti on s o f th e country w i ll now c onsent
to a ny m easu re destru c tive o r h ighly d anger ou s
Th e duty o f th e governm ent a t th e pr esent m o
m ent woul d s eem t o b e to p res erve n ot t o de
stroy ; t o m a i nta i n th e p osi ti on wh i c h i t ha s as
sum e d ; an d fo r o n e I shall fe e l i t a n in di sp ensabl e
obli gati on to h ol d i t stea dy a s fa r a s i n my p owe r
to th at d egre e o f p rote c ti on wh i ch i t ha s un d e r
taken t o b estow No m ore o f th e tari ff
Pr o fessin g to b e provo k ed by wha t h e ch o s e t o
consi der a c ha rg e ma de by m e a ga i nst S outh C a r o
li na th e h on orabl e m emb er M r Presi d ent h a s
taken u p a n ew c rus a d e a ga inst New E nglan d
Fo r a goo d long hou r o r two w e h a d
th e unbroken p lea su re o f li sten in g t o th e h onora
bl e m emb er wh i le h e re c i ted w i th h i s u su a l gra ce
and spi ri t a n d wi th evi de n t h i gh gu sto sp eech es
“
”
p amphlet s a ddress es a n d all th e c t c e t e r a s
o f th e p oliti ca l p ress su c h a s wa rm h e a ds p rodu ce
i n wa r m tim es ; a n d su c h a s i t woul d b e d is c o m
fit u r e
in de ed f o r any o n e wh ose ta ste di d n ot
deli gh t i n tha t s ort o f r e a din g to b e obli ge d t o
p eru se Th i s is h i s wa r Th i s i s to ca rry th e
’
I t i s i n invasi on
wa r into th e en emy s countr y
o f th is s or t tha t h e fl atters h imsel f with th e ex
i
o
f
ga
in
ing
lau
r
els
fit
a
dor
n
a
S
ena
c
t
a
t
o
n
o
e
t
p
’
tor s b row !
nec t e
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N O TE D S P EE CH E S
56
OF
m i gh t a ga i n return ! S h oulder to sh ou lder they
went thr ough th e R evoluti on han d i n h a nd th ey
stoo d roun d th e a dm in i strati on o f Wa shi ngton
an d felt h is o wn grea t a rm l ean on th e m f o r s u p
p ort Unkin d fe eling i f i t e x ist a l i ena ti on
a nd di strust a re th e growth u nna tu r a l to su c h
soils o f fals e p r i n c ip les s inc e s own T h e y a r e
we eds th e se eds o f wh i c h tha t s a m e g r ea t a rm
n ever s c att ered
M r Pre si d ent I sh all ente r on n o en c om ium
up on M a ssa chu setts
n e eds n o n e Th er e
sh e
—
Sh e i s
b eh ol d h e r a n d j u dg e for you rselves
Th er e i s h er h istory : th e worl d kn ows i t by h ea rt
Th e p a s t a t l east is s e c u r e T h er e i s B o ston
a n d Concord an d L e x ington a nd B unker H ill
an d th ere they w i ll r ema in for ever T he b on es
o f her s o n s
falling i n th e grea t stru gg l e fo r In de
n
h
o
e
d
n
c
e
n
o
l
i
e
m
ingle
d
with
t
soi
l
f
every
e
e
w
p
Sta te fro m N ew E nglan d t o G e o rgi a ; a nd th er e
th ey wi ll li e for ever An d s ir wher e Am eri can
L ib er ty ra i s ed i ts fi rst voi ce an d wh ere i ts youth
wa s n u rtu re d a nd susta in e d th e re i t still l ives i n
th e strength o f it s m anh o od a n d full o f it s or igin a l
sp i r i t I f di s cord an d di suni o n sha ll woun d i t
i f p arty stri fe and bli n d a mb iti o n sh all h awk a t
a nd t ea r i t
i f folly an d m adn ess — if u n e a s i
n ess under saluta ry an d n ecessa ry r estra i nt
S h all su cce e d to s ep ara te i t from tha t Uni on by
whi ch alon e its exi stence is m a de su r e i t w ill
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
57
s tand i n th e end by th e s i de o f tha t c ra dl e in
whi ch i ts i n fan c y wa s ro cked : i t wi ll str etch fo rth
its a r m wi th wh a teve r o f v i gor i t m ay sti ll r eta in
over th e fr i ends who gath er roun d i t ; an d i t wi ll
fall a t l a st i f fall i t must a mi dst th e p rou dest
m onu m ents o f i t s o wn glo ry an d on th e very sp o t
o f i ts o ri gin
T h er e yet re m a i n s t o b e p e r for m e d M r Pres i
dent b y fa r th e m ost grave a n d imp ortant duty
whi c h I fe el t o b e devolve d o n m e by th i s occa
s i on I t i s to s tate an d to de fend wha t I c on
c e iv e to b e th e tru e p ri nciples o f the C onstituti o n
u nder whi c h we a re h ere a ss emble d I m i gh t
well h ave desi re d tha t so wei ghty a ta sk sh oul d
have fa llen i nto other an d abl er h ands I c ould
h ave wi sh e d tha t i t S hould h ave b e en executed by
thos e whos e c ha ra cter an d exp er i ence g i ve wei ght
an d i nflu ence t o thei r op i n i ons su c h a s c a n n o t
p o ssibly b elong t o m i n e B ut s ir I have m et
th e occa s i on n o t sought i t : an d I shall pro c e e d to
sta te m y ow n s entim ents w i th ou t chall enging fo r
th e m any p a rti cu la r r ega r d w i th stu di e d p la in
n ess a n d as much p re c is i on a s p oss ibl e
I u nders tan d th e h onorabl e gentl e m a n from
South Ca roli na t o m a i nta in tha t i t i s a ri gh t o f
th e S tat e l egislatu res t o inter fer e whenever i n
the i r j u dgm ent thi s governm ent tra ns cen ds i ts
c onsti tu ti ona l lim i ts an d to a rr est th e op erat i o n
o f i ts laws
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N O TE D
58
S PEE CHE S
OF
u nderstand h im to m a i nta i n thi s ri ght a s a
righ t e x i sting u nder th e Constitu ti on not a s a
ri ght to overthrow i t o n th e ground o f extrem e
n ecessi ty su c h a s w ould j u sti fy V i ol ent r e v o lu
ti on
I u n derstan d h im t o m a i nta i n a n auth o r i ty o n
th e p art o f th e State s thu s to i nter fer e f o r th e
pu rp os e o f correcting th e exerci s e o f p owe r by
th e G en era l G overnm ent o f ch eckin g i t an d o f
comp elling i t to con form t o thei r op in i on o f th e
exten t o f i ts p owers
I un d erst a n d h i m to m a i nt a i n tha t th e u l tim at e
p owe r o f j u dging o f th e c onstitu ti ona l extent o f
i ts o w n au th or i ty i s not lo dge d exclusively i n th e
G enera l G overnm ent o r a ny b ranch o f i t ; bu t th a t
o n th e contra ry
the States may law fully deci de
f o r themselves an d e a ch Stat e for i tsel f wheth e r
i n a give n c a s e th e a c t o f th e G en era l Governm ent
transcends i ts p owe r
I unders ta nd hi m t o i n s i st th a t i f the e x i gency
o f the case
i n th e op ini on o f any Sta te govern
m ent requ ir e i t su ch Sta t e governm ent m ay by
i ts o w n soverei gn authority annu l a n a ct o f th e
G en era l Governm en t wh i ch i t de ems pla inly and
p alpab ly unconstitutional
Thi s i s th e s u m o f wh a t I understand from hi m
t o b e th e Sou th C a rolina doctrin e a nd th e do c
tr i ne wh i ch h e m a inta ins I p rop os e t o consi der
i t and com p ar e i t wi th the Constituti on Allow
I
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
59
m e t o sa y a s a p reli m inary r em ark th a t I call
thi s th e South Ca rolina do ctrin e only b ecau s e th e
gentlema n h im s el f ha s s o denom i nate d i t I do
n ot feel a t lib erty to s a y th a t South C arolina a s a
State h a s eve r a dvan ced t h es e s entim ents I hop e
S h e ha s no t a n d n eve r m a y T h a t a grea t m a
r it
o
o
f
h
er
p
eopl
e
a
r
e
opp
os
e
d
t
o
th
e
ta
ri
ff
laws
j
y
i s doub tless tru e Tha t a m aj o ri ty s om ewh a t les s
tha n tha t j u st m ent i on ed consci enti ou sly b eli eve
th es e laws un consti tuti onal m ay prob ably also b e
tru e Bu t tha t a ny m aj ority holds t o th e ri ght o f
direct State i nter fer ence a t State di s c r et i o n
th e
r ight o f nu lli fying a cts o f Congress by a cts o f
Sta te l egislati on
i s m o re th an I kn ow and
wh a t I shall b e slow to b eli eve
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Wha t he contends for i s tha t i t i s co nst i tu ti ona l
t o i nterrup t th e a dmi ni stra ti o n o f th e C o n s t it u
ti on i tsel f i n th e h a nds o f th os e who a r e chosen
a n d swo rn to a dminister i t by the di rect in t e r f e r
ence i n form o f l a w o f th e State i n V i rtu e o f thei r
s overei g n c ap a city T he i nh er ent ri ght i n th e
p eople t o r e form th e govern m ent I do n ot deny
a nd th ey h ave a noth e r ri ght a n d tha t i s to r es i s t
unconstituti ona l laws wi th ou t overturning th e gov
e rn men t
I t i s n o doctrin e o f m in e tha t u n c o n
s t it u t io n a l law s b in d the p eople
T he great qu es
ti on is wh os e p rerogative i s i t t o deci de o n th e
constituti on a lity o r u nconstitutionali ty o f th e laws ?
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N O TED S PEECHE S
60
On
OF
tha t th e m a in deb ate h inges Th e prop osi
ti o n tha t i n cas e o f a supp os ed vi olati on o f th e
C onstituti on by C ongress th e States h ave a c on
s t it u t io n a l ri ght t o inte r fere an d annu l th e l aw o f
C ongress i s th e p ropos i ti on o f th e gentleman : I
do n o t a dm i t i t I f th e gentl em a n ha d intende d
n o mo re th a n t o a ss ert th e ri ght o f r evolu ti o n fo r
j ustifiable c au se h e would h ave sa i d only wh a t a ll
a gre e to Bu t I ca n n o t con c eive th at th er e c an
b e a m i ddle c ours e b etw e en subm i ssi on to th e laws
wh en regula rly pronounce d constitu ti onal o n the
o n e hand
a nd op e n r es i stance
wh i ch i s r e v o lu
ti on o r r eb elli on
o n th e oth er
I s a y th e ri ght
o f a State t o annu l a l aw o f Congres s c a n n o t b e
m a i nta i n e d bu t o n th e groun d o f th e un al i enabl e
ri gh t o f ma n to r esi s t opp ressi on ; tha t i s to say
up on th e groun d o f revolu ti on
I a dmi t tha t
th er e i s a n u ltim a te Vi olen t r em edy ab ove th e
C onstituti on a nd i n defiance o f th e C onstituti on
whi ch m ay b e res o rte d to wh en a revoluti on is to
b e j u sti fied Bu t I do no t a dm it that under the
Constitu ti on a nd i n con for m i ty wi th i t ther e is
a ny m ode i n whi ch a Stat e governm ent a s a m em
b e r o f th e Un i on c an i nterfer e a n d stop th e
p rogre ss o f the G enera l G ove rnm ent by force
o f h e r o w n laws
un de r a ny ci rcum st ance s wha t
eve r
Thi s lea ds u s to inqu i re into th e ori gin o f th i s
governm ent and th e sou rce o f i ts p owe r Whos e
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D A NIE L WEB S TE R
61
a gent i s i t ? I s i t th e cr eatu r e o f th e Sta te l egi sla
tures o r th e cr eatu re o f the p eople ? I f th e G ov
e r n m e n t o f th e Uni te d States b e the a gent o f th e
Sta te governm ents th en th e y may control i t p ro
v id e d they can a gr e e i n th e m ann e r o f controllin g
i t ; i f i t b e th e a gent o f th e p eopl e th en th e p e opl e
a l on e c a n control i t r estra in i t m odi fy o r r e form
i t I t i s ob servab le enou gh th a t th e doctrin e fo r
wh ic h th e h onorabl e gentleman c ontends lea ds
h im to th e n e c essi ty o f m a inta ining n ot only th a t
thi s G en era l G ove rnm ent i s th e cr eatu re o f th e
Sta tes bu t th a t i t i s th e cr ea tur e o f ea ch o f
th e Stat e s s everally ; s o th a t ea c h m ay a ss ert th e
p owe r for i ts el f o f d etermi ning wh ether i t a cts
wi th i n th e lim i ts o f i ts auth ori ty I t i s th e s erv
a nt o f fou r and tw enty m a sters o f diff erent w ills
a n d di fferent pu rp os es an d yet bou n d to ob ey a ll
Th i s absu rdity ! fo r i t s eems n o less ! a r i ses from
a m is c on c epti on a s to th e o ri gi n o f th i s govern
’
m en t an d i ts tru e ch a ra cter I t is s ir th e p eople s
’
Const i tu ti on th e p eople s govern m ent ; m a de fo r
the p eople ; m a de by th e p eopl e ; an d answerabl e
to the p eopl e Th e p eopl e o f th e Un ite d Sta tes
h ave de c lare d th a t thi s C onstituti on shall b e th e
sup rem e law W e must eithe r a dm i t th e p rop o
s it io n or dispu t e th eir auth o rity
Th e States a re
u nqu est i onab ly s over ei gn s o fa r a s th ei r so y er
e ig n t y is n o t affecte d by th i s suprem e law
Bu t
the State legi slatu res a s p ol iti ca l b odi es h oweve r
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
62
soverei gn a re ye t n o t soverei gn ove r th e p e o ple
S o fa r a s the p eopl e h ave given p ow er t o th e G en
era l G overnm en t s o f a r th e grant i s u nqu esti on
ably go od an d th e governm en t holds o f th e p eople
and no t o f th e State governm ents W e a r e a ll
a gents o f th e s am e sup rem e p ower th e p eople :
Th e G en era l G overnm ent a nd th e Sta te govern
m ents derive th e i r auth or ity from th e sam e source
N eith e r can i n r elat i on t o th e oth e r h e calle d
prim a ry thou gh o n e i s defini te an d r estri cte d and
th e othe r gen e ral an d res i du ary Th e Na ti on al
G overn m ent p oss ess e s thos e p owers whi ch i t can
b e shown th e p eople h ave con ferre d o n i t an d n o
m or e All th e r est b elongs t o th e State govern
m ents o r to th e p eop le thems elves S o fa r a s th e
p eopl e h av e r estra in e d Sta te sove rei gnty by the
expressi o n o f th ei r will i n th e Constituti on o f
th e Uni te d States s o far i t m u st b e a dm itte d State
s overei gnty is effe c tu ally c ontroll ed I do n o t
conten d th a t i t i s o r ou ght to b e controlle d
fa rther Th e s enti m ent t o wh i ch I h ave re ferr ed
p rop os es tha t S ta te s ove r eignty i s only to b e con
trolle d by i ts o w n fe eling o f j u stice
that i s t o
s a y i t is not to b e c ontrolled a t all ; for o n e wh o
i s to follow h i s o w n fe elings i s under n o l ega l
control N ow h ow ever m en m ay think th i s
ought to b e th e fa c t i s tha t th e p eop le o f th e
Unite d State s h ave c h os en t o imp ose control o n
State s over eignt i es Th er e a r e thos e doubtless
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N O TE D S P EE CHE S 0
64
F
b ack aga i n pr e ci s ely up on th e o l d Con federat i on ?
I t i s too pla i n to b e a rgu ed F ou r an d twenty
i nterpr eters o f c onst i tu ti onal l aw ea ch w ith a
p ower to de ci de fo r i tsel f an d non e w ith au th or
i ty to b i nd anyb o dy el s e an d th i s c onst i tuti ona l
l a w th e o nly b on d o f th e i r Un io n ! Wh a t i s
su ch a state o f things b u t a m er e c onn e c t i o n d u r
i ng p lea su re or to u s e th e phra s eo l ogy o f the
t im es du ri n g fe e l ing ? An d th a t fe el i n g to o not
th e fe eling o f th e p eople wh o esta b li sh e d th e C o n
s t it u t io n
bu t th e fe elin g o f th e S tat e govern
m ents
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,
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A nd n ow s ir wha t I h ave first to sa y on th i s
subj e ct i s tha t a t n o tim e and u nder n o c i rcum
s tances h a s N ew E ngland o r a ny State i n N ew
E ngland o r any resp ectabl e b ody o f p ersons i n
N e w E ngland o r an y publi c m an o f standin g i n
N e w E ngland pu t for t h s u c h a d oc t ri n e a s thi s
Caroli na do c tr i n e
No doub t S ir a grea t m aj o r i ty o f th e p eople of
N ew E nglan d c ons ci ent i ous ly b eli eve d th e E m
b a rgo L aw o f 1 8 0 7 unconstituti on a l ; a s c o n sc ie n
‘
t io u s ly c erta inly a s th e p eopl e o f S outh C arolin a
hold tha t op i n i on o f th e tari ff
H o w di d
M a s sa c hu s etts dea l w i th i t ? I t was a s S h e
though t a pla i n m ani fes t p a lp abl e Vi olat i on of
th e Constituti on a nd i t brou gh t ru in to h e r doors
Thou san ds o f fam ili es and hundre ds o f thou
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
65
s ands o f indiv i du als w er e b e gga re d b y i t While
sh e s a w and felt all thi s s h e s a w and felt a ls o
tha t a s a m easu re o f nati ona l p oli cy i t wa s p e r
f e c t ly fu tile ; th a t th e countr y wa s n o way b en e
fi t e d by tha t wh i ch c au se d s o m u ch i ndivi du a l
distres s ; tha t i t wa s e flic ie n t only f o r th e p ro du c
ti on o f ev i l a nd all tha t evi l i nfl i cte d on ou rs elves
In su ch a c as e under su ch c i rcu mstan c es h ow di d
M assa chu s etts d em e a n h ers el f ? S i r s h e r e m on
st r a t e d
s h e m emori ali z ed she a ddress ed h ersel f
to th e G en era l G overn m ent n ot exa ctly with th e
”
concentrat ed en ergy o f p ass i on bu t w ith h er own
stron g s ense an d th e ener g y o f s ob e r convi c t i on
Bu t S h e di d not i nterp os e th e a r m o f h er ow n
p owe r t o a rrest th e law a nd break th e emb argo
F a r from i t H er p ri ncipl es b oun d h e r t o two
th ings ; a n d sh e followe d h e r p rinc i ples l ea d
wh er e th ey m i ght F i rst t o sub mit to ev e r y c on
s t it u t io n a l law o f C ongress ; a nd s e c ondly
i f t he
consti tuti ona l vali dity o f th e law b e doub ted t o
r e fe r tha t qu est i on to the dec i s i on o f th e p rop e r
tribunals
B eing fully o f op ini on tha t the E mba rgo La w
wa s un con stitu ti on al th e p eopl e o f N ew E ng
—
it
l and we re yet equ ally cl ea r i n the op ini on
wa s a ma tte r th ey di d n o t doub t up on
tha t the
qu esti on a fte r all mu st b e deci ded by the j u di ci al
t ribun als o f the Un ited States B e fo re tho s e tri
bu n a l s th e re fo re they b rought the qu esti on
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N O TE D S PE E CHE S O F
66
Th e esta b l i sh e d tribunals p ronounce d th e l a w con
a n d N e w E ngland a cqu i esce d N o w
s t it u t io n a l
i s not th i s th e exa ct opp osi t e o f th e d oc trin e
s ir
o f th e gentlema n from South C a rolina ?
I wi sh n ow s ir to m ake a r em ark up on th e Vir
g i ni a R esolut i ons o f 1 79 8
I ca n n o t u ndertake
t o s a y how th es e resolutions wer e understo od b y
thos e wh o p asse d th em Th e i r langu a ge i s n ot a
li ttl e i ndefin i te I n th e c as e o f th e exerci s e by
Co n gress o f a dangerou s p ow er no t grante d t o
th em th e r es oluti ons a ss ert th e ri ght o n th e p ar t
o f th e Sta te t o inter fer e an d a rr est the p rogress
o f th e evi l
T h i s i s su sceptibl e o f m ore th a n o n e
i nte rp ret ati on I t m ay m ean n o m ore th a n tha t
th e Sta te s m ay i nter fere by c ompla int an d rem on
S tra nce o r b y p rop osin g to th e p eopl e a n altera
ti o n o f th e F edera l C onsti tuti on Th i s would a ll
b e qu i t e u nobj ecti onabl e O r i t m ay b e tha t n o
m or e is m ean t tha n to a ssert th e gen era l ri ght o f
revoluti on a s a ga ins t a ll governm ents i n c as es
o f i ntol erabl e oppressi on Th is n o o n e doubts ;
an d thi s inmy op i ni on is a ll th at h e wh o fram e d
the resoluti ons [ M n M a di s on ! coul d have m eant
by it : f o r I sh all n o t re a dily b eli eve tha t h e wa s
eve r o f op ini o n tha t a Stat e u nder th e C o n st it u
t i on a nd i n c on for m i ty with i t could up on th e
grou n d o f h e r o wn op i ni on o f i ts u n c o n st it u t io n
ality h oweve r c l e a r a nd p alpabl e sh e m ight think
th e ca s e a nnu l a law o f Congress s o fa r a s it
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
67
should op e r ate on h ers el f by h er o wn l egislative
p ower
I must now b eg to a sk s ir whence i s thi s su p
p ose d ri gh t o f the States deri ved ? — wh er e d o
th ey fin d th e p ower t o i nter fere with th e laws o f
th e Uni on ? S i r th e op in i on wh i ch th e honor
abl e gentle m a n m a i nta i ns is a n oti on founde d i n
a tota l m i s app reh ensi on i n my j u dgm ent o f th e
o ri g i n o f th i s government a n d o f th e fou ndati on
on wh i c h i t sta nds I h old i t t o b e a p o pu la r gov
e r e c te d b y th e p eople ; thos e wh o a d
e rnm e n t
mi n iste r it resp onsibl e to th e p eople ; a n d i tsel f
cap able o f b eing a m ende d a nd m o difi ed j u st a s
th e p eople m ay ch oos e i t sh oul d b e I t i s a s p op
u la r j u st a s truly em an atin g from th e p eople a s
th e Stat e governm ents I t i s create d fo r o n e pu r
p os e ; th e Sta te gove rnm ents for an oth er I t h a s
i ts o wn p owers ; th ey h ave th ei rs T h er e i s n o
m or e auth o ri ty w i th the m to a rrest th e op erati on
o f a l aw o f Congress tha n with C ongress t o a r
r est th e op erati on o f th e i r laws We a r e h ere t o
a dm i n i ste r a C onsti tuti o n em anatin g i mm edi at ely
fro m th e p eopl e a nd tru ste d by th em t o o u r a d
m ini stra ti on It i s n ot th e c reatu re o f th e Stat e
governm ents I t i s o f no m om ent t o th e a rgu
m en t tha t c erta i n a cts o f th e State l eg i slatu res a re
n ecessary to fill o u r s ea ts i n th i s b ody Th a t is
n o t o n e o f the i r ori gina l State p owers a p art o f
th e soverei gnt y o f th e S tate I t i s a duty whi c h
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N O T E D S PE E CH ES O F
68
th e p eop le by the C onstitut i on i tsel f have im
p ose d o n th e S tate l egislatu res ; a nd whi ch th ey
m igh t h av e le ft t o b e p er form ed els ewh ere i f th ey
h a d s e en fi t S o th ey h ave l e ft th e choi ce o f
Pr es i dent w i th electors ; bu t a ll thi s do es not
a ffect th e p rop osit i on that th i s whol e governm ent
— Pr es i dent S enat e a n d Hous e o f R epr es enta
I t l eaves i t
t iv es — i s a p opu la r govern m ent
sti ll a ll i ts p opu la r cha ra cte r T h e gove rno r o f a
Stat e ! in s om e o f th e States ! i s c hos en n ot di
r e c t l y b y th e p eopl e bu t b y thos e wh o a re c h os e n
by th e p eople f o r th e pu rp o s e o f p er form ing
amon g oth er duti es th a t o f electin g a gove rnor
I s th e govern m
ent o f th e Sta te o n tha t a ccount
a p opula r governm ent ? T hi s governm ent
no t
i s the i ndep endent offsp r i ng o f th e p opular
s ir
wi ll It is n ot the c reatu r e o f State le gi slatu res ;
n ay m or e i f th e wh ol e truth mu st b e told th e
p eop le b rou gh t i t i nto exi stence estab lish e d i t
an d h ave hi th erto supp orted i t fo r the very pu r
p os e am ongst o th ers o f imp osing certa i n s a lu
ta ry r estra ints o n State sovereignti es Th e States
ca n n o t n ow m ake wa r ; th ey c a n n o t contra ct
alli ances ; they can n ot m ake ea ch for i tsel f s ep a
r a t e regulati on s o f comm erce ; th ey can n ot lay
i mp osts ; they c an not coi n m on ey I f thi s C on
s t it u t io n
s ir b e the c reatu re o f Stat e legislatur es
i t must b e a d m itte d tha t i t h a s ob ta in e d a stran g e
c o ntr o l over th e voliti ons o f it s creators
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D A NIE L WE B S TER
69
Th e p eopl e th en s ir er ected thi s governm ent
Th ey gave i t a C onsti tuti on an d in that C o n st it u
t i on th ey h av e enum erate d th e p owers wh ich th ey
b estow on i t The y have m a de it a li m ite d
governm ent Th ey have define d i t s auth ori ty
Th ey have r estra ine d i t to th e e x er ci s e o f s u ch
p owers a s a re grante d ; an d a ll oth ers th ey de
cla r e a r e r es e rve d t o th e States o r th e p eopl e
Bu t s ir th ey have not stopp e d h ere I f they h a d
they w ou l d have a cc omp lishe d bu t h a l f th ei r work
N o definiti on c an b e s o c l ea r a s to avo i d p ossi
b il it y o f doubt ; n o l i m i ta t i on s o pr e c i s e a s to e x
e lu de all u ncerta inty
Who then sh all c onstru e
th i s grant o f th e p eop le ? Wh o sh al l i nte r p ret
t h ei r wi ll wh er e i t m ay b e supp o se d th ey h ave l e ft
i t doubt fu l ? With wh o m do they r ep ose th i s u lti
ma te ri gh t o f de c i ding o n the p owe rs o f th e gov
e r n m en t ?
S i r they h ave s ettle d all t h i s i n th e
fullest m ann e r They h ave le ft i t w ith th e gov
e r n m e n t i tsel f
i n i ts appropri at e bra n c h es Si r
th e very c hi e f end th e m a in desi gn f o r wh i c h the
who le Const i tuti on wa s fra m e d an d a dopt e d wa s
to establish a governm ent tha t should not b e
oblige d t o a c t throu gh Stat e a gen cy o r dep end
o n Stat e op i ni on an d Sta te d iscret i on
T h e p eo
p le ha d h a d qu i te enough o f th a t k i n d o f govern
ment u nder th e C on federa cy Under tha t
—
system th e lega l a ct i on
the appli ca ti on o f law
to i ndivi du als — b elon g e d e xc lu sively to th e
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!
N O TE D S P EE CH E S
o
7
0 F
States
C ongress c ou ld only recomm en d
th ei r a cts w er e n ot o f b inding for c e till th e State s
h a d a dopte d a n d s ancti on e d th em Ar e w e in
tha t con diti on sti ll ? Are w e y et a t th e m er cy o f
Stat e discreti on an d State constru cti on ? S i r i f
w e a r e then va i n will b e o u r attemp t to m a inta i n
the C onstituti on u nder whi ch w e s it
B u t s ir th e p eopl e h ave w is ely p rov i ded in
th e Consti tu ti on i ts el f a p rop e r su i tabl e m o de
a nd tribuna l for s ettlin g qu esti ons o f c o n st it u
t io n a l
l aw Th er e a r e i n th e C onstitu ti on
grants o f p ower s to Congress ; an d r estri cti on s o n
th es e p owers Th er e a r e also p ro hib iti ons o n
th e Sta tes Som e auth o ri ty mu st th ere fore
n ecessarily exi st h aving th e u ltima te j u ri sdi cti on
to fi x an d a scerta i n th e i nterpretati on o f thes e
grants r estri cti ons an d proh ib iti ons T he C on
s t it u t io n
h a s i tsel f p o int e d o u t orda i ned a nd
establish e d tha t au th ori t y H o w h a s i t a e c om
l
i
s
h
e
d
thi
s
g
re
a
t
an
d
ess
enti
al
end
By
decl
ari
ng
?
p
“
s ir
th a t th e C onsti tuti on an d th e laws o f th e
Un i te d States m a d e i n pu rsu anc e thereo f sh all b e
th e sup rem e law o f th e land a nything i n th e con
s t it u t io n o r laws o f any Stat e t o th e c ontrary not
”
wi thstanding
Thi s s ir wa s th e fi rst gr ea t step B y th i s th e
suprema cy o f the Constitu ti on an d laws o f th e
Unite d State s i s decla red T h e p eopl e s o wi ll i t
N o State l aw i s to b e va li d whi ch com e s i n con
.
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N O TE D
72
S P EE CH E S 0 F
pu rp os e will u ndertake t o de ci de that you r oth e r
a gents an d s ervants app ointed by you f o r anoth e r
pu rp os e h av e transcende d th e au tho ri ty you gave
”
them !
T h e reply woul d b e I th ink n ot im
“
p ertin ent :
Who m a de you a j udge ove r a n
’
o ther s se rvants ? T o their o w n m asters they
”
stand o r fall
,
,
,
,
.
An d n ow M r Pr es i dent l et m e run the honor
’
a b le gentl ema n s doctrin e a little into its p racti ca l
appli ca ti on L et u s lo ok a t h i s p rob abl e m o d u s
o
r a n d i [ m od e o f op erati on !
I
f
a
thing
can
e
p
b e don e a n i ngeni ou s m a n ca n tell h o w i t i s to b e
don e N ow I wi sh to b e i n form ed h o w th i s
State inter fer ence i s to b e pu t i n p ra cti ce with ou t
V i olence blo o dsh ed an d reb elli on
W e w ill take
the exi sting ca s e o f th e tari ff law S outh C a ro
l ina i s sa i d to h ave m a de u p h e r op i n i on up on i t
I f w e do not r ep ea l i t ! a s w e p rob ably sh all not !
S h e will th en apply t o th e cas e th e rem e dy o f h e r
doctrin e She wi ll w e m u st supp os e p ass a law
o f h er l egi slatu r e decla rin g th e s everal a cts o f
C on gress u su ally calle d th e tari ff laws null an d
voi d s o fa r a s th ey resp ect South C aroli na o r th e
ci ti z en s there o f So fa r all i s a p ap er trans
a cti on an d e a sy enough
Bu t th e c oll ecto r a t
C harl eston i s collecting th e duti es imp ose d by
th ese ta riff l aws : h e th ere fo re must b e stopp ed
Th e collector w
ill s ei z e th e goods i f th e ta ri ff
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D A N I E L WE B S T E R
73
duti es a r e n o t p a i d Th e Sta te authori ti es wi ll
undertake thei r r escu e ; th e m arshal wi th h i s
’
p oss e wi ll com e to th e collector s a i d and h er e
th e contest b egins Th e m iliti a o f th e Stat e will
b e called o u t to susta in th e nulli fying a c t They
w i ll m ar c h sir under a very gallant l ea der : for I
b eli eve th e h onorab le m emb er hi ms el f comm ands
th e m ili ti a o f tha t p ar t o f th e S tate H e will
ra i s e th e nulli fying a c t o n h i s standa rd a nd sp rea d
i t o u t a s h i s b ann er ! I t wi ll have a p reamble
b earing Tha t th e ta r i ff laws ar e p alp able delib er
ate an d dangerous Vi olati on s o f th e C o n s t it u
ti on ! H e will p ro ce e d with th is bann er fl y ing to
th e c ustom h ous e a t Charleston :
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A l l t he w h i l e
”
S onoro u s m e ta l b lo w i n g m a r t i a l so u nds
“
,
.
,
Arrive d a t th e custom h o u se h e wi ll tell th e
collecto r th a t h e must collect n o m or e duti es under
any o f th e tari ff laws Th i s h e w ill b e som ewh a t
pu z z le d to s a y by th e way w ith a grave c o u n t e
nance co nsi dering wha t hand South Ca rolina h er
s el f h a d in tha t o f 1 8 1 6 Bu t s ir th e collecto r
would p r ob ably n o t des i st a t h i s b i dding H e
woul d sh ow h im th e law o f C ongress th e treasu ry
i nstru c ti on an d h is o w n o a th o f o ffic e H e
would s a y h e sh ou ld p er form h is duty co m e wha t
mi ght H er e woul d ensu e a p au se : for they s a y
th at a c erta i n stillness p recedes th e temp est T h e
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N O TE D S PEE CH E S 0 F
74
trump eter would hold h i s b rea th awhi le an d b e
fore a ll thi s m i li ta r y a rray should fa ll o n th e cus
collecto r c l erks a n d a ll i t i s ver y
t o m h ou se
prob abl e s o m e o f th os e c o m p osin g i t would r e
qu est o f th e i r gallant c omm ander in c hi e f to b e
i n form e d a littl e up on th e p oi nt o f law ; for th e y
h ave doubtl ess a j u st r esp ect fo r hi s op i ni ons a s
a lawye r a s w ell a s fo r h i s b ravery a s a soldi er
Th ey kn ow h e h a s r ea d Bla c kston e an d th e C on
s t it u t io n
a s w ell a s T u r r e n e and V auba n [ writ er s
o n m ilitary sci en c e !
They woul d a sk h im there
for e s om ethi n g concerning thei r ri ghts i n thi s
m atte r T h ey wou l d inqu i re wh eth er i t wa s no t
somewh a t dangerou s to resi st a l aw o f th e Un ite d
Sta tes Wh a t would b e th e n atu re o f th ei r
o ffens e th ey woul d wi sh to l ea rn i f th ey by m i li
ta ry force an d a rr ay r esi ste d th e exe c uti o n i n
C a roli n a o f a law o f th e Un i ted States a n d i t
S hou ld tu rn ou t a fter all tha t th e law wa s c onsti
t u t io n a l ?
He w ould answer o f cou rs e trea son
No lawyer c ou ld give any oth er a nswer J ohn
Fri es [ lea der o f a r eb elli on i n Pennsylvani a i n
1 7 9 9 a ga i nst a di rect ta x l evi ed by Congress !
he
woul d t ell them h a d l ea rn ed th a t som e years a go
How th en th ey woul d ask do yo u p rop ose to
de fend u s ? We a r e n ot a fra i d o f bullets bu t
tre a son h a s a way o f taking p eopl e o ff that we do
n ot mu ch reli sh How do yo u p rop os e to de fend
“
”
us ?
L o ok a t m y fl oa ting banner h e woul d
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D ANIE L
W EB S TER
75
reply ; s e e th ere th e nulli fyi ng law !
I s i t you r
opin i on gallant comm an der th ey w oul d th en s a y
that i f w e S houl d b e i ndi cte d f o r tr ea son t ha t
s a m e fl oatin g bann e r o f yours woul d mak e a go o d
“
plea i n b a r ?
South Car oli na i s a s overei gn
”
—
State
h e woul d rep ly Th at i s tru e
bu t
“
woul d th e j u dg e a dm i t o u r plea ?
Th es e ta ri ff
“
”
l aws
h e woul d r ep ea t
a r e u n co nstituti onal
”
palp ably d elib erately d angerou sly
T ha t a ll
may b e so ; bu t i f th e tribun a l S houl d n ot h app en
to b e o f th a t op ini on sh all w e swing fo r i t ? We
a r e r ea dy to di e fo r ou r c ountry bu t i t i s rath e r
a n awkwa r d bu sin ess th i s dyi ng wi th out tou chin g
th e grou nd ! A fte r a ll t h at is a sort o f h emp tax
wors e th a n a ny p art o f th e ta riff
M r Pres i dent th e h on orable gentlem a n woul d
b e i n a di lemma like th a t o f a n o t h e r g r e a t gen
e ra l [ Al exan der th e G reat !
H e w ou ld h av e a
knot b e fore h i m w h i ch h e c ould n o t u nti e H e
mu st cu t i t wi th h is sword H e mu st say t o his
followers d e fen d y ou rs elves wi th yo u r b a yo n ets ;
a nd th i s i s wa r
civi l wa r
D i rect c olli s i on t h er e fo r e b etwe e n fo r ce an d
for c e i s th e u navo i dabl e r esult o f tha t r em edy fo r
th e r ev i s i on o f u ncon sti tuti ona l laws whi ch th e
gentlema n co ntends fo r I t m u st h app en i n th e
I s n ot th i s
ve ry first c as e t o whi ch i t i s appli ed
th e pla i n r esult ? T o re s i st by force th e ex e c u
ti on o f a l a w gen era lly i s treason Ca n th e cou rts
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N O TE D
6
7
S PEE CH E S 0 F
th e United States take n oti ce o f the i ndulgence
?
Th e comm on say
o f a State to comm i t tr eason
i ng tha t a Stat e can n ot commi t trea s on h ers el f i s
nothing t o th e purp os e C a n S h e au th ori z e oth ers
t o do i t ? I f J ohn F ri es ha d pro du ced a n a ct o f
Pennsy l vani a annu llin g th e law o f C ongress
would i t h ave h elp ed hi s c a s e ? Talk ab ou t i t a s
w e w ill th ese doctri n es go th e l ength o f th e r evo
l u t io n
They ar e i ncompatibl e w i th a ny p ea ce
abl e a dm ini stra ti on o f th e governm ent Th ey
l ea d d irectly t o disuni on an d c iv i l c omm oti on ; and
t h ere for e i t i s tha t a t th ei r comm en cem ent w h e n
th ey a r e first fou nd to b e ma inta i n ed by r esp ect
able m en an d i n a tangible form I ent er my pub
l i c protest a g a inst th em all
Th e h on orabl e gentl em a n a rgu es th a t i f thi s
governm ent h e th e s ole j u dge o f th e ext ent o f its
o w n p o w ers
w h eth er tha t ri gh t o f j u dgi n g b e i n
C ongres s o r the Suprem e Court i t equ ally sub
verts Sta te s over ei gnty Th i s th e gentl em a n s ees
o r th inks h e s ees alth ou gh h e ca n n ot p erceiv e
how the ri ght o f j u dging i n thi s matte r i f l e ft to
th e exerci s e o f Sta t e l egi slatu r es h a s a n y t end
ency t o subvert th e governm ent o f th e Uni on
’
Th e gentleman s opini on m ay b e tha t th e ri gh t
ou ght n o t t o have b e en l odge d w i th th e G en era l
G overnm ent ; h e m ay l ike b etter su ch a c o n s t it u
ti on a s w e should h a v e unde r t he ri ght o f Sta te
i nterfer ence : bu t I a sk hi m to m e et m e o n th e
o
f
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D ANIE L
W
’
EB S TER
77
pla i n m att er o f fa ct ; I a sk h im t o m e et m e o n th e
C onsti tu ti on i ts el f ; I a sk h im i f th e p ow e r i s n o t
—
?
found th er e
clea rly and v i sibly foun d th ere
B ut s ir w ha t i s th is danger a n d wha t th e grounds
L et i t b e r em emb ere d tha t the C o n s t it u
o f it ?
ti on o f th e Un ite d Stat es i s n ot u nalter abl e I t
i s t o c ontinu e i n i ts p resent form n o longer tha n
t h e p eopl e wh o establi sh ed i t sh all choose t o c on
I f th ey sh all b ecom e c onvi nced tha t th ey
t in u e i t
hav e m a de a n i nj u di c i ou s o r in exp edi ent p arti ti on
a nd di stributi on o f p ow e r b etwe en th e Stat e gov
th ey c a n
e r n m e n t s an d th e G enera l G overnm en t
a lter t ha t di str i buti on a t w i ll
I f a n yth in g b e found i n th e nat i onal C o n st it u
ti on eith er by ori gina l p rovi si on o r sub s equ ent in
t e r p r e t a t io n wh i ch ought n o t to b e i n i t th e p eo
pl e k now h ow t o get r i d o f i t I f any c onstru cti on
b e estab li sh e d u na cc eptabl e to th em s o a s to
b ecom e pra c t ic ally a pa rt o f th e Constituti on th ey
wi ll am en d i t a t th e i r own s overei gn pl easure : bu t
wh il e th e p eopl e ch o os e to m a inta i n i t as i t i s
whi l e th ey a re sati sfie d wi th i t a n d r e fu s e t o change
it
wh o ha s given o r who c a n give t o th e Sta te
legi slatu res a ri ght to alter i t ei th e r by in t e r f e r
ence constru c ti on o r oth erwi s e ? G entlem en do
n o t s e em t o recollect tha t th e p e opl e h ave any
p ower t o do a nyth ing for th em s elves ; they im
a gin e th ere i s no sa fety fo r them any l onger tha n
th ey a re under th e c los e gu a rdi anship o f th e St a te
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N O TE D S P EE CHE S 0 F
7s
legi slatu res S i r the p eople have n o t truste d
thei r sa fety i n r egar d to th e gen eral C onsti tuti on
to th es e h ands Th ey h ave r e qu i re d oth er s e c u r
ity a n d taken oth e r b onds Th ey h ave ch os en t o
t ru st th ems elves fi rs t t o th e pla i n words o f th e
instrument a nd to such constru cti on a s th e govern
m ent i tself i n doubt fu l ca ses should pu t o n its
own p owers u nder th ei r o ath s o f o ffice a n d s u b
o
:
the
i
r
responsib
i
li
ty
to
th
em
j
ust
a
s
th
e
e
c
t
t
j
p eopl e o f a Stat e tru st the i r o wn Stat e govern
m ents wi th a s im ila r p owe r S econdly th ey have
r ep os e d th ei r trust i n th e e flic a c y o f fre qu ent ele c
ti ons a nd i n th e i r o w n p ower t o r emove th e i r
o wn s ervants a nd a gents wh eneve r th ey s e e caus e
Th i rdly th ey h ave rep ose d tru s t i n th e j u di ci a l
p owe r whi ch i n o rde r that i t m i ght b e trust
worthy they h a ve m ade a s r esp ectable a s d is in
t e r e s t e d a n d a s i ndep endent a s w a s p ra ct i cable
F ou rthly th ey h ave s een fi t to rely i n c a s e o f
n ecess ity o r hi gh exp edi en c y o n th ei r kn o w n an d
a dm itte d p owe r t o a lter o r am end th e Consti
t u t io n
p ea ce ably a n d qu i etly wh en eve r e xp e r i
ence sh a ll p o int ou t de fects or i mp er fecti ons
An d finally th e p eople o f th e Unite d States h ave
a t n o ti m e i n n o way di rectly or i ndi rectly a u
t h o r iz e d a ny S tate l egislatur e to constru e o r in
t e rp r e t
thei r high i nstrument o f governm ent ;
much l ess to i nter fere by th ei r o wn p owe r to
a rrest i ts c ours e a n d op e rati on
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N O TED S PEE CHE S O F
80
h aving deta i n e d you a n d th e S enat e m u ch t o o
long I wa s drawn i nto th e deba te wi th n o p re
vi o n s delib erat i on a s i s su ite d to t h e discus
s i on o f s o grave and i mp orta nt a subj ect B u t i t
i s a subj e c t o f wh i ch my h eart i s fu ll a n d I have
n o t b e en w illing t o supp ress th e utterance o f i ts
sp ontan eou s senti m ents I c a n not even n ow
p ersua de mysel f to r elinqui sh i t with ou t express
ing once m or e my de ep conv i cti on tha t since it
r esp ects n oth in g less than th e uni on o f th e Sta tes
i t i s o f m ost vi ta l a n d essenti a l imp ortance
to th e publi c h app in ess I pro fess S i r i n my c a
r e e r h ith erto t o h ave kept steadily i n Vi e w th e
p ro sp eri ty an d hono r o f th e whol e country and
th e p reserva ti on o f ou r F edera l Uni on I t i s to
tha t Uni on w e o w e o u r s a fety a t hom e an d ou r
consi derati on an d dignity ab roa d I t i s t o tha t
Un i on tha t w e a re c h i efly i ndebt e d fo r whatever
m akes u s m ost prou d o f o u r c ountry Th at
Uni on w e r ea ch e d only b y th e dis c iplin e o f o u r
vi rtu es i n th e s evere s cho ol o f a dversi ty It h a d
i ts origin i n th e n ecess iti es o f disor dere d finance
prostrat e commer c e a n d ru i ne d c red i t Under
i ts b eni gn i nflu ence th ese grea t i nterests im m e d i
a tely awoke a s from the dea d a nd sp ra ng forth
with n ewness o f l i fe E very yea r o f its durati on
h as t eem e d w ith fr esh p roo fs o f i ts u tility an d
i ts b lessi ngs ; and although o u r terr i tor y h as
stre tche d out wi der a nd wi der a nd o u r p o p u l a
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D ANIE L
WEB S TER
81
ti on sprea d fa rth er an d fa rth er th ey have not
outru n its protecti on o r i ts b enefits I t h as b ee n
to us all a cop i ous founta i n o f na ti onal s oci al and
p ersona l happin ess I h ave n o t allowe d mys elf
s ir
to lo ok b eyon d th e Uni on t o s e e wh at mi ght
li e hi dden i n th e da rk recess b eh in d I have n o t
cool l y weighe d th e cha nces o f p res erving lib
e r t y wh en th e b onds tha t u ni te u s togeth er sh all
b e b roken a s u nder I have n ot a c cu stom ed my
sel f t o hang over th e p rec i p i ce o f di suni on to
with m y sh ort s i ght I can fathom
s e e wh eth er
the dep th o f th e abyss b elow ; no r c ould I r ega rd
him a s a s a fe c ouns elor i n th e a ffa i rs o f thi s
governm ent whos e thou gh ts sh ould b e m a inly
b ent o n consi dering n ot how th e Uni on sh ould
b e b es t p res erve d but h o w tolerable m ight b e
th e conditi on o f the p eopl e wh en i t shall b e
b roken u p a nd destroyed
Whil e th e Uni on lasts w e h ave h i gh e xc i t i ng
grati fying prosp ects sprea d o u t b e for e u s f o r u s
a nd o u r childr en B eyon d th a t I s e ek not to
p enetrate th e vei l G od grant tha t i n my day
a t l eas t tha t curta i n m ay n o t r is e G o d grant
th a t o n m y vi si on n eve r may b e op en e d wha t li es
b ehind When my eyes sha ll b e tu rned to b e
h old f o r th e last ti m e th e su n i n He aven
m ay I not s e e him sh ining o n th e b roken and di s
h onored fra gm ents o f a o nce glor i ou s Un ion ; on
States di ss evered d i sco rdant b elli gerent ; o n a
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D A NI E L WE B S TER
82
l and rent w i th c ivil feuds o r dr enched i t m ay b e
in fra ternal blood !
L et the i r la st feeb l e a n d
l inger i ng glance rath e r b ehol d the go rgeou s e n
si gn o f the R epubli c n o w kno wn a nd h on o re d
throu ghou t th e earth still full h i gh a dvanced i ts
a rm s and troph i es str eam in g i n th e i r o ri gi na l lus
t er n o t a strip e e ra sed o r p ollute d n o r a Si ngl e
sta r obs cu re d —b e ar ing fo r i ts m otto no s u ch
m i s erabl e i nte rrogato ry a s Wha t i s a ll thi s
w orth ? N o r thos e oth er words o f delus i on an d
—
folly L ib erty first an d Uni on a fterwa rds
bu t
e v er ywh er e sp rea d all ove r i n cha ra cters o f liv
in g li gh t b la zin g o n all it s ampl e folds a s th ey
fl oa t over th e s e a an d ove r t h e land a nd i n every
wi nd u nde r th e whole h eavens th a t oth er s enti
m ent dea r t o every tru e Am eri ca n h ea rt
L ib
a n d Uni on n o w a nd forever on e a nd
e rt y
i nsepa rab le !
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O N T H E C O N S T I T UT I ON AN D
T H E UN I ON
D el i ve r e d in th e Uni te d Stat es S enate
,
Mar c h
M R P R E S ID E N T :
I w i sh t o sp eak to day
n ot a s a M assa chus etts m an n o r a s a northern
m an bu t a s a n Am eri can an d a m emb er o f the
Senate o f th e Uni te d Sta tes I t i s fortunat e th a t
th er e i s a S enat e o f t fi e Un it e d Sta tes ; a b od y n o t
y et m ove d fro m i ts p ropr i e ty no r lost to a j u st
s ens e o f it s own dignity a nd i ts own h i gh r e sp o n
an d a b o dy t o whi c h th e c ountry looks
s ib il it ie s
wi th confi den c e f o r wi se m odera te p atr i oti c
an d h eali n g c ouns els I t i s n ot t o b e deni ed th a t
we live i n th e m i dst o f s tron g a g i ta ti on s a n d
ar e surroun de d by V ery c onsi derable dangers t o
i n sti tuti on s a nd governm ent T h e imp r is
our
o n e d w i n ds a r e l et l oose
Th e E ast th e North
an d th e stor m y S outh c omb in e t o throw th e whol e
sea i nto c ommoti on t o t oss i ts b i llows to t h e
ski es a nd dis clos e i ts p ro foun d est depths I
do no t a ffect to rega rd m ys el f M r Pr esi dent
a s h olding o r fit to h old th e h el m i n th i s comb a t
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83
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N O TE D
84
S P EE CH E S O E
i h the p ol i ti ca l elem ents ; but I have a d u ty
to p er form and I m ea n to p e rform i t with
fidelity not withou t a sens e o f e x i sti ng dangers
bu t not without h op e I have a p a rt to a ct
n ot for m y o w n s ec u ri ty o r sa fety fo r I a m l ook
i n g ou t f o r n o fra g m ent u p on whi ch to fl oat
away from th e wreck i f w re c k th er e must b e
bu t fo r th e go o d o f th e whole a nd th e p res erva
t i on o f all ; a nd th ere i s th a t w h i ch w i ll ke ep
m e to my duty dur in g thi s stru ggl e wh ether th e
s u n and th e sta rs S h all app ea r f o r m any days
I
sp eak to day f o r th e p r es ervati on o f th e Uni on
“
”
Hea r m e for m y caus e
I sp eak t o day o u t
o f a soli citous and anxi ou s heart
fo r th e r e st o r a
ti on to th e country o f th a t qu i et an d tha t harm ony
whi c h m ake th e b less ings o f th i s Uni on s o
ri ch an d so dea r to u s all Th es e a r e th e top i cs
tha t I prop o s e to mysel f to dis c u ss ; th es e a re th e
m ot ives an d th e s ole m otive s th a t i n flu ence m e
in th e w ish t o communi cate m y op in i ons to the
Sen a te an d th e country ; a n d i f I c an do anythi ng
h o w ever li ttle fo r the p rom oti o n o f th ese ends
I S h all have a ccomplishe d a ll that I exp ect
We a ll kno w s ir tha t slavery h a s e x
is t e d i n th e world fro m tim e imm emori al
Th er e
wa s slavery i n th e ea rli est p eri o ds o f h istor y
a mong th e O ri ental nati ons Ther e wa s slave ry
among th e J ews ; th e the ocrati c government o f
tha t p eop le issu e d no i nj uncti on aga inst i t
W t
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
85
Th er e wa s slavery am ong the Gr e eks ; an d th e
i ngeni ou s philosophy o f th e G reeks found or
s ought t o find a j usti fica ti on for i t exa ctly upon
th e groun ds whi ch have b e en a ssum ed i n th i s cou n
try ; th a t i s a natu ra l a n d o ri gi na l d ifference
am on g th e r a c es o f mankind
At th e intro
du ct i on o f Ch r i st i an i ty th e R om an wor l d wa s
fu l l o f s l aves an d I supp os e th er e i s to b e
found n o inj unct ion a ga i nst th a t r el at i on b etwe en
ma n a n d m an in t h e t ea ch i ng s o f th e G osp el
o f
J esu s Ch ri st o r o f any o f h i s a p ostl es
N o w s ir up o n th e g enera l n atu r e an d
i n flu ence o f slavery th ere exi sts a wi de d if
feren ce o f op ini on b etw e en th e n orth ern p orti on
o f thi s c ountry an d th e s ou th ern
I t i s sai d on
t h e on e si de
th a t a lth ou gh n ot th e subj ect o f
any i nj uncti on o r dire ct proh ibi ti on i n t h e N e w
Test am en t sla very i s a wr ong ; th at i t i s founde d
m erely i n t h e ri gh t o f t h e strongest ; a n d tha t
i t i s a n oppr essi on l ik e u nj ust wars lik e all th o s e
con fl i cts by w h i ch a p ower fu l na ti on subj ects a
w eak er t o it s w ill ; an d tha t i n i ts natu r e wha t
ever m ay b e sa i d o f i t i n t h e m odi ficati on s
whi ch h ave taken p l a ce i t i s n o t a cco r d ing to th e
“
m e ek spi ri t o f t h e G osp el I t i s n ot kindly a f
“
’
i t d oes n ot se ek a n oth er s an d n ot
f e c t io n e d
“
”
its o wn ; i t does n ot
l et th e oppr essed go
”
fre e
T h es e a re s enti m e n ts t h a t a r e c h eri sh ed
an d o f late with greatly au gm ente d force among
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N O TE D S PEECHE S O F
86
th e p e opl e o f th e N o r th ern States Th ey h ave
taken h old o f th e r eli g i ou s s entim ent o f th at p a rt
o f th e c ou ntr
a
s
th
ey
have
m
ore
o
r
l
ess
taken
y
h old o f th e r eli gi ous fe el ings o f a cons i de rabl e
p o rt i on o f m a nkind T h e S outh up o n th e o th e r
S i de h a v i ng b e e n a c cu stom e d t o th i s r elat i on b e
twe en th e two ra c es all th e i r lives ; fro m thei r
b i rth havi ng b e en tau ght in gen era l to t rea t th e
s ubj ects o f th i s b onda ge w i th ca re a n d ki nd n ess
a n d I b eli eve i n gen eral fe elin g grea t kind n ess
for th em h a ve n o t taken th e vi e w o f th e s u bj ect
whi ch I h av e m enti one d T he re a re th ou sa nds
o f r eli gi ou s m en
with c ons ci ences a s tender a s
a ny o f thei r b rethre n a t th e N o rth wh o do n o t
s e e the u nlaw fulnes s o f slavery ; a nd th ere a re
m or e thousands p e r h ap s th a t wh a tsoeve r they
m ay th i nk o f i t i n i ts ori gi n a n d a s a m atter de
p endin g up on n a tu ra l ri gh ts y e t take things
a s th ey a re a nd findin g slaver y to b e a n estab
l ish e d r elati on o f th e s oci et y i n wh i ch they
l ive c a n s e e n o way i n whi ch l et th e i r op in i ons o n
th e abstra ct q u esti o n b e wha t th e y m a y i t i s in
th e p ower o f th i s g en erati on t o r eli eve th ems elve s
from thi s r elati on And c a ndor obl i ges m e t o
s a y tha t I b eli eve th e y a r e j ust a s c onsci enti ous
many o f th em a n d th e r eli gi ou s p eople a ll o f
th em a s th ey a r e a t th e North wh o hol d di ffe r
ent opi ni ons
Th er e a r e m en wh o w i th clear p ercep ti ons as
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S
88
OF
i mpa ti ent m en ;
t o o impati ent to wa i t f o r
th e slo w p rogress o f moral cau s es i n th e im
pr ovem ent o f manki nd
B ut we must V i e w things a s th ey a re Slavery
do es exist i n th e Uni te d States I t di d exi st i n
th e Sta tes b e fore th e a dop ti o n o f th i s C o n st it u
ti on a nd a t th a t tim e L et u s th er e fo re con
s i der for a m om ent wh a t wa s th e s tat e o f
s enti m ent N o rth a n d S outh i n r egar d to s l av
e ry
i n r ega rd t o slavery a t th e t i m e th i s
C onsti tuti on was a dopted A r ema rkable c h ange
h a s taken pla ce s ince ; bu t wh a t di d th e wi s e and
gre a t m en o f all p arts o f th e country th i nk o f
slavery then ? I n wha t estimati o n di d th ey hold
i t a t th e tim e wh en thi s C onsti tuti on was a dopte d ?
I t will b e found s ir i f we will c arry o u rs elves by
h i stori cal r esea rch b ack t o th a t da y an d as c erta i n
’
m e n s opini ons by a uth enti c r e co rds sti ll exi sti ng
among u s th a t th er e was n o divers ity o f op ini on
b etwe e n th e N o rth and th e South upon th e subj ect
o f slavery
I t wi ll b e found tha t b oth p arts o f
th e cou ntry h el d i t e qually a n ev il a m o ra l an d
p oli ti cal evil I t wi ll not b e fou nd th a t e i th e r
a t th e North o r a t th e Sou th th e re wa s m u ch
th ough ther e wa s some
i nvecti ve a gai nst
slavery a s i nhum an an d cru el Th e grea t
g r ound o f O bj ecti on to i t was p oli ti ca l ; th at i t
weakene d th e soci al fab ri c ; th a t taking the pla ce
o f fre e lab o r soci ety b ecam e l ess strong a nd lab or
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
89
l ess p rodu c tive ; an d th ere for e we find from all
th e em ine n t m en o f th e tim e th e c lea rest expres
o f th e i r op ini on th a t S lavery i s an evi l
s i on
Th ey as c rib e d it s existenc e h er e n ot w i th ou t truth
an d n ot withou t som e a c erb i ty o f t emp er and
force o f l angu age to th e inj u ri ou s p oli cy o f
th e m oth er c ou ntry wh o t o favor th e n avi gato r
h a d enta i l e d th es e evi ls up on th e c oloni es
Y ou observe si r that th e term s la v e o r s la v e r y
i s n o t use d i n t h e C on st i tuti on Th e C o n st it u
ti on do es n o t r e qu ir e th at fugitive slaves S h all
b e d eli vere d u p I t r equ i res th a t p ersons h eld
t o s ervi ce i n o n e State an d escapi n g i nto anoth er
sh a ll b e deli vere d up M r M a di son opp os ed
the i ntro d u cti on o f th e term s la v e o r s la v e r y
into th e C on st i tut i o n ; f o r h e sa i d tha t h e di d
n ot wi sh t o s e e i t r e cogni z e d by th e Constituti on
o f th e Uni te d States o f Am er i c a tha t th er e could
b e p rop erty i n m en
H er e w e m a y p ause Th er e wa s i f n o t a n
entir e una n imity a gen era l concu rre n ce o f s enti
m en t runni n g through th e wh ole commun ity and
esp ec i ally enterta i ne d by th e emi nent m en o f all
p arts o f th e country Bu t so on a ch ange b ega n
a t th e N orth an d the South an d a difference o f
op ini o n sh ow e d i ts el f ; th e North growing m uch
m or e wa rm a nd stron g against slavery and th e
South growi ng m u ch m or e wa rm an d strong i n
i ts su p p ort Si r th ere is n o gen erati on o f ma n
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N O TE D
90
S P EE CH E S 0 F
k i n d wh os e op i n i on s a r e n ot subj ect t o b e in flu
e n c e d by wh a t app ea r t o the m to b e th e i r p resent
em ergen t a nd exi gen t i nterests I i mpu te t o
th e South n o p a rti cularly s elfish V i ew i n th e c hange
wh i ch h a s c om e ove r h e r I i mput e to h e r c er
t a in l y n o di sh on est V i ew
All tha t ha s h app en e d
h a s b e en na tural I t h a s followe d thos e caus es
wh i ch a lways influ en c e th e hum a n m i nd an d o p
e r a t e u p on i t
Wha t th en have b een th e cau s es
wh i ch h ave c rea te d s o n ew a fe eling in favor o f
slavery i n th e S outh whi ch h ave change d th e
wh ol e nom en cla ture o f th e S outh o n th a t subj ect
so
tha t from b ein g th ought a nd des c r ib ed i n th e
term s I h ave m enti on e d an d wi ll n ot r ep ea t i t h a s
n o w b ecom e a n i nstitu ti on
a cheri she d instituti on
i n th a t qu a rter ; n o evi l n o s courge b u t a great r e
l ig io u s soci a l a n d m oral b les s in g a s I th ink I
have h ea rd i t latterly sp oke n o f ? I suppos e thi s
S i r i s owi ng to th e rap i d growth an d sudden e x
tensi on o f th e cotton p la ntati ons o f the S outh
S o fa r a s a ny moti ve cons istent w i th h onor j usti ce
and gen era l j u dgm ent could a ct i t wa s th e co t ton
i nter es t tha t gave a n ew des i re to p ro m ote slav
ery t o sp rea d i t a n d to u s e it s lab or I aga i n
s a y tha t th i s change wa s p ro du c e d by cau ses whi ch
mu s t a lways produ ce l ike eff e cts Th e wh ol e in
t e r e s t o f th e Sou th b ecam e c onne c te d m ore o r
l ess with th e extens i on o f s l avery I f w e look
b a ck to the h i story o f th e co mm erce o f th is coun
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N O TE D S PE ECHES
92
0 F
supporte d th i s m ea su re T hr e e fou rth s o f th e
vo tes o f l ib erty loving C onn ecti cu t w ere g i ven f o r
i t i n th e oth er hou s e and o n e h al f h er e Th ere
w a s o n e vote for i t from M a in e bu t I am h app y
t o say n ot th e vote o f t h e honorabl e m emb er who
a ddress e d th e S enat e th e day b e for e yesterday
a n d wh o was th en a R epr esenta t i ve from M a in e
i n th e Hou s e o f R epres entat i ves ; bu t th ere wa s
o n e vote from M a ine aye an d th er e w a s o n e vot e
for i t from M assa chus etts given by a gentl ema n
th en repres ent i ng an d n o w livin g i n th e distr i ct
i n wh i ch th e p reva lenc e o f F re e So i l s entim ent
f o r a coupl e o f ye ars o r s o h a s de feate d th e cho i c e
o f any m emb e r to r ep resent i t i n C ongr es s
Sir
th a t b o dy o f North ern and E astern m en wh o gave
th os e votes a t th a t t i m e a r e n ow s e en taking u p on
th ems elves i n th e nom encla tu r e o f p oli ti c s th e
a pp ellati on o f th e North ern D em o c ra cy Th ey
undertook t o wi eld th e desti ni es o f th i s emp i re i f
I m ay give th a t n am e to a R epubl i c a n d th ei r
p oli cy was an d th ey p ersi ste d i n i t t o b rin g i nto
thi s country a nd u nder th is governm ent all th e ter
r it o r
th
ey
could
Th
ey
di
d
i
t
i
n
th
e
ca
s
e
y
o f T exa s u nder pl edges ab solute pledges to th e
sl ave interest an d th ey a fterwa rds l ent th eir a i d i n
b ringing i n th es e n e w conqu ests to take th ei r
My h on orable
Chance fo r slavery or fre edom
fri end from G eorgi a in M a rch 1 8 47 m ove d th e
S enate to decla re tha t th e wa r ought n o t t o
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D A NIE L W E B S T E R
93
b e prosecu te d fo r th e conqu est o f t erritory or
fo r the dism emb erm ent o f M exi co Th e whole
th e No rth ern D em ocra c y vote d a ga ins t i t
o f
H e di d n ot get a vote from th em I t su ited th e
p atri oti c a nd el eva te d s ent i m ents o f th e North
ern D emo c ra cy to bring i n a wo rl d from
a mong th e m ounta ins an d valley s o f Cal i fo rni a
a nd N ew M exi co or a ny oth er p a rt o f M e x
ic o a nd then qu a rr el ab out i t ; to bring i t in and
then endeavor to pu t up on i t th e s avin g gra ce
o f th e Wilmo t Provi so
Th er e w er e two em i
nent an d h i ghly r esp ectabl e gentlem en from
th e N o rth a n d E ast then l ea din g g entlem en
i n th e S enat e ! I re fer an d I do s o w ith
enti re r esp ect fo r I enterta i n for b oth o f th os e
gentle m en i n genera l h i gh r ega rd to M r D ix o f
New York and M r N iles o f C onnecti cu t ! w h o
b oth vote d fo r th e a dmi ssi on o f T exa s Th ey
wou ld not have th a t vote any oth e r way th a n a s
i t s to o d ; and th ey w ou ld have i t a s i t di d
stand I sp eak o f th e vot e up on th e ann exati on
o f T exa s
Thos e two gentlem en would have the
r esoluti on o f a nn exati on j u st a s i t is with ou t
a mendm ent ; a n d th ey vote d f o r i t j u st a s i t is and
th e i r eyes wer e a ll op en to i ts tru e character
Th e h onorabl e m emb er from S outh Carolina wh o
ad dr e ss e d u s th e oth e r day wa s then Secreta ry o f
H i s c orr esp ondence w i th M r Mu rph y
State
’
the Char g é d Affa ir e s o f the Un i te d S tate s i n
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N O TED S PEE CHE S
94
OF
Te x as h a d b e en publ i sh ed Tha t corresp onden c e
wa s a l l b e fo r e th o s e gentle m en a n d th e S e creta ry
h a d th e b oldn es s an d candor t o avo w i n th a t corr e
sp o n d e n c e
that th e gr e a t obj ect sou ght by th e
annexa t i on o f Texa s w a s to strengthen th e S lav e
i nter est o f th e S outh Why s ir h e s a i d so i n s o
m any wo rds
M r C alh ou n W i ll the h onorable S enato r
p erm i t m e to i nterrup t h i m f o r a m om ent ?
M r Web ster
C erta inly
M r Calhoun I a m very relu ctan t to i nte r
rup t th e h ono rabl e gentlema n ; bu t up on a p oi nt
o f so
mu ch i mp ortance I de em i t r i gh t t o pu t
mys el f r e c t u s in c u r ia
I di d n ot pu t i t up on th e
groun d assum e d by the S enator I pu t i t up o n
thi s groun d ; tha t G rea t B ri ta i n ha d announ c ed to
th i s cou ntry i n s o m an y w ords th a t h e r obj ect
wa s to ab oli sh sl avery in Texas a nd th roug h
T exa s t o a ccompli sh th e ab oliti on o f slav
ery i n th e Un ite d Sta tes a n d th e world Th e
ground I pu t i t o n w a s tha t i t woul d make
a n e x p ose d fronti er and i f G rea t B rita i n
su cce ede d i n h er obj ect i t wou l d b e i mp ossibl e
th a t th a t fronti er could b e s ecu re d a ga inst th e a g
n s o f the Ab oliti on ists ; an d th a t th i s gov
i
o
r
e
s
s
g
under th e gu a ranti es o f th e
e r n m e n t wa s b ound
C onsti tu ti on to p rotect u s a ga inst su ch a stat e o f
th ings
M r Web ster Tha t com es I supp os e s ir
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N O TED S PEE CHE S
96
OF
create s om e a l arm At any r ate M r Mu rphy
wrote to h i m tha t E ngland w a s anxi ou s t o get r i d
o f th e consti tu ti on o f Texa s b e c aus e i t wa s a c o n
s t it u t io n
establ ish in g slavery ; a n d tha t wha t
th e Uni te d Sta tes ha d t o do wa s to a i d th e p eopl e
o f T exa s i n uphold i n g th ei r constituti on ; bu t th a t
n oth i ng sh ou ld b e sa i d whi c h shou ld offen d th e
fanati c a l m en o f th e No rth B ut S i r th e h onor
abl e m emb er di d avo w th i s obj ect himsel f
op enly b oldly an d m an fu lly ; h e di d n o t di sgu i s e
h i s condu ct or hi s motives
M r C alhoun N eve r n ever
M r Webster Wh at h e m eans h e i s very ap t
t o s ay
M r Calhoun Always a lways
M r Webster An d I honor h i m f o r i t
T h i s a dm i ss i on o f Texa s wa s i n 1 8 4 5
Th en
i n 1 8 47 fla g r a n t e b e l l o b etw e en th e Uni te d States
a n d M e xi c o th e prop os i ti on I h ave m enti on ed
wa s b rough t forwa rd by my fr i en d from G e orgia
a n d th e Northern D em o cra cy vote d stea dily
a ga i nst i t Th e i r r em e dy wa s to apply to
th e a c qu is i ti on s a fter th ey should c om e i n the
Wi lm o t Prov i s o Wha t follows ? Th es e t w o
gentlem en w orthy a n d h onorabl e a n d in flu
e n t ia l m en ! an d i f th ey ha d not b e en th ey could
n ot h ave c a rri e d th e m ea su re ! th es e two gentle
m en m emb ers o f th i s b ody brou gh t i n T exas
and by th e i r vote s th ey a lso p r evented th e p a ssage
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DA NIE L WE B S TE R
97
o f th e resolut i o n o f th e h onorab le m emb e r from
G eorg i a a nd then th ey w ent h om e a n d took the
lea d i n th e F r e e So i l p arty An d th er e th ey
stand S i r ! Th ey leave u s h ere b ou n d i n h onor
a n d consci ence by th e resolut i ons o f annexa t i on ;
th ey l eave u s h er e to take th e o d i u m o f fu lfilling
th e obliga ti ons i n favo r o f slavery wh i ch th ey
vote d u s i nto o r els e th e greate r o diu m o f V i ola
ting thos e obl i gati ons whi l e th ey a r e a t h om e
m ak i n g c ap i ta l a n d r ou s i n g sp e ech es fo r fre e s oi l
a n d n o slavery An d th er e for e I say s i r th a t
th er e i s not a chapter i n ou r h i story r esp e c tin g
publi c m ea sur es and publi c m en m o re full o f wh at
would c reat e su rp r i s e an d m or e fu ll o f wh a t do es
crea te , i n my m i nd extrem e m o r t ifi c a t io n th an
tha t o f th e c ondu ct o f th e North ern D em ocra cy
o n thi s subj ect
M r Pres i dent s om et i m es wh en a ma n i s foun d
i n a n ew relati on to things a rou nd h im a nd to othe r
m en h e says th e world ha s changed an d th at h e
i s n ot ch anged I b eli eve s ir tha t ou r s el f r e
sp ect l ea ds u s o ften to m ake th i s de cla rati on in
r egard t o ours elves wh en i t i s not exa ctly tru e
An indivi du a l i s m ore ap t to c hange p erhap s
th a n all th e worl d a roun d h im
Bu t u nder th e
present ci rcumstances an d under th e r e sp o n s ib il
i ty wh i ch I kno w I i ncu r by wha t I am now
stating h ere I fe el a t lib erty t o recu r to th e va ri
m a de a t va ri ou s
o u s exp ress i ons and sta tem ents
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N O TE D S PE E CHE S O F
98
tim es o f my o w n op ini ons a nd r esoluti ons r esp ect
ing th e a dmi ssi on o f Texa s an d all th a t h a s f o l
lowed
O n oth er o ccasi ons i n deba te h e re
I have expresse d my determinati on t o vote fo r
no a cqu i si ti on o r cessi on o r ann exati on N orth
o r South
E ast o r West
My op ini on h a s b e en
tha t we h ave t erri tory enou gh and tha t w e s houl d
“
follo w th e Sp a rta n m axi m : Impr ove a do rn
”
wha t y ou h ave
s e ek n o furth e r I thi nk th a t
i t wa s i n s om e observati on s th a t I m a de o n th e
th re e m illi on lo an b ill tha t I avowe d thi s sent i
m en t
I n S hort S ir i t ha s b e e n avowe d qu i t e
a s o ften i n a s m any pla ce s a nd b e fo r e a s m a ny
a ss embli es a s a ny h umbl e op i ni ons o f m in e ought
to b e a vowed
Bu t n ow tha t u nder c erta i n c ondi t i ons T exa s
i s i n th e Un i on wi th all h e r t erri tory a s a slave
Stat e with a s olemn p ledge a ls o th at i f s h e shall
b e divi de d i nto m any States th os e States m ay
com e i n a s slave States south o f 3 6
ho w a r e
we t o dea l wi th th i s subj ect ? I kno w n o way o f
hone st legi sla ti on wh en th e p rop er t i m e com es
fo r th e ena ctm ent bu t t o c arry i nto effect all tha t
T ha t is th e m ean
w e h ave stipulate d t o do
i n g o f th e c ontra c t whi ch o u r fri ends th e
N ort hern D e m ocra cy h av e l e ft u s t o fulfill ; an d I
f o r o n e m ea n t o fulfill i t b ecaus e I will not v io
l a te th e fa i th o f th e governm ent Wha t I m ea n
t o say i s tha t th e tim e f o r th e a dm i ss i o n o f n ew
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N O TED S PEE CHE S O F
10 0
i nto C al i forni a or New M exi co a s any othe r nat
u ra l i mp oss ib i li ty Ca li forni a a n d N ew M e x i co
a r e Asi ati c i n th e i r formati on and s cen ery Th ey
a r e comp o s ed o f vast ri dges o f m ounta i ns o f grea t
h ei gh t w i th b roken r i dges an d de ep valleys
T h e s i des o f th es e m ou nta ins a re enti r ely b a rren ;
Th er e m a y
t h e i r tops c app e d b y p erenni a l snow
b e i n Cali forn i a n o w m a de fre e by i ts c o n s t it u
t i on and n o doub t th ere a re s om e tra cts o f valu
a b l e l and Bu t i t i s n ot s o i n N ew M exi c o
Pray wha t i s the evi dence wh i ch every gentlema n
m u st h ave obta in ed on thi s subj e c t from in form a
t i on sough t by h ims el f or com muni cate d by oth
?
I h ave i nqu i re d an d r ea d a ll I could find
e rs
i n orde r to a cqu i re i n fo rmati on o n th i s i mp ortan t
subj ect Wh a t i s th er e i n N ew M exi co th a t
could by a ny p oss ib i li ty i ndu ce anyb ody to go
th ere with S laves ! Th ere a r e s om e n a rrow strip s
o f tillabl e land on th e b orders o f th e rivers ; bu t
th e r i vers th ems elves dry up b e fore m i dsumm er i s
gon e All tha t th e p e opl e can do i n th at r egi on
i s t o r a i s e s om e li ttle a rti cles s om e li ttl e wh ea t
f o r th ei r t o r t il l a s a nd that by i rri gati on
An d
wh o exp e c ts to s e e a hundre d bla ck m en cultiva
t i ng toba cco corn cotton ri ce o r a nything else
o n lands in New M exi co
ma de fertil e by i rri ga
t i on ?
I look up on i t th ere fo r e a s a fixe d f a ct to us e
th e cu rrent e x pressi on o f th e day that b oth C ali
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D ANIE L WEB S TE R
10 1
f o r n ia
an d N ew M exi co a re desti ne d t o b e fre e
wh i ch I b eli eve
s o fa r as th ey a r e s ettled a t all
i n regar d to N ew M exi co wi ll b e but p a rti ally
for a grea t l ength o f tim e ; fre e by th e a rrange
m ent o f th i ngs orda i ned by th e Power ab ove u s
I h ave th er e for e to s a y i n th i s r esp e c t also th at
thi s cou ntry i s fixed fo r fre e dom t o a s m any p er
son s a s shall ever l i ve in i t by a l es s r ep ealabl e
l aw than tha t whi ch attach es t o th e righ t o f h old
i ng S laves i n Texa s ; an d I wi ll s a y fu rth er tha t
i f a r esolut i on o r a b i ll w er e now b e for e u s t o
p rovi de a terr itori a l governm ent fo r N ew M e x
i co I would n ot vote to put a ny p rohib i ti on into
i t whatever Such a p roh ibi ti on would b e i dle
a s i t r esp ects any effect i t woul d h ave up on the
t erritory ; an d I would not take p a ins u sel essly to
r e a flir m a n ordinance o f na tu re
n o r t o r e én a c t
th e will o f God I would pu t i n n o Wi lm o t Pro
vis o fo r th e m ere pu rp os e o f a taunt or a r ep roa ch
I woul d pu t int o i t n o evi dence o f th e votes o f
sup eri or p owe r exerci se d for n o purp o s e bu t to
woun d th e p ri de wh eth er a j ust a nd a rati on al
pri de o r a n i rrati ona l p r i de o f th e citi z ens
th e S ou thern States I h ave n o su c h o h
o f
j c e t n o su ch pu rp o s e Th ey woul d th ink i t a
taunt a n i ndi gni ty ; they would th i nk i t to b e an
a ct taking aw ay from them wh a t th ey re gard a s a
prop e r equ al ity o f p rivil ege Wh eth e r th ey ex
p e e t t o reali z e any b enefi t from i t or not th ey
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N O TE D
10 2
'
S PEE C H ES O F
would th i nk i t a t l ea s t a pla in th eo ret ic wrong ;
tha t som eth i n g m or e o r l ess derogatory to thei r
cha ra cter and th ei r ri ghts ha d t aken pla ce I p ro
p o s e to i nfl i ct n o su ch woun d up on anyb o dy u nless
s om ethin g essent i ally im p ortant to th e cou ntry
an d e flic ie n t t o th e preservati on o f lib erty an d
fre edom i s t o b e effe c ted I r ep eat th ere fo re
s i r a nd a s I do n ot prop os e to a ddress th e S enat e
o ften o n th i s subj ect I rep eat i t b ecau se I w i sh i t
to b e d isti n c tly u ndersto o d th a t for th e rea s ons
stated i f a p rop os iti on wer e n o w h ere to establi sh
a governm ent for N ew M exi co and i t wa s m ove d
to ins ert a p rovi s i on fo r a p rohib it i on o f slavery
I wou ld n ot vote fo r it
S i r w e hea r occa
s io n a l l y o f th e a nnexa ti on o f Cana da ; a nd i f there
b e a ny man a ny o f th e N orth ern D emocra cy o r
any o f th e F r e e S oi l p a rty wh o supp oses i t n e c e s
sa ry t o i ns ert a Wi lm o t Provi s o i n a te rri to ri a l
governm ent fo r N ew M exi co that m a n w ould o f
cours e b e o f op i ni on that i t i s n ecess a ry t o p rotect
the everla sting snows o f Cana da from th e fo ot o f
slavery by th e sam e oversp rea din g win g o f a n a c t
o f C ongr ess S i r wh ereve r th ere i s a substantive
good to b e don e wh er ever th ere i s a fo o t o f lan d
to b e p r evente d from b e c omin g slave t erri t o ry
I a m rea dy t o a ssert th e principl e o f th e exclu s i on
o f slavery
I am pl edge d t o i t from th e yea r
1 8 3 7 ; I have b e en pl edged to i t a ga i n a nd a ga in ;
and I wi ll p er form th es e pledges ; bu t I will not do
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10
N o TE D S PEE CH E S 0 F
4
.
th e fr e e States I n th a t resp ect th e Sou th in my
j u dgm ent i s ri ght and th e N orth is wr ong Ev
e ry m emb e r o f every Northern legi sla tu r e i s
b ound by oath like every oth er o flic e r i n th e cou n
try t o supp ort th e C onsti tu ti on o f th e Un i te d
Sta tes ; and th e arti cle o f th e Consti tuti on whi ch
s ays to th es e States tha t th ey sh a ll delive r u p fu gi
t iv e s from s ervi ce i s as b inding in h onor an d con
sci ence a s any oth er a rti cle N o m a n fulfills h is
du ty i n any legi sla tu r e who s ets h ims el f to find
excus es eva si ons escap es from th i s const itu ti onal
obli ga ti on I have a lways th ou ght th a t th e C on
s t it u t io n a ddressed i ts el f t o th e legislatu r es of th e
Sta te s o r t o th e States th emselves I t s ays tha t
“
thos e p ers ons es cap in g to oth er States sh all
”
b e delivere d up
an d I con fess I have a l
ways b e en o f th e op in i on th a t i t was an inj un c ti on
upon th e States thems elves When i t i s sa i d tha t
a p ers on escap ing i nto an oth er State a nd coming
withi n th e j u ri sdi cti on o f tha t Sta te shall b e d c liv
e re d up i t s e ems t o m e th e i mp ort o f th e c lau se i s
tha t th e Sta te i tsel f i n ob edi ence t o th e C o n s t it u
t i on S h a ll c aus e h im t o b e delivere d u p That
i s my j u dgm en t I have always enterta in e d th at
op ini on an d I enterta i n i t n ow Bu t wh en th e
subj e ct s om e yea rs a go w a s b e fore th e Sup rem e
C ourt o f th e Uni te d States th e maj ori ty o f th e
j u dges h el d tha t th e p ow er to caus e fu gitives fro m
s ervi ce t o b e delivere d up wa s a p owe r to b e e x
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D ANIE L WEB S TER
10
5
under the auth o ri ty o f th i s governm ent
I do n o t kno w o n th e whol e tha t i t m ay n ot h ave
b e en a fortun ate deci si on My habi t i s t o r esp e c t
th e result o f j u di ci a l delib erat ions a nd th e
s olemnity o f j u d i ci a l deci s i ons As i t n ow stands
th e bu s i n ess o f s e eing that thes e fu gitives a re de
l i vere d u p resi des in th e p ow er o f C ongress an d
th e n at i ona l j u di ca tu r e an d m y fri end a t th e h ea d
o f th e J u d i ci ary C ommitte e has a b i ll o n th e su b
n
ow
b
e
fo
re
th
e
Senate
wh
i
c
h
w
ith
s
om
e
e
c
t
j
a m endm ent s to i t I p rop ose t o supp ort w ith all
i ts p rov i si ons to th e fu llest ext ent An d I desir e
to c a ll th e attenti on o f all sob er m inde d m en a t
th e North o f a ll consci enti ou s m en o f a ll m en
who a r e not ca rri e d away by som e fan a ti ca l i dea
o r som e fals e i mpressi on
to th ei r c onstituti ona l
obligati ons I pu t i t t o all th e sob e r and s oun d
m i nds a t th e North a s a qu esti on o f m o rals an d a
qu esti on o f c onsci en c e Wha t ri ght h ave th ey i n
th e i r legi sla t i ve cap acity o r any oth er c ap a c i ty to
endeavo r t o get round th i s Constituti on o r t o em
ba rra ss th e fre e exerci se o f th e ri ghts s ecur e d by
th e C onsti tuti on t o th e p ers on wh os e slaves escap e
from them ? Non e a t all ; non e a t a ll N e ith e r
i n th e foru m o f consci ence n or b e for e th e fa ce o f
th e Constituti on a re th ey i n my opin i on j usti fi e d
i n such a n attemp t O f cours e i t i s a m atter fo r
th ei r consi dera ti on Th ey p rob ably i n the ex
c it e m e n t o f th e tim es
h ave not stopp e d t o c o n
e r c is e d
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10
N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
6
s i der th i s T h ey h ave fo ll owe d wha t s e em e d to
b e th e curr ent o f thou ght a nd o f m ot ives a s th e
occas i on a ros e a n d th ey h ave n eglecte d to investi
gat e fully th e rea l qu esti on an d to consi de r th e ir
c onsti tut i ona l ob li ga ti ons ; wh i ch I a m sur e i f
they di d c ons i de r th ey wou ld fu lfi l l w ith a la cr i ty
I r ep ea t th er e for e s ir tha t h ere i s a w ell
founde d grou nd o f co m p la int a ga inst th e N orth
whi ch ou ght to b e r e moved wh i ch is n o w i n th e
p ower o f th e diff erent dep ar tm ents o f th i s gov
ern ment
to r emove ; whi ch calls fo r th e enact
m ent o f p rop er l aws auth ori z ing th e j u di catur e
o f thi s governm ent
i n th e s evera l States to do
a ll tha t i s n ecessary f o r th e r ecaptu re o f fugit ive
slaves and for th ei r r estorati on t o those wh o
cla im th em Wh er ever I go a n d wheneve r I
sp eak o n th e subj e ct a n d wh en I sp eak h er e I
des i r e to sp e ak to th e whol e No rth I s ay tha t
th e S ou th h a s b e en inj u re d i n thi s r esp ect a n d
h a s a ri ght to c ompla in ; an d th e North ha s b e en
too ca reles s o f wha t I th ink th e C onstituti on p er
e m p t o r il y a n d emphati cally enj o ins up on h er as
a duty
C omp la int h a s b e en m a de a ga i nst c erta i n r eso
luti ons tha t emana te from l egi slatu res a t th e
N orth a n d a r e s ent h ere t o u s n o t only on th e
subj ect o f slavery in thi s D istri ct bu t som eti m es
r ecom m ending C ongress to consider th e m eans o f
abolishing s lavery i n th e States I shoul d b e
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10
N O TE D
8
S PEE CHE S O F
and goo d m en p erfectly well m ean i n g m en
Th ey have excite d fe el i ngs ; th ey t h i nk they must
d o s om ethin g for the cau s e o f lib erty ; and i n th ei r
sph er e o f a cti on th ey do n ot s e e wh at els e th ey
c an do than to contr i bute to an Ab ol i t i on p res s o r
a n Ab oliti o n s o ci ety o r t o p ay a n Ab ol i t i on l e c
tu r er I do n o t m e a n to i mput e gross m ot i ves
even t o th e l ea ders o f th es e s oci eti e s bu t I a m not
blin d t o th e consequ ence s o f th e i r pr o c e e d i ngs
I canno t bu t s e e wha t m i sch i e f th ei r i nt er ferenc e
wi th th e Sou th h a s p rodu ced An d i s i t n ot pla i n
to every m an ? L e t any gentleman wh o enter
ta i n s doubts o n thi s p oint r ecu r t o th e deb at es i n
th e V irgini a Hou s e o f D elegates i n 1 8 3 2 and h e
w ill se e wi th wh a t fre e d om a p rop osi ti on m a de by
M r J effers on Randolph f o r th e gra du a l ab o
l it io n o f slavery wa s di scu ss e d i n tha t b ody
E very o n e sp oke o f slavery a s h e th ought ; v er y
i gn om ini ou s an d di spa ra g i ng nam e s a nd ep ith ets
w er e appli e d t o i t Th e deb ates i n th e H ous e
o f D elega te s o n th a t o cc asi on
I b eli eve w er e all
publi sh ed Th ey w er e r ea d by every c olore d
m a n wh o c ould rea d an d to those who c ould no t
r ea d thos e deb ates wer e r ea d b y oth ers A t
tha t ti m e V i rgini a wa s n o t u nwilling o r a fra i d t o
discus s th i s qu est i on an d t o let tha t p art o f h er
p opu lati on know a s mu ch o f th e discu ss i on a s th ey
coul d lea rn Tha t wa s i n 1 8 3 2
As ha s b e en
s ai d by th e honorabl e m emb er from Sou th C a ro
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D A NIE L WEB S TER
10
9
li na thes e Ab ol iti on s oci eti es comm en ce d th e i r
cou r se o f a cti on i n 1 8 3 5 I t i s sa i d I d o n ot
know h o w tru e i t m ay b e tha t th ey sent in c e n
d i ar y p ubl i ca t i ons into t h e sl av e Sta tes ; a t any rate
th ey a ttempte d to a rou se a n d d id a rouse a very
stron g fe eling ; i n oth er words th ey cre a ted g rea t
a g i tat i on i n th e North a ga inst South ern slavery
Well wha t wa s th e r esult ? T h e b on ds o f th e
th ei r
s laves w er e b ou n d m or e fi rmly tha n b e fo re
rivet s w e r e m or e str ongly fa sten e d Publi c
o pi ni on
wh ic h i n Vi rgini a h a d b egu n t o b e ex
h ib it e d a ga in s t slavery a n d wa s op en i n g ou t f o r
th e di s c u ss i on o f the qu est i on dr ew b a ck an d shu t
i tse l f up i n i ts castle I wi sh to kn ow wh eth er
anyb ody i n V i rgin i a c a n n o w talk op enly a s M r
R andolph G overn or M c Do w e l a n d oth ers talke d
i n 1 8 3 2 a n d sent th e i r r em a rks t o t h e p ress ?
We a ll know th e fa c t an d w e a ll kn ow th e
c au s e ; a nd ev er y th i n g th a t th ese a gi ta tin g p eopl e
have don e ha s b e en n o t to enla rge bu t t o r e
s tra in n ot to s e t fr e e bu t t o bi n d fa s ter th e slave
p opulati on o f th e S outh
Th er e ar e als o compla i nts o f t h e No r th a ga i ns t
th e S outh I n e e d n o t go over th em p a r t ic u
T h e first an d gravest is th a t th e N orth
l a r ly
a dopte d th e C onstituti on r e c ogn i zin g th e ex i st
en ce o f slavery i n th e Sta tes a n d r ecogn i z i n g th e
r i gh t to a certa in extent o f th e r epres entati on o f
slaves i n Congress un d er a sta te o f s enti m ent and
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N O TE D S PE E CHE S O F
1 10
e x p ectati on wh i ch does not now ex i st ; an d tha t by
events by c i rcu m stances by the e a gern ess o f th e
S outh to a c qu i r e terr i tory an d exten d h e r sl ave
p opu lati on th e North find s i tsel f i n r egar d t o th e
r elative influ ence o f th e S o u th an d th e N orth o f
th e fre e State s a nd th e slave States wh er e i t n ever
di d exp e c t t o find i ts elf wh en th ey a gr e e d to th e
c omp a c t o f th e C onstituti on Th ey c ompla in
ther e fo re th a t i nstea d o f slavery b ein g r egarde d
a s a n evi l a s i t wa s th en a n evi l wh i ch all h op e d
would b e extin gu ish e d gra du a lly i t i s n o w r e
garde d by th e S outh a s a n inst i tuti o n t o b e cher
ish e d an d p res erved an d extende d ; a n in s t it u
ti on w h i ch th e South h a s a lrea dy exten de d to th e
u tm os t o f h er p ower by th e a cqu i siti on o f n e w
terri tory
Well then p ass i ng from th a t everyb ody i n
th e N orth r e a ds ; an d everyb o dy r ea ds whats o
eve r th e n ewsp ap ers conta i n ; an d th e n ewsp ap ers
s om e o f th em esp ecia lly thos e p resses to wh i ch
I h ave a llu ded
a re c a re fu l to sp r ea d abou t
am on g th e p e ople every r ep ro a ch fu l s entim ent
u tter e d b y any S outh ern m a n h e a r in g a t a l l
a g a i nst th e N orth ; everyth i n g tha t i s calcula ted
t o exasp erat e an d to a li enate ; a n d ther e a r e m any
su ch th i ngs a s everyb ody will a dm i t from th e
S outh o r from p orti on s o f i t wh i ch ar e d is s e m i
n a t e d am on g th e r e a ding p eopl e ; an d th ey do ex
a sp erate an d a li enate a n d p ro du ce a m ost
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S
1 12
0 F
th e y a r e no t fr e eho l de rs th e y earn wa ge s ; th es e
wa ges a c c u m u late a re turn e d i nto c ap i ta l i nto
n ew fre eh olds and s ma ll cap i tal i sts a r e cr eate d
Su ch i s th e c as e an d su c h th e c ou r s e o f th i ngs
am on g th e i ndustr i ou s an d fru ga l An d wha t
ca n th es e p eopl e th i nk when s o r e sp e c table a n d
worthy a g entl e m a n a s th e m emb er fro m L ou i s i
an a u ndertakes t o p rove th a t the ab so l ute ig n o
ran c e an d th e abj ect S lavery o f th e S outh a re m or e
i n c on fo rmi ty w i th the h i gh purp oses a n d dest i n y
o f i m m ortal r ati onal hu m a n b e i ngs than th e
edu ca ted th e i ndep end e nt fre e lab o r o f th e
North ?
Th e r e i s a m o re t a n g ibl a n d i rr i ta t i n g c aus e
o f gr i evan c e a t th e North F r e e bla cks ar e con
s t a n t ly employe d i n th e vess els o f th e N orth
gen
e r a ll y a s c o oks o r stewa rds
Wh en th e V ess el
a rr i ves a t a s outhern p ort th es e fr e e c olor e d m e n
ar e take n o n S hore by th e p ol i ce o r mun i c i p a l
author i ty i mpr i soned an d kept i n p r i son till th e
vessel i s aga i n rea dy t o s a i l Th i s i s no t onl y
i rr i tating b ut e x ceedingly u nj u sti fiable and o p
’
p ressive M r Hoa r s mi ssi on s ome t i m e a g o to
South C ar o lina wa s a well i ntende d effort to r e
m ove th i s c au se o f c omp la int Th e North thinks
su ch im pri sonm ents i llega l an d un c onsti tuti onal ;
a nd a s th e c as es o cc u r constantly and frequ entl y
th ey regar d i t a s a gr i evance
N o w s ir s o fa r a s any o f thes e gr i evances h ave
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D A NIE L WEB S T E R
1 13
th e i r foun d ati o n i n m atters o f law th ey c an b e
!
r e dressed a nd ou gh t to b e r e dress ed and s o fa r
a s they have th e i r founda ti on i n matters o f
op ini on i n sent i m ent in m utu a l crim i nation a nd
re c rim i na ti on all th a t w e c an d o i s to endeavo r to
alla y th e a gi ta ti on an d c ultivate a b etter feelin g
a nd m or e fra terna l s ent im ents b etween the S o uth
an d th e N orth
M r Pr es i dent I sh o uld m u c h pr e fer to hav e
h ea r d fr o m every m e m b e r on th i s fl oor decl ara
ti on s o f op i n i on tha t th i s Uni on c oul d n ever b e
di ssolved tha n the de c larati on o f op ini on by
anyb o dy th a t in any c a s e u nder the p ressu re o f
any c i r c umstan c es su ch a dissoluti on wa s p ossible
I h e a r wi th distres s an d angu i sh th e word s e c e s
”
si on
esp e c i ally wh en i t falls from th e lip s o f
th os e who a r e p atr i oti c a n d known t o th e country
a nd k n own a ll over th e world f o r th e i r p oliti c a l
servi ces S e c ess i on ! Peaceabl e s ecessi on ! S i r
you r eyes an d m i n e a re n ever destine d to s e e tha t
m ira cle Th e di smemb erm ent o f thi s vast c oun
try wi thou t c onvuls ion ! Th e breakin g u p o f th e
fou nta i n s o f th e grea t de ep withou t r u ffl in g the
su rfa ce ! Wh o i s so fooli sh
I b e g every
’
—
b ody s p a rd o n
a s t o e x p ect t o se e any such
th ing ? S i r h e wh o s e es th es e States now r e
volv i n g in h arm ony a roun d a c ommon cent er an d
e x p e c ts to s e e the m qu i t the ir pla ces and fly o ff
withou t convu lsi on m ay look th e n ext h ou r to s e e
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
1 14
th e h eavenly b odi es ru sh from th e i r sph er es a n d
j ostl e a ga i ns t ea ch oth er i n th e realm s o f sp a ce
with ou t caus in g th e wreck o f th e u n ivers e Th ere
ca n b e n o su ch thing a s a p ea ceabl e s e c essi on
Pea ceab le se cessi on i s a n u tte r imp oss ib il ity I s
th e gre a t C onsti tuti on under wh i ch w e live c over
i ng th is whole c ountry i s i t t o b e thaw e d a n d
m elte d away by s ecessi on a s th e snows o n th e
m ounta in m elt under the influ ence o f a verna l sun
disapp ear a lmost u nobserved an d ru n o ff ? No
s ir !
N o s ir ! I will not stat e wha t m igh t pro
du ce th e di srupti on o f th e Un i on ; bu t s ir I s e e
a s pla inly a s I can s e e th e s u n in H e aven wh a t th a t
di srup ti on its el f must p ro du ce ; I se e th a t i t must
produ ce w ar a n d such a wa r a s I w i ll n o t de
s c rib e in it s t w o f o ld c h a r a c t e r
Pea ceabl e
s ecessi on ! Peaceabl e
s ecessi on !
Th e concu rr ent a gre em ent o f all th e m emb ers o f
this grea t R epubli c to s ep a ra te ! A voluntary
s ep a rati on with alim ony on o n e s i de a nd o n th e
?
other Why what wou ld b e th e r esult
Wh er e
i s th e lin e t o b e drawn ? Wha t State s a re to
?
s ecede
Wh a t i s t o r ema i n Am eri can ? Wh a t
a m I to b e ?
An Am eri c a n n o longer ? Am I t o
b ecom e a s ecti ona l m an a local man a s ep a ra ti st
with n o country i n common w ith th e gentlem en
wh o s it a roun d m e h er e o r wh o fill th e other
hou s e o f Congress ? Heaven forb i d ! Wh ere
i s the fl a g o f th e R epubli c to r ema in ? Where i s
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N O TE D S P EE CHE S O F
1 16
p oss i b i lit i e s i n th e natu ral as well a s i n th e p hy s
i cal world a nd I h old th e i dea o f th e sep a r ati on
o f th es e States th os e th at a r e fr e e t o fo rm o n e
govern m ent an d thos e tha t a r e slave h old i ng t o
for m a noth er a s su c h a n i mp ossib i l i ty We
could no t s ep a r a te th e States by a ny su c h li ne i f
we wer e to draw i t W e c ould n ot s i t down her e
to day an d draw a li n e o f se p a rat i on tha t w o ul d
sat i s fy any five m en i n th e c ountr y T h er e a r e
n atu ra l c aus es th at wou l d keep and t i e u s togeth e r
a nd th er e a re soci a l an d d om esti c relat i ons wh i ch
w e c ould n ot b reak i f w e would an d wh ic h we
should n o t i f w e cou ld
Si r nob o dy c an lo ok o ver th e fa c e o f th i s
country a t the p resent mo m ent n o b ody can s e e
wher e i ts p opu l ati on i s th e m ost dens e a n d grow
i ng w i th ou t b eing rea dy t o a dm i t an d comp elle d
to a dm i t tha t erelon g th e stren g th o f Am eri ca
wi ll b e i n th e V alley o f th e M i ssissipp i Well
n o w s ir I b eg to i nqu i r e wh at th e w i ldest e n t h u s i
a st h a s t o sa y on th e p os sib ilit y o f cutting th a t
r iver i n two and leav i ng fr ee States at its sou rc e
and o n i ts b ranches a nd slave State s down n ear i ts
m outh ea ch form i ng a s ep a rate government ?
Pray s ir l et m e s a y to th e p eople o f thi s country
tha t th es e th i ngs a re worthy o f thei r p ondering
a nd o f the i r c onsi dera ti on H er e si r a re five
m illi ons o f fr eem en i n th e fr e e States n orth o f
th e rive r O h i o
Ca n anyb o dy supp os e th a t th i s
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D A NI E L W E B S T E R
1 1
7
popu la ti on c a n b e s evered by a lin e tha t d i vi de s
th em from th e terr i tory o f a forei gn an d a li e n
government down som ewh er e th e L ord knows
wher e up on the l ower b anks o f the M ississipp i ?
Wha t would b e c o m e o f Mi ss ouri ? Wi ll sh e j oi n
th e a r r o n d is s e m e n t o f th e slave States ? Sh all
th e m an from th e Yellowston e a n d th e Pl atte b e
c onne c ted i n th e n ew republi c w i th th e m an wh o
l ives on th e s ou thern extrem i ty o f th e C ap e o f
F lori da ? S i r I a m a sham e d to pursu e this lin e
o f r em a rk I d i slike i t I have a n u tter di sgust
I woul d r ath e r h ea r o f natu ra l bla sts an d
fo r i t
m ildews w a r p esti lence an d fa m in e th an t o h ea r
gentlemen talk o f s ecess i on T o br eak up th i s
grea t governm ent ! to dis m emb er th i s glori ou s
country ! to a ston ish E u rop e wi th a n a c t o f folly
su ch a s E u rop e for tw o centu r i es h a s n ever b e
h eld in any gove rnm ent o r an y p eopl e ! No si r !
n o s ir ! Th er e wi ll b e n o s ecessi on ! G entl e
m en a re n o t s er i ou s wh en th e y talk o f s ecessi on
Si r I h ear ther e i s to b e a c onventi o n h eld a t
N a shvi lle I a m boun d to b eli eve th a t i f worth y
gentlem en m e e t a t Na shville i n c onventi on th ei r
obj ect wi ll b e to a dopt c on ci li ator y c ounsels ; t o
a dvis e th e South to forb ea rance an d mo derat i on
and t o a dvi s e th e North to forb ea ranc e a n d
m oderat i on ; an d to i ncu lcat e p rinciples o f
broth erly love and affecti on an d atta chm ent to
th e Constituti on o f th e country a s i t n o w i s I
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1 1
N O TE D S PE E CHE S O F
8
b eli eve i f th e conventi o n m e et a t a ll i t w i ll b e
fo r thi s pu rp os e ; f o r c erta inly i f th ey m e e t for
a ny pu rp os e hosti le t o th e Uni on th ey h ave b een
singularly i nappr opr i at e i n th e i r s el ecti on o f a
p la ce I r em emb er S ir th a t wh en th e treaty o f
Am i en s wa s conclu de d b etwe en F ra nc e a n d E n g
land a stu rdy E nglishma n a nd a distingu i sh e d
ora to r wh o r ega rde d th e c onditi on s o f th e p ea ce
a s i gnom in i ou s to E ngland s a i d i n th e Hou s e o f
C ommons th a t i f Ki ng Willi a m c oul d know th e
term s o f tha t tr ea t y h e would tu rn i n h i s co ffin !
L et m e comm en d th i s s aying to M r Wi ndham i n
a ll i ts emp hasis an d i n all i ts force to any p ers ons
who S ha ll m e e t a t Na shville for th e pu rp os e o f
concer tin g m easu res f o r th e overthrow o f th i s
Un i on ove r th e b on e s o f Andrew J a cks on
An d n ow M r Pres i den t i nstea d o f sp eaking
o f th e p oss ib i lity o r u ti li ty o f s ecessi on
i nstea d o f
dwelling i n thos e cavern s o f da rkn ess inst ea d o f
gropi ng wi th thos e i deas s o fu ll o f all tha t i s hor
r i d an d h orrible l et u s com e o u t i nto th e li gh t
o f th e day ; l et us enj oy th e fresh a i r o f L ib erty
a n d Un i on ; let u s ch eri sh th os e hop es wh i ch b e
long to u s ; l et u s devote ou rs elves t o tho s e great
obj ects tha t a re fit for o u r consi derati on and o u r
a cti on ; l et u s ra i s e o u r c oncep ti ons to the m agni
tu de an d th e imp ortance o f th e duti es tha t de
volve up on u s ; l e t o u r comp reh ensi on b e a s b roa d
a s th e country fo r wh i ch w e a ct o u r asp i rati ons
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D ANIE L
120
IVEB S T ER
m igh ty scale th e b eauti ful d es cripti o n o f th e orna
m enta l borde r o f th e bu ckler o f Achilles :
,
t h e b ro a d sh i el d o mp l e t e t h e a rt i s t ro w ned
W i t h h i l a s t h a nd a nd p o r ed the o e a n ro u nd ;
I l i i n g s il er see m ed t h e w a es to rol l
’
A nd b e at t h e b k l er s er g e a nd b o nd th e w hol e
“
No w ,
c
s
n
v
c
u
,
c
,
v
v
uc
v
,
,
u
”
.
J O HN CA LD W E LL
C AL H O U N
D
ELL
C
A
H
H
A
L
O
N
L
O
N
C
U
W
J
B I O!
J
O HN
1
8,
1
RA PH I CA L
S!
ET C H
CA L D W E L L
C A L H O U N wa s b orn M arch
i n th e Abb evi ll e D i stri ct South C a ro
2
8
7 ,
,
lina
As a young b oy h e ha d very little r egula r
schooling Wh en h e w a s th irte en y ears o l d hi s
fathe r Patri ck C alhoun di ed leaving h i s fam il y
i n very m odes t circumstances J ohn r em a in e d o n
th e far m with h i s m oth er for five yea rs l ea ding
th e qu i e t simpl e l i fe o f a fa r m er b oy Th en
a t th e a ge o f ei ghte en u nder th e di recti on o f his
broth er in l a w D r Wa ddell h e b ega n t o p rep a r e
himsel f f o r college at th e N orth C a rolina Aca d
emy I n two years h e wa s abl e to enter th e
j uni or class a t Y a le College an d gra du ate d wit h
high h onors i n 1 8 0 4
Th e ensu in g yea r an d a hal f p rove d h im to b e
a di li gent stu den t o f law a t th e Lit c h fi e l d La w
School Th en r etu rn ing to South Ca rolina h e
stu di e d for a sh ort time i n a law o ffi ce at Ch arles
ton
F rom th er e h e went to h i s native town and
very soo n a ft e r op ening a n o flic e he wa s s ent b y
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123
M O ! R A PHICA L S! E T CH
1 24
h is
di str i c t to th e Stat e l eg i s l atu re ; wh il e th ere he
distingu ish e d h imsel f tha t i n 1 8 1 1 h e wa s
so
el e c te d a m emb e r o f Congress an d pla c e d o n th e
C omm itte e o n F or e i gn R elati ons
’
M r C alhou n s firs t form a l sp e ech w a s de
l iver ed i n C ongress D ecemb er 1 2 1 8 1 1 a n a rgu
m ent i n de fens e o f th e r esoluti ons b e fore th e
Hous e f o r th e p rep a rati on o f wa r H i s n ote d
”
sp eech o n R ep eal o f D i rect Tax w a s m a de o n
”
“
J anu a ry 3 1 1 8 1 6 an d Th e N ew T a riff B i ll
sp e ech a l onge r an d mo r e ca re fully p rep ar e d
a rgum ent wa s del iver e d o n Ap ril 6 o f th e sam e
y ear
Up on l eavin g th e Hou s e o f R ep res enta tives
M r Calh oun a ccepted a pla ce o n Pr esident M on
’
r oe s cab in et a s S ecreta ry o f Wa r wh i ch pla ce
h e fille d w ith cr edi t t o hims el f an d to th e cou n
try F rom 1 8 2 5 to 1 8 2 9 h e s erve d a s V i ce
Presi den t wi th J ohn Q u in cy Adams an d wa s r e
elected wi th Presi den t J a ckson I n 1 8 3 3 M r
Calh ou n r esi gn e d th e V i ce Presi dency t o b ecom e
Unite d State s S enato r from South Car olin a hold
i ng th e o ffi ce for ten yea rs
H i s well known sp e ech o n th e F o rce B ill w a s
given i n F eb ru ary o f h i s first yea r i n th e S ena te ;
a noth er o n e o f extra or din ary force i n supp ort o f
Stat e Ri ghts wa s deli vere d that sam e m onth
An d i n F eb ru ary 1 8 3 7 h e m a de that able sp e ech
o n th e Ab oli ti on Peti ti ons
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O N T H E R E C E PT I O N O F
T I O N PET I T I ON S
AB O LI
D el i vere d i n the Un ite d S tat es S en ate F eb ru a ry
,
M R PR ES IDEN T t — If th e t i m e o f th e S enate
p erm i tted I woul d fe el i t to b e my duty to call
for th e r e a ding o f th e ma ss o f p eti ti ons o n th e
tabl e i n order tha t w e m i gh t know wh at langu age
th ey h old t owa rds th e slave h oldin g States an d
th ei r i nsti tuti ons Bu t a s i t wi ll n ot I h ave
s el ected i ndiscrim i n ately from th e p i le two ; o n e
from th os e i n m anu scrip t a n d th e oth er from th e
p rint ed an d w ith out knowing th ei r contents w ill
call for th e rea din g o f th em s o tha t w e m ay j u dg e
by th em o f th e ch a ra cter o f th e wh ole
H
ere
th
e
s
ecr
etary
o
n
th
e
c
all
M
r
Cal
o
f
[
h ou n r ea d the two p etiti ons !
Su ch i s th e langu a ge h eld towards u s a nd ours
—
Th e p eculi ar instituti on o f th e South
tha t o n
th e m a intenan c e o f whi ch th e very existence o f th e
slave holding States dep ends — i s p ronounce d to
b e sin fu l an d odi ou s i n th e S ight o f G o d an d man ;
and thi s wi th a syste m a t i c desi gn o f r endering u s
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126
JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
f
12
7
—
th e worl d
w i th a V i ew to
hate fu l i n the eyes
a gen era l crusa de a ga i nst u s and o u r i nstituti ons
Thi s too i n the l eg i s l a t i v e h alls o f th e Uni on
create d by th es e con federat e States f o r th e b etter
p rotecti on o f th ei r p ea ce the i r s a fety an d th ei r
r esp ective i nsti tuti o ns An d yet w e th e r e p r e
o f
tw elve o f th ese s overe ign States
s e n t a t iv e s
a ga inst wh om th i s dea dl y wa r i s waged a r e ex
c t e d to s it h ere i n s ilence hea ring ou rs elves an d
e
p
ou r constitu ents day a fter day denounced w ith
o u t u tt eri ng a word ; f o r i f w e bu t op en o u r lips
th e charg e o f a gi ta ti on i s r e sou nded o n all si des
and w e ar e h eld up a s s e eki ng to a ggravat e th e
ev i l wh i ch w e r es ist E very refl e c ting m i n d mus t
s e e i n all th is a s tat e o f thi n g s de epl y and danger
o u sl
di
seas
ed
y
I do n ot b elong to th e s cho ol whi ch h olds th a t
a ggress i on i s to b e m et by con cessi on M in e i s
th e opp os it e cr e ed whi ch t ea ch es tha t encroa ch
m ents must b e m et a t th e b eginning an d tha t thos e
wh o a ct o n th e opp osite pr incipl e a re p repar e d to
b ecom e slaves I n thi s cas e i n p arti cular I hol d
con cessi on or c omp rom is e to b e fatal I f w e
concede a n i nch concessi on would follow conces
si on comp rom i s e would follow comp rom is e unti l
o u r ranks would b e s o b roken tha t effe c tu al r esi st
a n c e woul d b e imp o ss ible We must m eet th e
en emy on the fronti e r wi th a fixe d det erm inati on
o f
m a inta in i ng o u r p o s it i on a t eve ry ha z a rd
o
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
128
C on s en t to r e cei ve th es e i nsulting p etiti ons a nd
the n ext demand will b e tha t they b e r e fe rre d to a
comm i tt e e i n order th a t they m ay b e delib erat ed
a n d a cted up on At the last sess i on w e wer e
m odestly aske d to rece ive th em s imply to lay
them on th e table w i thou t any Vi ew to u lteri o r
a cti on I th e n tol d th e S enator from Pe n n s yl
vani a [ M r Bu chanan ! wh o s o stron gly u rge d
th a t cou rs e i n the S enate tha t i t was a p ositi on
th a t coul d no t b e m a inta in ed ; a s th e a rgum ent i n
favo r o f a ct i n g o n the p eti ti ons i f w e w er e b ound
to r ece ive could n o t b e resisted I then sa i d that
th e n ext step would b e t o re fer th e p eti ti on t o a
comm i tte e an d I a lrea dy s e e i ndi cati ons tha t su ch
i s now th e intenti on I f we yi eld tha t will b e
followe d by anoth er an d we wi ll thus pro ce e d
step by step to th e fina l consummati on o f th e o h
th
e
s
e
p
eti
ti
ons
We
ar
e
now
told
that
th
e
o
f
e
c
t
j
m ost e ffectu a l m ode o f a rresting th e progress o f
ab oliti on i s to r e ason it down ; an d with this Vi e w
i t i s u rge d tha t th e p etiti ons ou ght to b e r e ferre d
t o a comm itte e Th a t is th e very ground wh i ch
wa s taken a t th e las t s essi on in th e oth er hou se
bu t instea d o f arr esting i ts progress it h a s s ince
a dvance d m or e rap i dly th an ever Th e most u n
qu esti onab le r ight m ay b e r endered doub t fu l i f
o nce a dmi tte d to b e a subj ect o f controversy and
that woul d b e the cas e in th e pres ent i nsta nce
The subj ect is b eyon d th e j uri s di c ti on o f C o n
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
I 3O
yea rs s ince in a di s cussi on with on e o f th e S enators
from M a ssachusetts [ M r Webster ! b e for e this
fell sp i ri t h a d sh ow e d i ts el f I th en p r edi c te d that
the doctrin e o f th e p roclama ti on an d th e F o r c e
’
B i l l [ Presi dent J a c ks on s m ea sur es fo r o v e r c o m
i ng N u ll ifi c a t io n i n 1 8 3 2
tha t thi s govern
m ent ha d a r igh t in th e last resort to det ermine
th e e x tent o f its o wn p owers a nd en force its de
c is io n a t th e p o int o f th e b ayon et
whi ch wa s s o
warmly m a inta i ned by tha t S enator — w ou ld a t
n o di stant day a rou s e th e dorman t sp i ri t o f Ab ol i
I to ld h im th at th e doctrin e wa s tant a
t io n is m
m ount t o th e assumpti on o f u nlim i te d p o w er o n
th e p a rt o f th e governm ent an d th at su ch woul d
b e th e i mp ress i on o n th e publ i c m in d in a la rge
p ort i on o f the Un i on Th e consequ ence would
b e in evi tabl e A la rge p orti on o f th e N orth ern
Sta tes b eli eve d slavery to b e a s in an d wou ld c o n
s i der i t a s a n obligati on o f consci en ce to ab ol ish i t
i f th ey should feel th ems elves in a ny degre e r e
sp ons ibl e for i ts conti nu ance ; an d tha t th i s do c
trin e wou ld n ecessa ri ly l e a d to th e b eli e f o f su ch
resp onsib ility I th en p redi cte d that i t would
comm en c e a s i t has wi th th is fanati cal p orti on o f
soci ety ; a n d tha t they would b egin th e i r op era
ti ons o n th e i gnorant th e weak th e young and
th e thou ghtl ess and gra du ally extend upwa rds
ti ll th ey would b ecom e stron g en ou gh t o obta i n
p oliti cal c ontrol ; when h e a nd oth ers hol din g th e
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JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
131
h i gh est stati o ns i n s o c i ety w ould howeve r r e lu c
t ant b e c omp elle d to yi el d to th ei r doctri n es o r b e
dri ven i nto ob s c u r i ty Bu t fou r yea rs have Si n c e
elap s e d an d all th i s i s alr ea dy i n a co u rs e o f r egu
la r fulfillm ent
Stan ding a t th e p oi nt o f ti m e a t wh i ch w e have
now a rrive d i t w ill n o t b e m ore di fficult to tra c e
the cours e o f futu re events n o w th a n i t was th en
Th ey wh o i ma gin e tha t th e sp i ri t now ab ro a d i n
th e N orth will di e away o f i ts el f w i thou t a S h o ck
or
convu ls i on h ave for m e d a V ery i na dequ at e
concepti on o f it s r ea l c h a r a cter ; i t will continu e to
ris e a nd sp rea d u nless p romp t an d effici ent m eas
u re s to stay i ts progr ess b e a dop te d Alrea dy it
h a s taken p ossessi on o f th e pulp it o f th e schools
and to a consi derabl e ext ent o f th e p ress
th os e
grea t instrum ents b y wh i ch th e m in d o f th e ri s in g
gen era ti o n will b e form ed
However soun d th e g rea t bo dy o f no n s l ave
h olding State s a re a t p r es ent i n th e cou rs e o f a
few yea rs th ey wi ll h e su cce eded by thos e wh o will
have b e en taught to hate th e p e opl e a nd in s t it u
ti ons o f n ea rly one hal f o f th i s Un i on w ith a
hatr e d m or e dea dly than o n e h ostil e nat i on eve r
enterta in ed towa rds another I t i s easy to s e e th e
end By th e n ecessa ry cou r s e o f events i f l e ft
t o th ems elves we mu st b e com e finally tw o p e o
ples I t i s imp ossibl e under th e dea dly h atre d
whi ch mu s t s p ring up b etwe en th e two gr eat s e c
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N O TE D
1 32
S PEE CHE S
OF
ti ons i f th e p resent c ause s a r e p erm itte d t o op er
a t e un c h e c ke d tha t we s h o u ld co nt in u e u nder th e
s am e p ol i ti c a l syste m T h e c onfl ict i ng e l e m ent s
would b u rs t th e Uni o n a sun d e r p ower ful a s a r e
th e l i nk s whi ch hold it t ogeth er Ab oliti o n a nd
the Un io n c anno t c o ex i st AS th e fr i en d o f th e
Uni on I o p enly pr o c la i m i t a nd th e sooner i t i s
known the b ette r T he form er m ay n o w b e c on
trolled bu t i n a short tim e i t will b e b eyon d th e
p owe r o f m a n t o a rrest th e c ou r s e o f events W e
canno t su rrender o u r i nsti
o f th e S ou th will n o t
t u t io n s
To m a inta i n th e existing r elati ons b e
twe en th e two ra ces inhab i tin g tha t s ecti on o f th e
Uni on i s i ndisp ensabl e to th e p ea ce and h app i
n ess o f b oth I t Cannot b e subverte d wi thou t
drench ing th e co untry i n blo od an d extirp ating
o n e o r th e other o f th e ra ce s
B e i t go o d o r b a d
it ha s grown up w i th o u r s oci ety a nd i nstituti ons
and i s s o i nterwoven w ith them tha t t o destr o y i t
would b e t o destroy u s as a p eople
Lu t l et m e n ot b e understo od a s a dm itt i ng even
by i mpli c at i on tha t the existing rela ti ons b etwe en
th e tw o ra ces i n th e slave holdin g States i s a n
ev i l
fa r oth erwi se ; I h old i t to b e a go od a s it
h a s thu s fa r p rove d i ts el f t o b e to b oth an d wi ll
c onti nu e to p rove s o i f n o t distu rb e d by th e fell
s p i r i t o f Ab oliti on I app ea l to facts N ever
b e for e ha s th e b la ck ra ce o f C entra l A fri ca from
t h e daw n o f h is tory t o th e p res ent day atta in ed
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1
N O TE D S P EE CH E S
34
0 F
b e en th e r evers e
i f th e e x a c ti on h a d b een from
the othe r s e cti on an d th e exp enditu r e wi th u s
thi s p oint o f s up eri ority wou ld not b e a ga inst u s
n ow a s i t wa s n o t a t th e formati on o f th is govern
m en t
B u t I take h i gh er groun d I h old th at i n th e
p res ent stat e o f civi li z ati on wh er e two r a ces o f
di fferent ori gin an d distingu i sh ed by color an d
oth e r physi ca l differences a s well a s intell ectu al
a r e b r ought togeth er th e r elati on n o w e x isting i n
th e slave holding States b etw e en th e two i s in
—
stea d o f a n evil a go o d
I
a p ositive go od
fe el mys el f calle d up on t o sp eak fre ely up on the
subj ect wh er e th e h onor an d i nterests o f th ose I
r ep res ent a re i nvolved I h old then that th ere
n ever ha s y et exi ste d a w ealthy an d civi li z ed
s oci ety i n wh i ch o n e p orti on o f th e communi ty di d
n ot in p oint o f fa c t l ive o n th e lab or o f th e other
Broa d and genera l a s i s th i s a sserti on i t i s fully
born e o u t by hi story Th i s i s n o t the p rop er occa
si on bu t i f i t were i t would not b e d iflic u lt to tra ce
the va ri ou s devi ce s by whi ch th e w e alth o f all civi
l iz e d communiti es has b e en s o un e qu ally divided
an d t o S h ow by wha t m eans s o sm all a sha r e ha s
b een a llotted to th os e by w hos e lab or it was p r o
du c e d an d s o la rge a S h are given to th e non pro
Th e devi ces a re a lmost in n u m e r
d u c in g clas s
ab le from th e b ru te force and gross sup erstiti on
o f a nci ent tim es
to th e subtle an d a rt ful fiscal
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JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
I35
c ontr ivances o f m odern I m i ght well challenge
a comp a rison b etwe en th em an d th e m or e di rect
simpl e an d p atri arch al m o de by wh i ch th e lab o r
amon g u s c omma nde d by
o f th e A fr i can ra ce i s
the E u rop ean I m ay s a y with truth that i n few
countri es s o m u ch i s le ft to the sha r e o f th e
l ab ore r an d s o li ttl e exa cte d from h im o r wh ere
the re i s m ore ki n d attenti on p a i d to h i m i n si ck
n ess o r in fi r m it ie s o f a ge
C ompar e hi s conditi on
w ith th e t enants o f th e p o o rh ous es i n th e m or e
civi li z e d p ortions o f E u rop e — lo ok a t th e s i ck
an d th e o l d an d infirm slave o n on e h and i n th e
m i dst o f h i s fam ily a n d fr i ends u nder th e kin d
sup erinten ding ca re o f h i s m a ster an d m i stre ss ;
and comp ar e i t with th e forlorn a n d wr et c h e d c on
diti on o f th e p aup er i n the p oorhou se
Bu t I will not dwell o n th i s a sp ect o f th e qu es
ti on ; I turn to th e p oliti cal ; a nd h ere I fea rlessly
assert th a t th e existi ng relati on b etwe en th e two
ra ces i n th e South a ga inst whi ch thes e b lind fanat
i cs a r e wa ging w ar forms th e m ost soli d an d du ra
b le foundati on on whi ch to re ar fre e a nd st abl e
p oli ti ca l insti tuti ons I t i s us eless to di sgu i se th e
fa ct There i s an d always h as b een i n a n a d
a confl i ct
v a n c e d sta ge o f wealth an d ci vili z ati on
b etw e en lab or a nd c ap i tal T he c onditi on o f
soci ety i n th e South exempts u s from the disorders
an d dangers r esulti ng from th i s confl ict ; an d
wh i ch expla ins why i t i s tha t th e p oliti cal condi
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
I36
ti on o f th e S lave h old i ng States h a s b e en s o m u ch
m or e stabl e a nd qu i et than th a t o f the N orth
Th e a dvanta ges o f th e form er i n th is r esp ect will
b e com e m or e an d m or e m ani fest i f l e ft undis
t u r b e d b y i nt er f er ence fr om with ou t a s th e c oun
try a dvances in wealth an d n umb er s We have
i n fa ct b u t j u st enter e d that conditi o n o f so c i ety
wh er e th e strength an d du rab i lity o f o u r p oliti ca l
i nst ituti ons a re t o b e teste d ; a nd I ventu re noth
i ng i n p r ed i ctin g th a t th e exp eri en c e o f th e n ext
gen e rati o n w i ll fully t est how vastly m or e favor
abl e o u r condi ti on o f s oci ety i s to th a t o f oth e r
s e cti ons fo r fre e an d stable insti tuti ons p rovi de d
w e ar e not di stu rb e d by th e inter ference o f others
o r sha ll h ave su ffici ent intelli genc e a n d sp iri t t o
resi st promptly an d su ccess fu lly su ch i nter fer en c e
I t re st s wi th ou rs elve s to m e et an d r ep el them I
lo ok n ot fo r a i d t o thi s gove rnm ent o r t o th e
oth er Sta tes : n o t bu t th er e a re kin d fe elings to
wa rds u s on th e pa rt o f th e grea t b o d y o f th e non
slave h olding Sta tes ; bu t as kin d a s the i r feelin gs
m ay b e w e m ay r es t a ssu re d tha t n o p ol iti ca l
p art y i n th o s e Sta te s w i ll ri sk th ei r as c enden c y fo r
ou r sa fety I f w e do not de fen d ours elves n on e
wi ll de fen d u s ; i f we yi eld w e wi ll b e m or e an d
m or e p r esse d a s w e recede ; an d i f w e submit w e
’
will b e trample d unde r fo o t B e a ssur ed th a t
eman cip a t i on i ts el f would n o t sati s fy th es e fana t
i cs ; tha t ga ined th e n ext step wou ld b e to ra i s e
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JO H N
1 38
CA LD WE LL CA LH O UN
thin g a l a rm s m e
th e ea ger pu rs u it o f ga in
wh i ch oversp rea ds th e land an d wh i ch ab sorb s
ever y fa culty o f th e m in d an d every fe eling o f th e
h e art O f a ll p ass i ons ava r i ce i s th e m ost blin d
—
a n d com pr o m i sing
th e la st t o s e e an d th e first
t o y i eld to danger
I da r e n ot h op e tha t a ny
th i ng I c a n sa y wil l a r o u se th e S ou th to a du e S ense
o f danger ; I fea r i t i s b eyon d th e p ow er o f m ortal
vo ic e t o awaken i t i n tim e fro m th e fata l s e c u ri t y
in to whi ch i t h a s fa llen
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ON T H E S L AV E RY Q U E S T I ON
DE L IV E R ED I N T H E
U N IT E D
MA R C H 4,
1
S TAT E S S E N AT E ,
8 50
.
I H A V E S enators b eli eve d fro m th e firs t tha t
th e a gi ta ti on o f th e subj ect o f slavery wou ld i f
n o t p revented by s om e tim ely and e ff e c t i ve m ea s
u re en d i n di sun i on E nterta inin g th i s op in i on
I hav e on all prop e r occa si ons en deav o r e d to
ca ll th e attenti on o f b oth th e two grea t p a rti es
wh ich divi de th e country to a dop t s om e m easu r e
to p revent s o grea t a di saster bu t wi thou t su c
cess Th e a gitati on ha s b e en p erm itte d to pro
c eed
with a lm ost n o attemp t t o resi st i t until i t
h a s r eache d a p oint wh en i t c a n n o longe r b e di s
gu is e d o r den i ed that t h e Uni on i s i n danger
You have thu s ha d force d up on you th e gr eates t
an d th e graves t qu esti on th a t c an ever c om e
u nde r you r consi der ati on : H ow c an th e Un i on
b e p res erve d ?
To give a s ati s factory a nswer t o th i s might y
qu esti on i t i s i ndi sp ensabl e t o have an a c curat e
and thorou gh k nowl e dg e o f th e natur e an d th e
cha ra cter o f th e c au s e by wh i c h th e Un i o n is e n
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I39
l
N O TE D S P EE CH E S
4o
0 F
danger ed Wi thout su ch knowledge i t i s im p o s
sible to p ron oun ce with any c erta i nty by wh a t
m e asu re i t can b e s aved ; j u st a s i t would b e im
p ossibl e fo r a physi ci an t o p ronoun c e in th e c as e
o f som e danger ous di sea s e w i th an y c erta inty b y
wha t r em edy th e p at i ent could b e save d withou t
simila r knowle dge o f th e natur e an d c ha r a cte r o f
th e caus e wh i ch produ ced i t Th e first qu esti on
th en pr es ente d fo r consi derati on in the investi ga
ti on I p rop os e to m ake i n o rder to obta i n su ch
k nowledge i s : Wha t i s i t tha t ha s endangere d
th e Un i on ?
To th i s qu esti on th er e c an b e bu t o n e a nswer :
Th a t th e im m edia t e c au s e i s th e almost u niversa l
di sconten t whi ch p erva de s a ll th e States comp os
in g th e s outh ern s ecti on o f th e Uni on This
w i dely ext en de d discontent is n ot o f r ecent ori gin
I t commen ce d wi th th e a gi tati o n o f th e slavery
qu esti on an d h as b e en i ncreas in g ever since Th e
n ext qu esti on go in g o n e step fu rth er b a ck i s :
Wh a t h a s c au se d th is wi dely di ffus e d and almost
universa l di scontent ?
I t i s a gr ea t m i stake to supp os e a s i s by s om e
tha t i t o ri gin ate d wi th dema gogu es wh o e x cite d
th e discontent with the intenti on o f a i din g th ei r
p ersona l a dvancem ent o r wi th th e di sapp ointe d
amb i ti on o f certa i n p oliti ci ans who r esorte d to i t
a s a m ean s o f r etri eving th ei r fortunes O n th e
contra ry a ll th e great p ol iti cal influ ences o f th e
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
1 42
qu est i on o n th e p a rt o f th e N orth an d th e many
a ggress i ons whi ch th ey have m a de on th e ri ghts
o f th e South du rin g the t i m e I wi ll n ot e n u m e r
at e th e m a t pr es ent a s i t wil l b e don e h er ea fter i n
i t s p rop er pla ce
—
Th er e i s another lying b a ck o f i t
with whi ch
th i s i s i ntim a tely connecte d — tha t m ay b e r e
ga rde d a s th e gre a t an d p rima ry c au s e Thi s i s
to b e fou nd i n th e fa ct th a t th e e qu i lib riu m b e
tw een th e tw o s ecti ons in th e governm ent a s i t
stood wh en th e Constituti on wa s rati fi e d an d th e
governm ent pu t i n a cti on h as b een destroyed
A t tha t tim e th ere wa s n e arly a p er fect e qu il ib
b etwe en th e t w o whi ch afforde d ampl e
r iu m
m ean s to ea ch to p rotect i tsel f a ga inst th e a g g r e s
si on o f th e other ; bu t a s i t n ow stands o n e s e c
ti on h a s th e exclusive p ow er o f c ontrolling th e
governm en t whi ch l eaves th e oth er w i th out any
a dequ at e m eans o f protecting i ts el f a ga inst its
encr o a chm ent an d oppr es s i on T o pla ce th is
subj ect distinctly b e fo re you I h ave S enators
p rep a re d a b ri e f stat i sti ca l stat em ent show i ng th e
r elat i ve wei ght o f the t w o s ecti ons i n th e govern
m en t un der th e fi rst censu s o f 1 79 0 a n d th e la s t
c ensu s o f 1 8 40
A c c ording to th e for m er th e populati on o f th e
Uni te d States inclu ding V erm ont Kentu cky an d
Tenn ess e e wh i ch th en w er e i n th e i r i ncip i ent con
d i t i on o f b ecom i ng Stat es bu t were no t a ctu a l l y
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JO H N
CA LD WE L L CA LH O UN
1 43
a dm i tted am ounted to
O f th is num
b er the North ern Sta tes ha d
a n d the
S outhern
m akin g a di ff er enc e o f only
i n favor o f th e form er States T h e num
b er o f Sta tes in cluding V erm ont Kentu cky an d
T enness e e w er e sixte en ; o f w h i ch ei ght in clu d
in g V ermont b elonge d to th e no rth ern s ect ion
an d ei gh t i n c lu ding Kentu cky an d Tenness e e t o
th e s ou th ern
m aking a n equ al divi si on o f th e
States b etw e en th e two s ecti ons un der th e first
c ensu s Ther e was a small pr ep onderance i n th e
H ous e o f R epresentati ves an d i n th e E l ectora l
College i n favor o f th e north ern owin g to th e
fa ct th a t a cco rdin g t o th e provi si ons o f th e C on
s t it u t io n
i n estima tin g fed era l numb ers five slave s
count bu t thre e ; bu t i t wa s to o sm a ll to affe ct
s ensibly th e p er fect equ i libriu m wh i ch w ith th a t
excepti on exi sted a t th e tim e Su ch wa s the
e qua li ty o f th e two s e c ti ons when the Sta tes com
p os ing them agre ed to enter into a F edera l Un i on
S ince then th e equ i librium b etwe en th em h a s b e en
gre atly di stu rb ed
A ccordin g to th e la st census th e aggrega te
p opulati on o f th e Un ite d States am ounte d to
o f wh i ch th e north ern s e cti on c o n
an d th e south ern
t a in e d
m akin g a difference i n r oun d numb ers o f
Th e numb er o f States ha d in cr ea se d
from sixte en to twenty S ix making an a ddition
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
I 44
o f te n S ta tes I n the m eantim e th e p os i t i on o f
D elawar e ha d b ecom e doub tful a s to wh i ch s e c
ti on sh e prop erly b elonged C ons i der i n g her a s
n eu tral th e North ern Sta tes wi ll h ave th i rte en
and th e Sou th ern Sta te s twelve m aking a di ffer
ence i n th e S enate o f two s enators i n favor o f th e
form er Accordin g to th e app ort i onm ent u nder
th e censu s o f 1 8 40 th er e wer e tw o hundr e d a n d
twenty thre e m emb ers o f th e H ous e o f R e p r e
s e n t a t iv e s
o f whi ch th e N orthern State s h a d o n e
hundr e d an d th i rty fiv e a n d th e S ou th ern States
consi
der
i
ng
D
elawa
re
a
s
n
eutral
ei
ghty
seven
!
!
makin g a di ffer en ce i n favor o f th e form er i n th e
Hou s e o f R ep r esentatives o f forty ei ght Th e
differen ce i n th e S en ate o f t w o m emb ers a dde d
to th is give s t o th e N o rth i n th e E le c to ra l C ol
l ege a m aj ori t y o f fi fty Since th e c ensu s o f
1 8 40
fou r Sta tes have b e en a dded t o th e Uni o n
— I owa Wi sconsin F lori da a n d Texas Th e y
le ave th e diff er en ce i n th e S ena te a s i t was wh e n
th e censu s wa s taken ; bu t a dd two to th e si de o f
th e North i n th e Hou s e makin g th e p res ent m a
i
o
r
t
i
n
th
e
H
ou
s
e
in
i
ts
favor
fi
ft
y
an
d
i
n
th
e
j
y
E lectora l C ollege fifty two
The r esult o f th e whol e i s to g i ve th e north ern
s ecti on a p re dom inan ce i n every dep a rtm ent o f
the governm ent a nd th ereb y concentra te i n i t th e
t w o elem ents wh i ch constitut e th e F edera l G ov
e r nm en t
m aj or i t y o f Sta tes a n d a m aj ority o f
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S P EE CH E S 0 F
N O TE D
1 46
.
an d forty North ern senators to tw enty e i gh t
S outhern This grea t increas e o f s enato rs a dde d
t o th e grea t i n crea se o f m emb ers o f the H ou s e o f
R epres entatives and th e E l ectora l Colle ge o n th e
p art o f th e North whi ch mu st take pla ce under
th e n ext de c a de wi ll effectu a lly a n d i rretri evably
destroy th e e qu i libr iu m wh i ch exi ste d wh en th e
governm ent comm ence d
Ha d th i s destru cti on b e en th e op era ti on o f
tim e wi thou t the i nter fer ence o f governm ent the
S outh w oul d h ave h a d no r ea son to compl a i n ; but
su ch was not th e fa ct I t w a s caus e d by th e legis
lati on o f th is governm ent whi ch w a s a p p o in t e d
a s th e comm on ag ent o f a ll a n d ch a rge d with
th e protecti on o f th e inter ests a n d s ecu r ity o f all
T h e legi slati on by wh i ch i t ha s b e en eff ecte d m ay
b e cla ss e d under thr e e h e a ds Th e first i s th a t
s eri es o f a cts by whi ch th e S ou th h a s b e en exclu de d
from th e common t erri tory b elonging to a ll th e
State s a s m emb ers o f th e F e deral Un i o n
wh i ch
have ha d the effect o f exten ding vastly th e p or
ti on allotte d to th e north ern s ecti on a nd restri ct
ing withi n na rrow limi ts th e p orti o n l e ft th e South
Th e n ext c onsi sts i n a dop ting a syst em o f r evenu e
an d disburs em ents by whi ch a n undu e prop or
ti on o f th e bu rden o f taxati on h a s b e en i mp os ed
up on th e South a n d a n u ndu e p rop orti on o f its
p ro ce eds app ropri at e d t o th e North ; an d the la st
is a system o f p oliti ca l m easu r es by whi ch th e
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JO HN
C ALD l/VELL
CA L H O UN
1 47
o ri gina l c hara cter o f th e governm ent h a s b een
r a di cally ch ange d I p rop os e t o b estow up on
ea ch o f thes e i n th e order they stand a few r e
m arks w i th th e v i ew o f showin g th at i t i s owing
t o the a ct i on o f thi s government th a t th e e qu il ib
r iu m b etwe en th e two se c ti ons h a s b een destroyed
a n d th e whole p owers o f th e s yste m c enter ed i n
a secti ona l m aj ori ty
Th e first o f th e s er i es o f Acts by wh ic h th e
S outh wa s depr ived o f i ts du e shar e o f th e terr i
tor i es or i g i nate d w i th th e con federa cy wh i ch pre
cede d the exi st en c e o f thi s governm en t I t i s to
b e foun d i n t h e prov i si o n o f th e o rd i nance o f
1 78 7
I ts eff ect w a s to exclu de th e S o uth e n
t ir e ly fro m tha t va st an d ferti le r egi on wh i ch l i es
b etwe en th e O h i o an d th e M ississipp i rivers n ow
embra ci ng five Sta te s a nd o n e T erritory Th e
n ext o f th e s eri es i s th e M i ssour i comp romis e
wh i ch e x clu ded th e So u th from tha t larg e p orti on
o f L ou i si ana wh i ch li es n orth o f 3 6
excep t
ing wha t is inclu de d i n th e Stat e o f M i ss ouri
Th e l as t o f th e s eri es e x clu de d th e Sou th from
th e wh ol e O regon Terri tory All th es e i n th e
S lang o f the day w er e what a re c alle d slave t erri
tori es a nd not fre e soi l ; th a t i s t erri to ri es b e
l ongin g t o S lave h oldin g p owers a n d op en to th e
o f
e mi grati on
m ast ers w i th th ei r slaves B y
th es e s everal Acts th e Sou th wa s exclu de d from
o n e m illi o n t w o
hundre d an d th i rty e ight th o u
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-
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-
S P EE CH E S 0 F
N O TE D
1 48
s an d an d twe n ty fiv e s qu a r e mil es
a n e x tent o f
coun try c ons i dera bl y e xc eed i n g th e ent ir e valley
o f th e M i ss i ss i pp i T o th e S outh w a s l e ft th e
p ort i on o f the T err i tory o f Lo u i s i a n a l y i ng s o uth
of 36
an d th e p o rt i o n no rth o f i t i n cl ude d
i n th e S ta te o f M i ssou r i w i th th e p o rt i on l y i ng
’
s outh o f 3 6 3 0 i nclu ding th e States o f L ou i s i ana
and Arkansas an d th e t err i tory lyin g w est o f th e
latter a nd south o f 3 6
c alle d th e Indi a n
c ountr y T h es e w i th th e Te rr itory o f Flori da
n ow t h e S ta te m ake i n th e whole tw o hun dre d
an d ei ghty th r e e thou sand five hu ndr e d an d thr e e
s qu ar e m i l es T o thi s mu s t b e a dde d th e t erri
tory a cqu i re d with Texa s I f th e wh ol e sh ould
b e adde d t o th e sou t hern s e c ti on i t w ou ld m ake a n
i n c r ea s e o f th re e hundre d a nd twenty fiv e thou
s and five hun dr e d an d twenty whi ch woul d m ake
th e wh o l e l e ft to th e S outh s ix hundre d a nd nin e
thou san d a n d twenty thr e e Bu t a large p art o f
Texa s i s s till i n contest b etwe en th e two s ections
wh i ch l eaves i t uncerta i n what wi ll b e th e r eal ex
tent o f th e prop o rt i on o f terr i t o r y tha t m a y b e l e ft
to th e South
I h ave n o t i nclu ded th e t err i tor y r e c ent l y a c
qu i red by th e tr eaty w i th M ex i co Th e North i s
m akin g th e m ost s trenu ou s efforts to app ropri at e
th e wh ole to h ers el f by excluding th e South from
every fo ot o f i t I f sh e shou ld su cce ed i t wi ll
a dd t o tha t fr om wh ic h th e South ha s alrea d y
-
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1
S P EE CHE S 0 F
N O TE D
56
o f th ese cau s es h a s b e e n to trans fer a va st am ount
from South t o North wh i ch u nder a n equ a l sys
tem o f r evenu e a n d disbu rs em ents w ou ld n ot have
b een lost to h er I f to thi s b e a dded th a t m any
o f th e duti es wer e imp osed
not fo r r evenu e bu t
for p rotecti on
tha t i s intende d to pu t m oney
n o t i n th e trea sury
bu t di rectly i nto th e p o c kets
o f th e manu fa ctur ers
som e concepti on m ay b e
form e d o f the i mm ens e am ount whi ch i n th e long
cours e o f sixty ye ars h a s b e en tra ns ferre d fro m
S outh to North T h ere a r e n o data by wh ic h i t
ca n b e estimate d with any c erta i nty ; b u t i t is sa fe
to say tha t i t amounts to hundreds o f m i lli ons o f
dolla rs Under th e m ost m o dera t e estimat e i t
would b e su ffici ent t o a dd greatly to th e wealth o f
t h e N orth an d thu s gr e atly i ncreas e h er p o p u l a
ti on by a ttra c ting em i grati on fro m a ll qu a rter s t o
that s e c ti on
Thi s comb in e d with th e great p ri m a r y c au se
amply expla ins why th e North h as a cqu ir e d a pre
p onderance i n every dep artm ent o f th e govern
m ent by i ts disp rop orti onate i ncr eas e o f p o p u l a
ti on an d Stat es Th e form er a s has b e en shown
h a s i n cr ea se d i n fi fty years
over tha t
o f th e Sou th
Thi s i ncrea se o f p opulati on durin g
s o long a p eri od i s sati s fa ctori ly a ccount e d f o r by
th e numb er o f em i grants and th e in c rea s e o f thei r
descendants w hi c h h ave b e en a ttra cted t o th e
n orthern secti on from E u rop e an d th e South i n
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JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
1
51
cons equ e n ce o f th e a dvantages derive d from th e
caus es a ssi gned I f they ha d n o t exi st e d
i f th e
South h a d reta in e d all th e cap i ta l whi ch h a d b e en
extra cted from h er by th e fi scal a cti on o f the gov
e r n m e n t ; a nd
i f i t h a d not b een exclu de d b y th e
ordinance o f 1 7 8 7 an d th e M i ssou ri comprom i s e
from th e r egi on lyi ng b etwe en th e O h i o a nd th e
M i ssissipp i ri vers an d b etwe en th e Mi ss i ssipp i
’
an d th e Rocky M ounta ins n orth o f 3 6 3 0 — it
sca rcely a dm i ts o f a doubt tha t i t wou ld h ave
d i vi de d th e em igrati on w ith the N o r t h a n d by
r eta inin g h er own p eople would h ave a t lea s t
e qu ale d th e N orth i n p opulati on u n de r th e censu s
o f
1 8 40
a nd probably u nder th a t ab out to b e
taken Sh e woul d also i f s h e h a d r eta i ne d h er
equa l ri gh ts i n thos e terr itori e s have m a inta ine d
a n equality i n the numb er o f Sta tes with th e
North a n d h ave p reserve d th e equ ilibrium b e
tw e en th e two s e c ti on s th a t exi ste d a t th e c om
m e n c e m e n t o f th e governm ent
Th e loss th en
o f th e e qu i librium is t o b e attribute d t o th e a cti on
o f thi s governm ent
Bu t wh i le th es e m easu res w ere destroying th e
e qu ilibr iu m b etween th e two s e c ti ons th e a c ti on o f
th e governm ent wa s l ea ding to a ra di c a l change
i n i ts cha ra ct e r by concentrating all th e p ower o f
th e system in i tsel f Th e occa si on will n ot p er
mi t m e to tra ce the m ea sures by whi c h th i s grea t
change h a s b een consummate d I f i t di d i t wou ld
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1
N o TE D S P EE CH E S O F
52
n ot b e d i ffic ult to S how tha t th e p rocess c ommen ced
a t a n ea rly p er i od o f the go vern m ent ; an d tha t i t
pr o c e ede d a lmost with o u t i nterrup ti on step by
step u nti l i t Vi rtu ally absorb e d i ts enti r e p owers ;
bu t wi th o u t g o ing throu gh th e whol e p roces s to
establi sh th e fa ct i t m a y b e don e s a ti s fa ctori l y b y
a V ery sh ort s tatement
T h a t th e governm ent c la i ms an d pr a c t i ca l l y
m a inta i ns th e r i ght to deci de i n th e last r esort
a s to th e e x tent o f its p owers w ill s carcely b e
den i e d by any on e conversant with th e p oli ti ca l
h istory o f th e c ountry Tha t i t also c la ims th e
ri ght t o r es or t to for c e to m a i nt a i n whateve r
p ower i t claims aga ins t all opp ositi on i s e qu all y
certa in Indee d i t i s app a rent from wh a t w e
da i ly h ea r tha t th is h as b ecom e th e p reva i ling a nd
fixe d op in i on o f a gr ea t m aj ori ty o f th e c o m
muni ty N ow I a sk wha t lim itation can p oss i
b ly b e p la ce d up on th e p ower s o f a governm en t
claiming an d exerci sing su c h r i ghts ? And i f
non e can b e h o w ca n the s ep ara te governm ents
o f th e State s m a inta i n an d p rotect th e p ower s r e
served to th em by th e C onstitu ti on
o r the p eo
p le o f th e s evera l States m a inta i n th os e whi c h ar e
res erve d to them a n d am on g oth ers th e s o v e r
e ig n p owers by whi ch th ey orda in ed a nd estab
lis h e d n o t only th ei r s ep a rate Stat e C onstitutions
a n d Governm ents
bu t als o th e C onsti tuti on an d
G overnment o f th e Un ite d States ? B u t i f th e y
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1
N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
54
s ive th e e ffe cts m ay b e ; a s th e S outh p oss esses n o
m eans b y wh i ch i t can r esi s t through th e a cti on o f
th e governm ent Bu t i f th ere wa s n o qu est ion
i n r e feren c e to
o f vital imp ort ance t o th e South
wh i c h th er e wa s a d i versi ty o f vi ews b etwe en th e
two s ecti ons th i s sta te o f things m i ght b e endu re d
w ithou t th e ha z ard o f destru cti on t o the S outh
B u t such i s n ot th e fa ct T here i s a qu esti on o f
V ita l i mp ortance t o th e south ern s ecti on i n r e fer
ence t o wh i ch th e Vi ews an d fe elings o f th e two
s ecti ons a r e a s opp osi te an d h ostile a s they ca n
p os sibly b e
I r e fe r to th e relati on b etwe en th e two ra ces i n
th e s outhern s ecti on wh ich constitutes a vi ta l p o r
ti on o f h er so ci a l o rgan i za ti on E very p orti on
o f th e N orth enterta ins Vi ews a nd fe elings mor e
o r l es s hosti le to i t
Th os e m o st opp o sed a nd
h o stile rega rd i t a s a s in an d cons i der th ems elves
u nder th e most s a c re d obli ga ti on to u se every
effor t t o destroy i t Inde ed to th e e x tent th a t
they con c e i ve that th ey h ave p ower th ey r ega rd
themselves a s impli cate d i n th e S i n a n d r esp onsi
ble f o r n ot suppress ing i t by the u s e o f all an d
every m eans Th o s e l ess opp ose d an d hostile
—
r egarde d i t a s a c rim e
a n offens e a ga i nst h u
manity a s th ey call i t ; and although n o t s o fana t
i ca l fe el th emselves b oun d to u s e all eff orts t o
eff ect th e sam e obj e ct ; wh il e th os e wh o a r e lea st
opp os e d an d host i le r ega rd i t a s a blo t a nd a
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JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
1 55
sta i n on th e chara cter o f wha t th ey c all th e
Na ti on a nd fe el thems elves a ccordingly b ou nd to
give i t no countenance o r supp ort O n th e c on
t r a r y th e s outhern s ecti o n rega rds th e r elati on
as o n e whi ch c anno t b e destroyed with ou t s u b
c
i
n
th
e
two
ra
ces
to
th
e
gr
eatest
c
alam
i
ty
an
d
e
t
j
g
th e s ecti on to p overty desola ti on a n d wr etch ed
n ess ; an d a cc ordingly th ey fe el b ound by every
consi derati on o f inter est an d s a fety to de fend it
This hostil e fe eling o n the p a rt o f th e North
towa rd th e soci a l o rgan i z ati on o f th e S ou th lon g
lay dormant an d i t only r equ i r e d s om e c au s e to
a ct o n thos e who felt m ost intens ely th a t th ey
wer e r esp onsibl e for its continu ance t o c a ll i t i nto
a ct i on Th e i ncre asing p ower o f thi s gove r n
m ent a nd o f th e control o f th e n orth ern s ecti on
over a ll i ts d ep artm ents fu rni sh e d the caus e
I t wa s th i s whi ch m ad e th e impressi on o n the
m inds o f m any th a t th er e wa s li tt l e o r n o r e
stra int to prevent th e governm ent from doing
wha tever i t mi ght ch o o s e to do Th i s wa s su ffi
ci ent o f i tsel f t o pu t th e m ost fanati ca l p orti on o f
th e North i n a cti on fo r th e pu rp os e o f destroy
i n g th e existing r ela ti on b etwe en the two ra ces i n
th e S ou th
Th e first organi z e d m ovem ent towa r d i t c o m
Th en f o r th e first tim e s oci e
m en c e d i n 1 8 3 5
ti es w e re o rgani z ed p ress e s establi shed lectu rers
s ent forth to excite th e p eople o f th e No rth an d
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N O TE D
1 56
S P EE CH ES 0 F
i ncen di a r y publi cati ons sca tter e d ove r th e wh ol e
Sou th th rou gh the m a i l Th e S outh wa s
thorou ghly a rou sed M e etings were h eld every
wher e an d resoluti ons a dopted calling up on th e
North to apply a r em edy t o a rr est th e thr eaten e d
evi l an d p ledgin g th em s elves to a dop t m easu r es
f o r th e i r o w n p rotecti on i f i t was not a rr ested
A t th e m e etin g o f Congres s p etiti ons p ou re d i n
from th e North callin g up on Congress t o ab oli sh
sl avery in th e D i stri ct o f C olumb i a an d to p ro
h ib it wha t th ey c a lled th e i nterna l slave tra de
—
b etw e e n th e State s
a nnouncing a t th e sam e
tim e tha t th ei r u ltim a te obj ect was t o ab oli sh
slavery no t only i n th e D istri ct bu t i n th e State s
and th r o u ghou t th e Uni on At thi s p eri o d th e
numb e r enga ge d i n th e a gi tati on w a s sm all an d
p oss ess e d l ittle o r n o p erson a l i nflu en c e
N ei the r p arty i n Congres s h a d a t tha t t im e
any symp a thy w ith them o r th ei r cau s e Th e
m emb er s o f ea ch p a rty p res ente d th e i r p et i ti ons
with grea t r elu ctance Neverth el ess small and
conte m p tible a s th e p art y th en wa s b oth o f th e
grea t p arti es o f the No rth drea de d the m Th e y
felt th at th ough sm all th ey w ere o rgan i z e d in
r e fer ence to a subj ect wh i c h ha d a g reat a nd c o m
m andin g in flu enc e over th e n orth ern m ind E a c h
p arty o n th a t a ccount fear e d to opp ose thei r p et i
t i ons l est th e opp os i te p a rty should take a d
vanta ge o f th e o n e who m i ght do s o b y favor i n g
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1
N O TE D S P EE CH E S 0 F
58
a gi ta t i on an d wh ic h h a s brough t u s t o ou r pr esent
p erilou s cond i t i on wou l d h ave b ecom e e x t in
u
i
s
h
d
e
from
the
want
o
f
fu
el
t
o
fee
d
th
e
fl
am
e
g
Th a t w a s th e t i m e for th e North to h ave S hown
h e r devoti on to th e Uni on ; bu t u n fortunately
b oth o f th e grea t p art i es o f that secti on wer e s o
i nten t o n obta ining o r reta in ing p a rty a scen dency
tha t a ll oth e r c ons i derati ons wer e overlo oke d o r
forgotten
Wha t has s i nce followe d a re bu t n atu ral c o n s e
n
u
e
c
e
s
f
Wi
th
th
e
success
o
th ei r first move
q
m ent th i s sm all fanati ca l p a rty b egan t o a cqu ire
str ength ; an d with th a t t o b ecom e a n obj ect o f
cou rtsh ip to b oth the grea t p arti es Th e n e c e s
sary cons e qu ence was a fu rther i ncrea s e o f p ower
an d a gra du a l ta intin g o f th e O p in i ons o f b oth th e
o ther p a rti e s w i th th ei r doctrin es u ntil th e in f e c
ti on ha s extende d over b oth ; an d th e gre a t m ass
o f th e p opulati on o f th e N orth
wh o wha teve r
m ay b e th e i r op i ni on o f th e o ri ginal Aboliti on
p arty which still p reserves it s distinctive organ i za
ti on h a rdly eve r fa il wh en i t com e s to a cting t o
c o Op e r a t e i n carrying o u t the i r m easures
Wi th
th e increas e o f thei r i nflu ence th ey extende d th e
sp her e o f the i r a ct i on In a sh ort tim e a fte r th e
comm ence m ent o f th ei r first m ovem en t th ey h a d
a cqu i red s u flic ie n t influ en c e to i ndu c e th e legisla
tu res o f most o f th e Northern Sta tes to p ass a cts
wh ich i n effect abro ga te d th e claus e o f the C onsti
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JO HN CA LD WE LL C A L H O UN
1
59
th at provi des fo r th e delivery u p o f fugi
tive slaves N ot long a fter p eti ti ons followe d
to ab oli sh slavery in forts m a ga z ine s a n d dock
yards an d a ll oth er p la ces w h er e C ongr ess h a d
exclusi ve p owe r o f legi slati on Thi s wa s fol
l owe d by p et i t i ons an d res oluti ons o f l egi slature s
an d p opula r m e etings to
o f th e North ern Stat es
exclude th e South ern States from all t err i tori es
a cqu i r ed or to b e a cqu i r ed a nd to pr event th e
a dmi ssi o n o f any Sta te h erea fte r into th e Uni on
whi ch by its c onsti tuti on does n ot p roh ib i t slav
ery And C ongres s i s invoke d t o do a ll this ex
pr essly w i th th e Vi ew o f th e fina l ab oliti on o f
sl aver y i n th e States Th a t ha s b e en avowe d to
b e the ultimat e obj ect from th e b eginnin g o f the
a gi tati on u nti l th e pres ent tim e ; an d ye t th e gr ea t
b ody o f b oth p arti es o f th e N orth with th e fu ll
knowledge o f th e fa ct a lthou gh disavowin g th e
Ab ol iti on ists have c o Op e r a t e d with th e m in a lmo s t
a ll th ei r m easu re s
Su ch i s a b ri e f h i st o r y o f the a gitati o n a s fa r
a s i t h a s yet a dvance d N ow I a s k S enators
wh a t i s th er e to p revent i ts furth er p rogress unti l
i t fulfills th e u ltima te en d p rop os ed u nless s om e
de ci s i ve m ea su re should b e a dop te d to p revent i t ?
Ha s an y on e o f th e c au s es wh i ch ha s a dde d to i ts
i ncre a s e from it s o ri ginal small an d contemp tibl e
b eg i nning unti l i t has a tta in e d its present m agn i
?
tu de di mi ni sh ed i n force
I s the or i ginal caus e
t u t io n
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N O TED S PEE CHE S
1 60
OF
o f th e m ove m ent
tha t Sl avery i s a s in a nd
ought t o b e suppr ess e d
weake r n o w th an a t th e
c omm en ce m ent ? O r i s th e Ab ol i ti on p arty less
nume rou s o r i nflu ent i al o r h ave th ey l es s i nflu ence
w i th o r l ess contro l over th e tw o gre a t p arti es o f
th e No rth i n electi ons ? O r h a s th e South greate r
m ea ns o f i nflu enc i ng o r controlling th e m ovements
o f thi s gove rn m ent now tha n i t h a d when the a gi
t a t io n comm enced ?
To all th es e qu esti ons b u t
o n e a nswe r can b e given :
The very
No n o n o
revers e i s tru e Instea d o f b eing w eaker a ll th e
elem ents i n favo r o f a gi tati on a r e stronger n o w
tha n th ey w ere i n 1 8 3 5 wh en i t firs t comm enced
wh i le a ll th e elements o f i nflu ence o n th e p art o f
the S outh a r e we aker Unless s ometh ing de ci sive
i s don e I a ga i n a sk wha t i s to stop thi s a g i tat i on
b e fo r e th e grea t a nd fina l obj ect a t wh i c h i t a ims
—th e ab oli ti on o f s l avery i n th e States i s con
summ a ted ? I s i t then no t certa in th at i f some
thing i s n o t don e to a rres t i t th e Sou th w ill b e
?
force d to c h oo se b etwe en ab oliti on an d secessi on
Inde ed a s events a re n ow m oving i t wi ll not r e
qu i re th e S outh to s e c ede i n o rder to dissolve th e
Uni on A gi ta ti on will o f i tself effect i t o f wh i ch
—
i ts p a st h istory fu rn i she s abundant p r oo f
as I
shall n ext p rocee d to sh ow
I t i s a grea t m istake to supp os e tha t d i sun i on
effecte d by a singl e blo w Th e cords
c an b e
which b ound thes e States toge th er i n o n e c om
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
1 62
fin e d t o wha t app erta i ne d t o th e doctrin es an d
discipli n e o f th e r esp e ctive denom inati ons bu t ex
t ended to plans for di sseminating the B ibl e
establish in g m i ss i ons di stributing tra cts
a nd o f
establi sh in g p ress es for th e publi cati o n o f tra cts
n ewsp ap ers a nd p eri odi cals w ith a Vi e w o f di f
fus in g religi ou s in formati o n — and f o r th e su p
p ort o f th ei r r esp ective do ctri nes and cre e ds All
th i s comb ine d contribute d grea tly to str ength en th e
b onds o f th e Un i on Th e ti es whi ch h eld ea ch
d en om i nati on to g eth er forme d a strong cord to
hold th e wh ol e U n i on togeth e r but p ower fu l a s
th ey were th ey have not b e en ab le t o r es i st th e
explosive e ffe ct o f slavery a gi tati on
Th e first o f thes e cords wh i ch snapp ed u nder
its explos ive fo rce wa s that o f th e p o w er fu l
M ethodi st E p iscop al C hurch Th e num e rou s
and stron g ti es whi ch h el d i t togeth er a r e all
b roken an d i ts u n ity i s gone Th ey n ow form
s epa rat e chu rch es ; a nd
instea d o f tha t fe eli ng o f
a tta chm ent an d devoti on to th e i nterests o f th e
w h ole church whi ch wa s form erly felt the y a re
n o w a rra y e d i nto two h ostil e b odi es
en ga ge d i n
liti gati o n ab ou t wh a t wa s for m erly th e i r c o m m on
prop erty
Th e n ext cord that sn app ed w as that o f th e
—
o n e o f th e la rgest an d mos t resp ect
B apti sts
ab le o f th e den omina ti ons Tha t o f th e Presby
teri an i s no t enti rely snapp ed bu t s ome o f i ts
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JO HN C A LD WE LL CA L H O UN
1
63
stra nds h ave given way Tha t o f th e E p i scopal
C hurch i s th e only o n e o f th e fou r gre a t Protestant
denominati ons wh i c h r em a i ns u nbroken an d enti re
T he stronges t cord o f a p oliti cal cha ra cter con
s i sts o f th e many and p ow er fu l ti es tha t h ave h eld
togeth er th e two grea t p a rti es wh ich have with
som e modifica tions existe d from th e b egi nni ng o f
th e governm ent Th ey b oth extende d to eve ry
p orti on o f th e Un i on an d strongly contribute d to
h old a ll its p a rts togeth er B u t thi s p ower fu l
cord ha s fa re d no b etter than th e sp i ri tu al I t r e
s isted f o r a long time th e explosive tendency o f
th e a gi tati on bu t has finally sna pp e d unde r its
—
forc e
if no t entir ely in a great m ea sure
No r
i s there o n e o f th e r em a inin g cords wh i ch ha s not
b e en grea tly w eakened T o th i s extent th e Uni on
ha s a lre a dy b e en destroye d b y a gi tati on i n th e
only way i t can b e by sun dering a nd w e aken ing
the cords wh i ch b ind i t togeth er
I f the a gi tati on goes o n th e sam e force a cting
with increas e d i ntensi ty a s has b e en S hown will
finally snap every co rd wh en n othing wi ll b e l e ft
to h old the States to geth er excep t force Bu t
su rely tha t can with n o propri ety o f langu a ge
b e c alled a Uni on when th e only m eans by wh i ch
th e weaker i s h eld connecte d wi th the stronger p or
ti on is f o r c e I t may i ndeed ke ep th em con
n e c t e d ; b u t th e connection will p artake mu ch m ore
o f th e character o f subj ugati on o n the p a rt o f th e
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S P EE CH E S O F
N O TE D
1 64
weake r t o th e s tr o n ge r tha n th e un i on o f fr e e in
dep endent States in o n e c on federati on a s th ey
stood i n th e e a rly stages o f th e governm ent an d
whi ch only i s worthy o f th e sa cred nam e o f Uni on
Having n ow Sena tors expla in e d wh at i t i s tha t
endanger s th e Uni on an d tra ce d i t to i t s c au se
an d expla i n e d i ts n atur e an d chara cter th e qu es
t i on a g a i n r ecurs How ca n th e Uni on b e saved ?
T o th i s I answ er ther e i s bu t o n e way by wh i ch i t
can b e an d tha t i s by a doptin g su ch m ea su res a s
w i ll sa t i s fy th e State s b elonging to th e south ern
s e c ti on th a t th ey ca n r em a i n i n th e Uni on con
Th er e
s is t e n t ly with th ei r honor an d th e i r S a fety
i s a ga in only o n e way by whi ch th i s c a n b e
e ff ected an d th a t i s by r em ovin g th e c aus es by
wh i ch th i s b eli e f h a s b een pr odu c ed D o t h is an d
dis c ontent will ceas e ha rm ony an d kind feelings
b etwe en th e secti ons b e r estored an d ever y a p p r e
h e n s io n o f dange r to th e Uni on b e rem oved
Th e
qu esti on then i s H ow c a n th i s b e don e ? Bu t
b e fore I undertake t o a nsw er this qu esti on I p ro
p o s e to s how by wha t th e Un i on cannot b e s aved
I t c annot th en b e save d by eu log i e s o n th e
Uni on h owever splendi d or num erou s Th e cry
”
“
o f
Un i on Un i on th e glori ous Uni on ! c a n no
“
mo r e p reven t di sun i on than th e c ry o f Health
h e alth glori ou s h ealth ! o n the p art o f th e physi
So
c ia n c a n s ave a p ati ent lyin g dangerou sly ill
long a s th e Un i on i nstea d o f b ein g r egarde d a s a
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N O TE D S PEE CHE S O F
1 66
r ep el vi ola ti ons o f th e C onsti tuti on ? L et th ei r
cou rse i n r e fer ence to th e a git ati on o f the slavery
qu esti on whi ch w a s c omm ence d an d ha s b e en
ca rr i e d o n f o r fi fte en yea rs avow e dly for th e pu r
p ose o f ab oli shing slavery i n th e States — a n
obj ec t a ll a cknowledge d to b e u nconsti tu ti onal
a n sw er
L et th em S how a S ingl e i nstance durin g
th i s long p eri od i n wh i ch th ey have den ounce d
th e a gi ta tors o r th ei r attempts t o effect wha t i s
a dmi tte d to b e unconsti t u ti onal
o r a S ingl e m ea s
u r e wh i ch th ey h ave brou ght
forwa rd fo r tha t
purp os e H ow ca n w e wi th a ll th es e fa cts b e
for e u s b eli eve tha t th ey ar e sin cere i n th e i r pro
f e s s io n o f d evoti on to th e Un i on
avoi d
or
b eli evin g th ei r p ro fessi on i s bu t i ntende d to in
cr eas e th e v i gor o f th ei r assau lts a n d t o weaken
th e force o f ou r resi stance ?
N or c an w e regar d th e p ro fessi on o f devoti on
t o the Uni on on th e pa rt o f thos e wh o a re n ot
o u r a ssa ilants
a s s incere wh en th ey p ronounc e
eu logi es up on th e Un i on evi dently with th e in
tent o f charging u s with di sun i on w ithou t u tter
i ng o n e w o rd o f denunci a ti on a ga inst o u r a ssa i l
ants If fr i en d s o f th e Uni on th ei r cou rs e
sh oul d b e to uni t e wi th u s i n r ep elling th es e a s
sau lts and denouncin g th e au th o rs a s en em i es o f
th e Uni on Why they avoi d th is and pursu e th e
cou rs e th ey do i t i s for th em t o expla in
N or ca n th e Uni on b e s ave d by invoki ng th e
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JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
1 67
na m e o f th e i llu str i ou s S outhern er wh os e m orta l
r ema in s rep os e o n th e western b ank o f th e Poto
—
n
o
S
u
m a c He wa s
e of
a slave h older an d a
planter We h ave stu di e d h i s h i story a nd fin d
n oth ing i n i t t o j ust i fy subm i ssi on to wrong O n
th e contra ry hi s grea t fam e rests on th e s oli d
foundati on tha t wh ile h e w as c a re fu l to avo i d
doin g wron g t o o ther s h e wa s promp t an d de
ci de d in r ep ellin g wrong I tru st th a t i n thi s
resp ect w e p rofite d by th i s exampl e
N or c a n we fin d a nything i n h is h ist o ry t o deter
u s from s ecedin g from th e Un i on sh oul d i t fa i l
t o fulfill th e obj e c t s f o r wh i ch i t wa s i nstituted by
b eing p erm an ently an d hop elessly converted i nt o
th e m e ans o f oppr es sin g i nstea d o f protecting u s
O n the c ontrary w e fin d m uch i n h is examp le t o
encou rage us Sh ould we b e fo rce d to th e extr em
i ty o f de c i ding b etwe en subm i ssi on an d di sun i on
Th er e existe d th en a s w ell a s now a Un i on
b etw een th e p ar ent country an d h er c olon i es I t
wa s a Un i on th a t ha d mu ch to endea r i t to the
p eopl e o f th e c oloni es Unde r i ts p ro tecting an d
sup eri ntending ca r e th e c olon i es w er e p lante d
an d gr ew up and p rosp ered th rou gh a long course
o f yea rs u nti l th ey b e c am e p opulou s an d wealthy
I ts b enefits w er e n o t limi ted to th em Th ei r ex
t ensive a gri cultu ra l an d other p ro du c ti ons gave
b irth t o a fl ouri sh ing com m erce whi ch ri ch ly r e
warde d th e pa rent country f o r th e troubl e and
-
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N O TED S PEE CHE S
1 68
OF
exp ense o f e stabli shin g an d p rotecting th em
Wa sh ington wa s b or n a nd grew up to manhoo d
u nde r tha t Uni on He a cq u ire d h i s ea rly di s
tin cti on in i ts servi ce an d there i s every re ason to
b el i ev e tha t h e was devotedly atta ch e d t o i t
B ut hi s devotion wa s a n ati onal o n e H e wa s
atta ch e d to i t n ot a s a n end but a s a m ea ns to a n
en d Wh en i t fa ile d to fulfill i ts end an d in
stea d o f a ffordi ng p rotecti on wa s converte d i nto
th e m ea n s o f oppr ess ing th e c oloni es h e di d no t
h esi tate t o draw h i s sword an d h ea d th e grea t
m ovement b y whi ch tha t Un io n wa s fo rever
s evered a n d th e indep endence o f th es e States
establi sh e d Th i s w a s th e grea t an d crowni n g
glory o f h i s l i fe wh i ch ha s sp rea d hi s fam e ove r
th e wh ole glob e an d will transmi t i t to th e lates t
p osteri ty
Nor ca n th e pla n p rop ose d by th e distingu ish e d
S enato r from Kentu cky n or th a t o f th e a dm in is
t r a t io n save th e Uni on
I sha ll p ass b y wi tho u t
rem a rk th e p lan prop os e d by th e S enator I
h owe v er a ssu r e th e distingui sh e d a nd abl e Sena
tor th a t in taking th i s cours e n o disresp e c t wha t
eve r i s i ntended to h i m o r to h i s plan I ha v e
a dopte d i t b ecau s e s o m any S enators o f di sti n
h
u
i
s
e
d
ab
iliti
es
wh
o
w
er
e
present
when
he
de
g
livere d h i s sp e ech an d explain ed h is plan a nd
wh o wer e fully capabl e to do j u sti ce to th e s ide
th ey supp o rt h ave repli ed to him
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S P EE CH E S 0 F
N O TE D
I 7O
—
no t even pr otect its el f
but b y th e stronge r
.
T h e North h a s onl y t o w i l l i t to a c complish i t
— to do j usti c e by c onceding to th e Sou th an
e qu a l r i ght i n th e a cqu ire d t err i to ry a nd to do
h er duty by c au sin g the s tipulati ons r elat i ve to
fugit i ve slaves to b e fa ithfully fu lfilled to c ease
th e a gita ti on o f the S lave qu est i on a nd to p rovi de
for th e i ns e r t i on o f a p rovisi on i n th e C o n s t it u
ti on by a n a m endm ent wh ich wi ll res tore to th e
South i n substance th e p owe r s h e p oss esse d o f
p rotecting h ers el f b e fore th e equ ilibrium b etwe en
th e secti ons w as destroye d b y th e a cti on o f this
g overnm ent Th ere will b e no di fficulty i n dev i s
—
i ng su ch a p r ov i s i on
o n e tha t w ill protect th e
S outh a nd whi c h a t th e sam e tim e w ill improve
and strength en th e governm ent i nstea d o f im
p a ir i ng a nd w eaken ing i t
B ut will th e No rth a gre e t o th i s ? It i s f o r
h er to a nswer th e qu esti on Bu t I w ill s a y s he
ca nno t r e fus e i f sh e ha s hal f th e love for the
Uni o n wh i ch sh e pr o fess es to h ave o r wi th ou t
j u stly expo s ing h ers el f to th e ch arge th a t her love
o f p ower and a ggrand i z em en t i s fa r gre at er than
h er love o f th e Uni on At a ll events th e r e sp o n
s ib ilit y o f s avi ng the Uni on r ests o n th e North
a nd no t on th e South Th e Sou th canno t save i t
by any a ct o f h ers an d th e North may s ave i t
with ou t a ny sa cri fice wha tever unl ess to do j us
ti c e an d to p er fo r m h e r duti es unde r the Consti
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JO H N
CA LD WE LL CA LH O UN
1
1
7
shoul d b e r ega rde d by he r a s a s a cr ifi ce
It i s time S ena tors tha t th er e shou ld b e an
op en an d m anly avowa l on all S i des a s to what i s
i ntende d t o b e don e I f th e qu esti on i s not now
s ettled i t i s uncerta i n wh ether i t ever c an h ere
a fter b e ; an d we a s th e r epr es entatives o f the
States o f th i s Uni on regarde d a s governm ents
S h ou ld co m e to a distin c t understanding a s t o ou r
r esp ective vi ews in o rde r t o a scerta in wh eth er
t h e grea t qu esti ons a t issu e can b e s ettl e d o r n o t
I f you who rep res ent th e stronger p o rti on c an
no t a gre e to s ettle o n t h e bro a d pr i ncipl e o f j us
ti ce an d duty s a y so ; an d l et th e S tates w e b oth
r ep resent a gre e t o s ep a ra te a nd p art i n p eace
I f yo u ar e u nwi lling w e shoul d p a rt i n p e a c e tell
u s s o an d w e S hall know wh at to do wh en yo u
r edu ce th e qu esti on to subm i ss i on or r esi stance
I f yo u r ema i n s ilent you w ill c omp el u s t o in fer
by you r a cts wha t yo u intend In tha t cas e C ali
f o r n ia wi ll b e com e th e tes t qu esti on
I f you
a dmi t h er un der a ll th e di fficulti es tha t opp o s e
h e r a dmi ssi on you c omp el u s to i n fe r tha t you
i nten d to exclu de u s from t h e whol e o f th e a c
qu ire d territori es wi th th e intention o f destroy
i ng i rretri evably th e e qu ilibrium b etwe en th e two
secti ons We would b e blind n ot t o p erceive i n
tha t cas e that you r real obj ects a re p ower an d
a ggra n di z em ent and in fatu ated n o t to a ct a c
t u t io n ,
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c o r d in g ly
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1
JO HN CA LD WE LL CA L H O UN
72
I have n ow S enators don e m y duty i n e x
p ress i n g my op ini ons fu lly fre ely an d can di dly ,
I n do ing s o I have
o n thi s solemn o c c asi on
b een govern e d b y th e m otives wh i ch h ave gov
ern e d m e i n a ll th e sta ges o f th e a gi tati on o f th e
sl avery qu esti on S ince i ts c omm encement I have
exerte d mys el f during the whole p eri od to a rres t
i t with th e intenti on o f saving th e Un i on i f i t
could b e don e ; an d i f i t could n o t to save th e
s ecti on wh er e i t h as pl ea s e d Pr ovi dence to ca s t
my l ot an d whi ch I s incerely b eli eve h a s j usti ce
a nd th e C onsti tu ti on o n its si de Having fa i th
fully don e m y duty to th e b est o f my ab i li ty b oth
to th e Un i on an d my s e cti on throu gh out thi s a gi
t a t io n I S hall h ave th e consolati on l e t what wi l l
co m e tha t I a m fre e from all resp onsib ility
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H EN R Y C LAY
B IO ! R AP H IC AL
S!
ET C H
H E N RY C LA Y w a s b o rn Apr i l 1 2 1 777 in
Han ove r County V i r g i n i a Wh en a l a d h e was
”
“
s om etim es calle d th e m ill b o y o f th e Slash es
a s h e w a s s o o ften s e en r i ding throu gh th e
m arshy country to th e m ill w ith a b a g o f m eal
’
thrown over th e h ors e s b a ck
Wh en H enry wa s fou r yea rs old h i s father
di ed l eavin g hi s m other to ca re f o r th e large
fam ily wi th n o support excep t th e m ea ger i ncom e
o f a small fa rm
Sh e wa s a devoted m oth er a
woma n o f strong c h ara c t er an d anxi ou s tha t h er
chi ldren s hou ld h ave a n e du cati on H enry went
to the li ttl e log sch o ol hou s e in the n ei ghb orhood
wo rking in th e fi elds m ornings an d ni ghts to h elp
supp or t th e fami ly At th e a g e o f fourteen h e
wa s pla ce d a s erran d b o y in a stor e a t R i chm on d
h i s m oth er h aving m arri e d an d r emove d th er e
wi th h er fam ily
Th e followin g year hi s step father wh o wa s
’
i ntereste d i n the b oy s desir e f o r l earning s ecu re d
for h im a p ositi on i n th e o ffi ce o f th e Court o f
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I 7S
BI O ! R APHICA L S ! E T CH
1 76
Ch a ncery When Henry ha d b e en w ith th e
chancello r fou r years h e deci ded to stu dy law
h aving ga in ed m u ch lega l knowledg e i n the pre
A fter s om e m onth s o f har d stu dy
V io u s ye a rs
h e w a s adm i tte d to th e b ar a nd i n spi te o f the
la ck o f early opp ortun iti es w a s determ in e d to
su cce ed In 1 79 7 h e went to L exington Ken
tu cky h is p arents h aving p revi ously m oved th ere
an d so o n s e c ur e d a su c c ess ful and lu c ra tive p r a c
ti c e
H is publ i c l i fe b egan wh en h e wa s twenty two
th e yea r th a t th e Kentu c ky constituti on wa s to b e
r em o d eled a nd h e attempte d to aboli sh slaver y
fr om th e Sta te H e so on b ecam e p opula r and
wa s s ent to th e State legi slatu re s ervin g a t di f
f e r e n t p eri ods i n all s even s ess i ons
M r Clay fill e d two un exp ir e d t er m s i n the
—
Uni te d State s Senat e 1 8 0 6 0 7 an d 1 8 0 9—1 1
I n 1 8 1 1 h e w a s el e cte d to th e Hou s e o f Re p r e
s e n t a t iv e s
an d wa s a t once ch os en Sp eaker o f th e
Hous e Pr es i dent M a di son app ointed Clay o n e
o f th e five c omm issi on ers to n egoti a te p ea ce with
E nglan d a t Ghent i n th e Neth erlands
He ha d
n ow b ecom e fam ou s an d w a s w elcom e d home
wi th publi c dinn ers an d m u c h di splay an d wa s
r e él e c t e d to C ongres s
Th ough M r Clay w a s n o t th e auth o r o f th e
M i ss ou ri C o m p rom i s e o f 1 8 2 1 it w a s w ith out a
doub t h i s i n flu ence whi c h c au sed the plan t o su c
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BI O ! R A PHICA L S! E T CH
1
77
anoth e r s ervi ce whi ch m a de h i m m or e b e
loved tha n ever O n l eaving th e House in 1 8 2 5
h e wa s m a de S e c retary o f State by Pr esi dent
Adams
I n 1 8 3 1 h e wa s s ent to th e Uni te d Sta tes
Sena te an d durin g th e first term s ecur ed
“
th e p a s s a ge o f a comp romi s e b ill
Compro
m is e o f 1 8 3 3
givin g h i m fo r th e s e c ond tim e
“
”
th e titl e o f
th e Grea t Pa c ifi c a t o r
He re
m a in ed i n the S ena te unti l 1 8 4 2 and wa s r e él e c t e d
“
i n 1 8 49 H i s grea t sp eech
th e C omprom is e o f
anothe r ende avor to save th e Uni on wa s
Th e gi fte d
m a de on F ebruary 5 an d 6 1 8 5 0
o rato r di e d i n Wash ington J une 2 9 1 8 5 2 an d
was bu ri e d J ul y 1 0 at L e xi n gton Kentu c k y
c eed
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T H E C O M PR O M I S E O F
D E L IV E R ED
IN
U N IT ED
TH E
F E B R U A RY
S T AT E S
’
A
N
D
6
,
5
1 8 50
1
8 50
S E N AT E ,
.
M R PRE SI DE NT :
Neve r o n any form er o cca
s i on have I ri s en u nde r fe elings o f su ch p a in fu l
s oli ci tu de I h ave s e e n m any p eri o ds o f grea t
anxi ety o f p e ril an d o f danger i n thi s c ountry
a n d I have n ever b e fore ri sen t o a ddr e s s a n y
a ss e m b lage s o oppresse d s o app alled an d s o
a nxi ou s ; and si r I h op e i t will not b e out o f pla ce
t o do h ere wha t a ga i n a nd a ga i n I have don e in
my p riva te chamb er to implore o f H im wh o
h olds the destini es o f n a ti ons an d i ndivi dua ls i n
Hi s h ands to b esto w up o n o u r country H is bless
i ngs to cal m th e Vi olence a n d ra ge o f p a rty t o
still p a ssi on t o a llow r e a s on once m or e t o r esum e
its emp i re
S i r I h ave sa i d tha t I h ave s een
other a nxi ou s p eri o ds i n th e h i story o f o u r coun
try a n d i f I were to ventu re M r Presi dent to
tra ce to th eir o ri gina l s ou rce th e cau s e o f a ll our
pr es ent dangers di fficulti es and distr a c ti ons I
sh ould a scrib e i t t o th e vi olence a nd i nt emp erance
o f p a rty sp i rit
I know S ir th e j e a lousi es
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I 78
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N O T ED S P EE CH
1 80
OF
S enato rs tha t i f th ey fin d i n th a t plan any
thing tha t i s de fective i f th ey fin d i n i t a nything
tha t i s worthy o f a c cepta nce bu t i s suscep tible o f
i mp rovem ent by am endment i t s eem s to m e tha t
th e tru e and p atri ot i c cou rs e i s n ot to denou n c e i t
bu t to i mprove i t
n ot to r ej ect wi th ou t e x a m i
n at i on any p roj ect o f a c comm o dati on h aving f o r
i ts obj e c t the r estor ati on o f h armony i n this coun
try bu t to lo ok a t i t to s e e i f i t b e su scept ible o f
elab orati o n o r improvem ent s o a s to a ccomplish
th e obj ect wh ich I i ndulge th e hop e i s c omm on to
a ll a nd every o n e o f u s to r estor e p ea c e a n d qu i et
an d h a rm ony an d happ iness t o th is country
Si r when I cam e t o cons i de r this subj ect th ere
wer e two o r thre e gen eral pu rp os es wh ich i t
s e em ed to m e to b e m ost desi rable i f p ossible to
a ccompli sh Th e o n e wa s to s ettle a ll the con
t r o v e r t e d qu esti ons a r i s i ng o u t o f th e subj ect o f
S lavery I t s eeme d t o m e to b e doing V ery l i ttl e
i f we s ettle d o n e qu esti on a n d l e ft o th er di stra ct
i ng qu esti ons una dj usted ; i t s e em e d to m e to b e
doing bu t l ittle i f w e stopp e d o n e leak only i n th e
ship o f Sta te a n d l e ft oth er l eaks cap abl e o f p r o
d u c in g dange r i f n ot destru cti on t o th e v essel
I th ere for e turne d my a ttention to every subj ect
connecte d with th e i nsti tut i on o f slavery an d o u t
o f wh i ch controverte d qu esti ons h a d sprun g
to
s e e i f i t w er e p ossibl e o r p ra cti cable to a c c o m m o
da te a n d a dj ust th e wh ol e o f the m Anothe r
o ra
ble
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HENR Y CL A Y
1
81
principa l obj ect wh i ch attra cted my a ttenti on wa s
to endeavo r to form such a schem e o f a c c o mm o
dati on that n ei th er o f th e two class es o f Sta tes
into wh i ch ou r c ountry i s s o u nh app il y divi de d
should m ake any sa crifi c e o f any grea t p rinciple
I b eli eve s ir th e s er i es o f resoluti ons whi c h I
h ave ha d th e h onor to p res ent to th e S enate a c
compli sh es th a t obj e c t
S i r a noth er pu rp os e wh i ch I h ave ha d i n V i e w
wa s th i s : I was awar e o f th e differen c e o f
op in i on p reva iling b etwe en th es e two classe s o f
States I wa s a war e tha t whil e on e p orti on
o f th e Un i on was pu shing m atters a s i t s e em e d to
m e to th e greatest extr em i ty anoth er p o rti on o f
th e Uni on w a s push in g th em to a n opposite p er
hap s no t l ess dangerou s extremity I t app ea re d
to m e th en tha t i f any arrangem ent any sa ti s
fa ctory a dj u stm ent could b e m a de o f th e c ontro
verte d qu esti ons b etwe en th e two class es o f States
tha t a dj u stm ent tha t arrangem ent c ould only b e
succes s fu l and effectu a l by extra ctin g from both
pa rti es s om e concessi on — n ot o f p rincipl e n ot
o f prin c ipl e a t all
bu t o f fe eling o f op in i on in
r elati on to m atters i n controversy b etwe en the m
S i r I b eli eve th e r esoluti ons wh i ch I have pre
p a re d fulfill th a t obj ect I b eli eve s ir tha t you
will find up on that car e ful rati onal and a tten
t ive exami na ti on o f th em wh i ch I think th ey de
s erve th a t n e ith er p arty in som e o f them m akes
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1
N O TE D S PEE CH O F
82
any con c essi on a t all ; i n oth ers the concessi ons o f
forb earance a r e mu tu al ; a nd i n the thi rd pla ce in
r e ferenc e to th e slave h olding States th er e a r e
resoluti ons m akin g c on c essi ons to them by th e
opp osit e cla ss o f States wi thout any comp ensati o n
whatever b ein g r en dered by th em to th e n o n
slave h olding States I th ink every o n e o f th es e
ch a ra ct eri sti c s wh i ch I h ave a ss ign ed an d th e
m easur es whi c h I p rop osed i s susceptibl e o f clea r
an d s ati s fa ctory dem onstrati on b y a n attentive
p eru sal an d criti c a l e x am inati on o f th e r es oluti ons
th em s elve s L et u s take up th e first r esoluti on
T h e fi rs t resoluti on M r Pr esi dent a s you a r e
awa r e r ela tes to C ali forni a a nd i t de c lares tha t
Cali forn i a with su itable limits ou gh t to b e a d
m it t e d as a m emb er o f thi s Uni on wi thout th e
imp osi ti on o f any r estri ction ei th er to int erdi ct
o r to i ntro du ce slavery w i thin h er limi ts
W e ll
i s there any conces s i on in th i s resoluti on by
no w
e ither p a rty t o th e oth er ? I know tha t gentle
m en who com e from S lave holding Sta tes say th e
North gets all tha t i t desir es ; bu t by whom do es
i t get i t ? D o es i t get i t by any a cti on o f C on
gress ? I f slavery b e interdi cte d with in th e limi ts
o f Cal i forn i a
ha s i t b e en don e by C ongres s — b y
th i s governm ent ? N o s ir Tha t interdi c t i on i s
imp os e d by Cali fo rni a h ers el f And h as i t n o t
b e en the do ctrine o f a ll p a rti es th at when a State
i s ab ou t to b e a dm itte d i nto th e Uni on th e Sta te
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1
N O T E D S P EE CH O F
84
mutu a l forb earance whi ch animating o n e si de
?
ou ght a t th e sam e tim e to a ctu a te th e oth er S i de
Well s ir wh at i s i t tha t i s offere d th em ? I t i s a
decla rati on o f wha t I ch ara cteri z e d an d must still
ch a ra cter i z e wi th grea t de ference t o all th ose
who enterta i n opposite op i n i on s a s two truths I
will n o t s a y i ncontestibl e bu t t o m e cl ea r and
I th i nk th ey ou ght t o b e r ega rde d a s indi spu tabl e
tru ths Wha t a re th ey ? Th e first is tha t by
law slavery n o longer exi sts i n any p a rt o f th e
a cqu i siti ons ma de by u s from th e R epub li c o f
M exi co ; an d th e other i s tha t i n o u r op in i on a c
cording t o th e probab iliti es o f th e case slavery
n eve r w i ll b e introduce d i nto any p orti on o f th e
t erri tori es s o a cqu i r ed from M exi co
Wi th r esp ect to th e op ini on tha t slavery do es
n o t exi st i n th e terr i tori es cede d t o th e Uni ted
State s by M exi co I can only r e fer to the fa ct o f
th e p a ssa ge o f th e law by th e Supr em e G overn
m ent o f M exi co ab oli shin g i t I th ink i n 1 8 2 4 ;
an d to a subs equ ent p assa ge o f a law by th e l egi s
l ative b o dy o f M exi co I fo rget in what yea r by
—
whi ch th ey p rop o s e d
wha t i t i s tru e th ey h ave
—
n ever yet c arri e d into full effe c t
comp ensati on
t o th e own ers o f slaves for th e p rop erty o f wh i ch
they w er e stripp e d by th e a ct o f ab ol iti on I can
only r e fer to a cqu i escence o f M exi co i n th e ab oli
ti on o f sl avery from th e tim e o f i ts exti ncti on
down to th e t im e o f the t rea ty by whi ch we a c
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HENRY CL A Y
1
85
qu i re d thes e countri es
Th e laws o f M exi co
a s th ey existe d a t th e m om ent o f th e c essi on o f
th e ceded terr i to ri es to this country rema in ed the
laws u ntil and u nless th ey w ere altere d by tha t
new soverei gn p ower wh i ch thi s p eopl e a n d th es e
terri tor i es cam e u nde r i n cons e qu en c e o f th e
trea ty o f c ess i on to the Un i te d Sta tes
I thi nk
I may leave tha t p a rt o f th e sub
wi
th
two
or
thre
e
ob
servat
i
ons
only
up
on
th
e
e
c
t
j
gen er a l p owe r wh i ch I thi nk app erta i ns t o thi s
governm en t o n th e subj ect o f slavery
S i r b e fore I appro a ch th at subj e c t a llow m e
to say tha t in my humbl e j u dgm ent th e in s t it u
ti on o f slavery p resents t w o qu esti on s to ta lly di s
tinct an d r esti ng o n entir ely di ff erent grounds
S lavery w ith in the States a nd S lavery w i th out th e
Sta tes C ongress th e G ene ral G overnmen t ha s
n o p ower u nder th e Constitu ti o n o f th e Uni te d
States t o tou ch slavery withi n th e St a tes excep t
in thre e sp ecifie d p arti cula rs i n tha t instrum ent : to
a dj us t th e subj ect o f r ep resentati on ; to imp os e
taxe s wh en a system o f direct taxati on i s ma de ;
a nd t o p er form th e duty o f su rrender ing o r c au s
i ng to b e deliver e d up fu gi tive slaves tha t m a y
es c ap e from s ervi ce wh ich th ey o we in slave
Sta tes a n d take re fu ge i n fre e Sta tes And S ir
I am r ea dy to sa y tha t i f Congress were to a tta ck
with i n th e States the i nsti t u ti on o f slavery fo r
th e purp ose o f th e overth ro w o r extin cti on o f
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1
N O T ED S PEEC H O F
86
slavery th en M r Pres i dent my vo i ce would b e
f o r wa r ; then would b e m a de a cas e whi ch woul d
j u sti fy i n th e s i gh t o f ! o d an d i n th e p resence
o f th e n ati ons o f th e ea rth
res i sta nce o n the p art
o f the slave Sta tes to such a n u nconsti tutional an d
u surp e d atte m p t a s woul d b e ma de o n th e supp o
s it io n wh i ch I h ave stated
Th en w e should b e a cting i n de fens e o f ou r
ri ghts o u r dom i cil es o u r s a fety ou r l ives ; a nd
th en I th ink would b e fu rn i she d a ca se in wh ich
th e slave holdin g S ta tes would b e j u sti fi ed by all
consi dera ti ons wh i ch p erta i n t o the happ ines s an d
s ecuri ty o f m an to employ every instrum ent
wh i ch G od o r n atur e h a d pla ce d i n th e i r hands to
resi s t such a n a ttemp t o n th e p art o f th e fre e
S tates An d th en i f u n fortuna tely civi l wa r
shoul d b reak ou t an d w e should pr esent to th e
nati ons o f th e earth the sp ecta cle o f o n e p o rti on
o f thi s Un i on endeavor ing to subvert a n in s t it u
t i on i n vi olati on o f th e C onsti tuti on an d th e m ost
sa cr e d obli gati ons whi ch can b i nd m en ; we should
p res ent th e sp e c ta cle i n wh i ch w e should h ave th e
symp ath i es the goo d wi shes a n d the desir e for
ou r su ccess o f a ll m en who love j usti ce and truth
F a r di fferent I fea r wou ld b e o u r ca s e i f u n
happi ly we sh ould b e plunged i nto civi l war
if
th e t w o p a rts o f thi s coun try sh ould b e pla ce d i n
—
in order
a p osi ti o n hostile towa rd ea ch oth er
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1
N O TE D S PEE CH O F
88
ble I t is a sub si sting a ctu al exi sting p ower ;
an d wh er e do e s i t exist ? I t exist ed I p resum e
no o n e will controvert i n M exi co p ri or to th e
cessi on o f th es e territori es M exi co could have
ab olishe d s lavery o r introdu ce d slavery e ith er i n
Ca li forni a o r New M exi co Tha t mu st b e con
?
ceded Who wi ll controvert th i s p os iti on
W ell M exi co h a s p a rte d from th e terri tory and
from th e soverei gnty over th e territory ; a nd to
whom di d s h e trans fer i t ? Sh e transferred th e
terri tory an d th e s overei gnty o f th e t erri tory to
th e G overnm ent o f th e Uni te d Sta tes
The G ove rnm en t o f th e Un ite d States a cqu ire s
i n s over ei gnty an d i n terri tory over Cali forn i a
an d N ew M exi co a ll eith er i n s overei gnty o r t er
tha t M exi co h el d i n Cali forni a o r N ew
r it o r y
M exi co by th e c essi o n o f thos e terri tori es S i r
di spu te th a t wh o can Th e p ower exists o r i t
do es not ; n o on e will contend for i ts a nnih ila ti on
I t existe d i n M exi co N o o n e I th ink can deny
tha t M exic o a li ena tes th e sover eignty over th e
te rr itory and h e r a li en e e i s th e Governm ent o f th e
Un i te d States T he G ove rnm ent o f th e Un i ted
States th en p oss ess es a ll p ow er wh i ch M exi co
p o ss ess e d ove r th e ceded territo ri es an d th e Gov
e r n m e n t o f th e Uni te d Sta tes can do i n r e ference
—
to th em
wi thi n I a dmi t certa in limits o f th e
—
C onsti tuti on
whatever M exico could have
don e Th e re a re p rohib i ti ons up on th e p ower o f
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HENRY C L A Y
1
89
Congress within th e C onsti tuti on wh i ch p r o h ib i
ti ons I a dmi t mu st apply t o Congress wh en eve r
wh eth er fo r th e old States o r f o r
s h e l egislates
n ew territori es ; bu t wi th i n those p roh ib iti ons th e
p owe rs o f th e Un ited Sta tes over the cede d terri
tori es ar e co extensive an d equ a l to the p ower o f
M exi co i n th e cede d territori es pr i or to th e c e s
S i on
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I p ass o n from th e S econ d resoluti o n to the
thir d an d fourth whi ch rela te to T exas : an d
a llow m e to s a y M r Pres i dent th at I app ro a ch
th e subj ect with a fu ll knowl edge o f all its d iffi
c u l t ie s ; and o f a ll th e qu esti ons connecte d with o r
growing o u t o f th i s i nstituti on o f slavery whi ch
Congress i s ca lle d up on to p a ss up on an d deci de
th ere a r e non e S O di fficult a nd troublesom e a s
thos e whi ch r elate to T exas b ecaus e s ir T exa s
h a s a qu esti on o f b o u n d a r y t o s ettl e an d th e qu es
t i on o f slavery o r th e fe elings conne cte d wi th i t
Th e North
r u n into th e qu esti o n o f b ounda ry
p erhaps will b e anxi ou s to c ontr a c t T exa s with in
th e na rrowest p oss ibl e l im its i n o rder t o exclu de
a ll b eyon d h er to m ake i t a fre e Terr itory ; the
South o n th e contrary m ay b e anxi ou s to exten d
thos e s ou rce s o f R i o Gra nde for th e pu rp os e o f
creating a n a dditi on a l theater fo r S lave ry ; an d
thus to th e qu esti on o f th e lim its o f Texa s an d
th e s ettlem ent o f h er b oundary th e slavery qu es
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N O TE D S PEE C H O F
'
1 90
ti on with al l i ts troubles an d di fficulti e s i s a dded
m e eting u s a t every step we take
Th ere i s s ir a th i rd qu esti on a lso a dding to
th e di fficu lty B y the r esoluti on o f annexati on
slavery wa s interdi ct e d i n all north o f 3 6
bu t o f N ew M exi co tha t p orti on o f i t wh ich li es
’
n orth o f 3 6 3 0 emb ra ces I think ab ou t one
thi rd o f th e wh ol e o f N e w M e x ic o e a st o f th e
Ri o Grande ; s o th a t you h ave fr e e and slave
t erritory m ixed b oundary an d slavery mixed
together an d all th ese d iflic u l t ie s a re to b e e n
countere d An d allow m e to say s ir th at among
th e consi de ra ti ons wh i ch i nduce d m e to think i t
wa s n ecessary to s ettle all th es e qu esti ons wa s the
stat e o f th ings th a t n ow exists i n N ew lVl e x ic o
a n d th e sta te o f things to b e app reh ende d both
th ere an d i n other p orti on s o f th e terri tori es
Why s ir a t thi s m om ent th er e i s a fe eling a p
r o x im a t in
o
to
abhorrence
n
th
e
p
a
rt
th
e
p
eo
o
f
p
g
ple o f N ew M exi co a t th e i de a o f any u ni on wi th
Texa s
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S i r the oth er day my h onorabl e fri en d wh o
r epr esents s o well th e State o f Texa s s a i d tha t
we ha d n o m or e ri ght to tou ch th e lim its o f Texas
tha n we ha d to tou ch th e limi ts o f Kentu cky I
—
think tha t wa s the i llu strati on h e gave u s
tha t
a State i s on e an d i ndivi sible an d th at the Gen era l
Governm ent h as no r ight to sever i t I a gre e
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N O TE D S P EE CH 0 F
1 92
th e Un i te d States to fix up on t h e
l im its o f the State o f T exas
In th e r esolu
ti on wh a t is p rop os ed ? To confin e h er to th e
Nu eces ? N o S ir T o exten d h er b oun dary to
the m out h o f th e R i o Grande and th ence up tha t
r iver to th e s outh ern lim i t o f N ew M exi co ; a nd
th ence a long tha t limi t to th e b oun dary b etwe en
the Un ited State s an d Sp a in a s m arke d under th e
treaty o f 1 8 1 9
Why S ir h er e i s a vast cou ntry I b eli eve
alth ough I have m a de n o estim a te ab out it
th a t
i t i s n o t i n feri or i n extent o f land o f a cr es o f
squ ar e m i les to wha t Texa s east o f th e rive r
Nu eces extending to th e Sab in e h a d b e fore
An d wh o i s th er e can say w ith tru th an d j usti ce
tha t th ere is n o r ecip rocity no r mu tu a li ty no con
ces s i on i n thi s r esoluti on ma de to T exa s even i n
r e fer ence to the qu esti on o f b ounda ry a lone ?
Yo u give h e r a va s t country equ al I rep ea t in
e x tent n early to wha t sh e i ndi sputably p oss essed
b e fore ; a country su ffici ently la rge w ith h er con
s ent h erea fter to ca rve o u t o f i t som e two o r
thre e a ddi ti ona l States wh en th e conditi on o f th e
p opu lation m ay r ender it exp edi ent to m ake n ew
Sta tes Si r i s th ere n ot in th i s r es oluti on con
cessi on lib er a li ty j usti ce ? Bu t th i s i s n ot all tha t
we p rop os e t o do Th e s econ d r esoluti on pro
p ose s to p ay off a certa i n am ount o f th e deb t o f
Texa s A blank i s le ft i n th e r esolu ti on b ecau s e
ern
men t
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HENR Y CL A Y
I have no t h ereto for e b e en able
am ount
193
to
a scerta in th e
.
I pass to th e consi de rati on o f th e n ext resolu
ti on i n th e s eri es wh i ch I h ave ha d th e h onor to
submi t a n d wh ich relat es i f I a m n ot m i staken
t o th i s D i stri ct
“
R es olved Tha t i t i s inexp edi ent to ab oli sh
s l a very i n t h e D i stri ct o f Columbi a wh i l e that in
s t it u t io n c ont i nu es t o exis t i n the Sta te o f Mary
l and wi th ou t t h e consen t o f th at Stat e a nd wi th
an d
o u t th e cons ent o f th e p eople o f th e D i stri ct
wi t h ou t j u st comp ensa ti on to th e own ers o f slave s
”
w ithi n th e D i stri ct
M r Presi dent a n obj e c ti on a t th e m om ent w a s
m a de to th i s r esoluti on by som e h onorab l e S en a
t o r o n th e oth er s i d e o f the b o dy tha t i t d id n o t
conta i n a n a ss erti on o f th e unconstituti ona l i ty o f
th e exerci s e o f the p ower o f ab oliti on I sa i d
th en a s I have uni formly m a inta in ed in th i s b o dy
a s I c onte n de d f o r i n 1 8 3 8 a nd ever h ave don e
th a t th e p ower to ab oli sh slavery withi n th e D i s
t r ic t o f Columb i a h a s b een veste d i n Congr ess by
langu a g e too clea r an d explici t t o a dmi t i n m y
j u dgm ent o f any rati onal doubt whateve r
W h a t s ir is t h e langu age o f t h e C onstituti on ?
“
T o e x ercis e exclu sive legisla ti on i n all c a s es
wh atever ove r su ch D i stri ct ! n ot exc eeding ten
m i les s qua re ! a s m ay by cessi on o f parti cu l a r
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N O TE D S PEE CH
1 94
0 F
Sta tes an d th e a cceptance o f C ongre ss b ecome
”
th e s ea t o f th e Gove rnment o f the Uni te d Sta tes
Now s i r C ongress by th i s grant o f p ower i s in
veste d wi th all leg i slati on wha tso eve r ove r the
D i str i ct
Can we conceive o f huma n langu a ge m ore
b ro a d an d co mpr eh ensive tha n tha t which i nvests
a l egi slative b o dy with exclu s ive p ower i n a ll ca ses
wha tsoever o f l egi sla ture over a given di stri ct o f
t erri tory or country ? L et m e ask S ir i s th ere
any p owe r t o ab oli sh slavery i n th i s D i stri ct ?
L et m e suppos e i n a ddi ti on to what I suggeste d
th e o th er day th a t S lavery ha d b een ab olish e d i n
M aryl an d a nd V i rgini a — l e t m e a d d to i t th e
supp osi ti on th a t i t was ab olish ed i n all th e Sta tes
i n th e U n i on ; i s th er e any p ower th en t o ab olish
S lavery w i thin th e D i stri ct o f Columb i a o r i s
slavery plante d h er e to a ll eterni ty wi thou t th e
p ossib i l i ty o f th e exerci s e o f any l egi sla ti ve p ower
fo r i ts abol i ti on ? I t canno t b e in vest e d i n M ary
land b ecaus e th e p o w er wi th whi ch Congr ess i s
i nveste d i s exclusive
M a ryland th ere for e i s ex
clu ded an d s o a ll th e oth er State s o f th e Un i on
a r e exclu ded I t i s h ere o r i t i s n owh er e
Th i s wa s th e Vi e w whi ch I took in 1 8 3 8 and I
th ink th ere i s nothing i n th e r esol u tion wh i ch
I offere d o n th a t o cca si on i ncompa tible wi th th e
i
Vi ew wh ch I n o w pres ent and wh i ch th e resolu
Whi le I a dm itte d th e p ower to
t i on conta ins
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N O TE D S P E E CH O F
1 96
know i t ha s b e en a rgu e d that th e clau s e o f th e
C on stitu ti on whi ch r equ i r es comp en sati on for
p rop erty taken by th e publi c fo r i ts u s e would
not apply t o th e ca s e o f th e ab oli ti on o f slavery
i n th e D i stri ct o f C olumb i a b ecau se th e prop ert y
i s n o t taken for th e u s e o f th e publi c L iterally
p erhap s i t w ould n ot b e taken fo r th e u s e o f th e
publi c ; bu t i t woul d b e taken i n cons iderati on o f a
p oli cy an d purp o s e a dopted by th e publ i c a s o n e
wh i ch i t wa s de em e d exp edi ent to ca rry into full
effect an d op erati on ; an d by a l i b era l int erpr eta
ti o n o f th e clau s e i t ou ght to b e so fa r r ega rde d
a s taken fo r th e u s e o f th e publi c a t th e instance
o f th e publi c
a s to demand comp ensati on t o th e
extent o f th e valu e o f th e p rop erty
Th e s econd cl au s e o f th i s res oluti on [ th e sixth !
“
pr ovi de s th a t i t i s exp edi ent to prohibi t withi n
th e D i stri ct th e tra de i n slaves b rou ght i nto i t
from States or pla ces b eyond th e limits o f th e D i s
t r ic t e ith e r t o b e sol d th er ein as m erchandi se o r
”
to b e transp orte d t o oth er m arkets
Well M r Pres i dent i f th e con cessi on b e m a de
tha t C ongress h as th e p ow e r o f l egi slati on a nd
exclusi ve l egi slati on i n all c a ses wh atsoever h o w
ca n i t b e doubted th a t Congress h a s au th ority to
prohib i t wh a t i s calle d th e slave tr a de i n th e D i s
tri et o f C olumbi a ? Si r my i n terpretati on o f th e
Consti tuti on i s thi s : that with r ega rd to all p arts
o f i t wh i ch op erat e up on th e States
C ongress c an
I
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HENR Y C L A Y
1 97
exerci s e n o p ower whi ch i s n ot granted o r wh i ch
i s not a n ecessary impli cati on from a gra nted
p ower Th a t i s th e rul e fo r th e a cti on o f Con
gres s i n relati on to i ts legi slati on up on th e Stat es
bu t i n relati on to its l egi slati on up on th i s D i str ic t
th e r evers e I take i t to b e th e ru l e tha t C ongr es s
h a s all th e p ower o ver th e D i stri ct wh i ch i s n ot
proh ib ite d by som e p art o f th e Consti tuti on o f th e
Un ite d States ; i n oth er words tha t C ongress ha s
a p ower withi n th e D i stri ct e qu ival ent to a nd c o
extens i ve w ith th e p ower whi ch any S tat e i tsel f
p o ss esse s withi n it s own l i m i ts Well s i r d o es
any o n e doub t th e p ow er and th e ri gh t o f a ny
S lave h oldin g Sta te in th i s Uni on to forb i d th e in
t r o du c t io n a s m erchandis e o f slaves w ithin th ei r
l imi ts ? Why s ir almost every S lave h oldin g
Sta te i n th e Un i on ha s exer c i s e d its p ow er to p ro
h ib it th e i ntrodu cti on o f S laves a s m er c han
dise
Si r th e p ow er e x ists ; th e duty i n my op in i on
exi sts ; an d th e re ha s b een no tim e
a s I s a y in
langua ge co inci dent wi th th a t us ed by th e h onor
able S ena tor from Alabam a — th er e h a s b e en no
tim e i n my publi c l i fe wh en I wa s not wi lli ng to
concu r i n th e ab oliti on o f th e slave tra de i n thi s
D istri ct
Why a re th e feelings o f c iti z ens
her e ou trage d by the scenes exh ib i ted an d th e
co rt ege s whi ch p a s s al ong ou r av enu e s o f m a n
a c l e d human b e ings n ot collecte d a t all i n o u r own
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N O TE D S P EE CH 0 F
198
n ei ghb orh o o d bu t brou gh t from di stant p a rts o f
n eighb orin g States ? Why shou ld th ey b e o u t
ra ge d ? And wh o i s ther e that h a s a h ea rt th at
do e s n ot contemplate a sp e c ta cle o f that kin d wi th
h orro r a nd indi gn ati on ? Why should th ey b e
outrage d by a s c ene s o i n excu sabl e an d d etestabl e
a s th i s ?
S i r i t i s n o c onces s i on I r ep ea t fr o m on e class
o f States or from t h e oth er
I t i s a n obj e ct i n
wh i ch b oth o f th em i t s e ems to m e sh ould h eart
ily uni te an d whi ch th e o n e si de a s mu ch a s the
oth e r should r ej oi ce i n a dopting ina s mu ch a s i t
les s ens o n e o f th e cau s es o f inqu i etu de a nd d iss a t iS
fa cti on wh ich a r e conn e c ted wi th th i s D i stri ct
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«
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Th e n ext res oluti on i s :
“
Th a t m ore eff ectu a l p rovisi on o u ght to b e
m a de by law a ccordin g to th e re qu i r em ent o f th e
C onsti tu ti on fo r the restituti on an d delivery o f
p erson s b oun d to s ervi ce o r lab or i n any S tate
wh o m ay es c ap e into any o th er Sta te o r T err itory
”
i n th e Uni on
N ow Mr Presi dent up on tha t subj e c t I go
with him wh o goes furth est i n th e interp reta ti on
o f tha t clau se in the Constitu ti on
I n my humbl e
op i ni on s ir it i s a r e qu i rem ent by th e C o n s t it u
ti o n o f th e Un ite d Sta tes wh i ch i s n ot limi ted i n
i ts op er ati on to th e Congress o f the Un i te d States
bu t extends to every State in th e Uni on an d to the
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N O TE D S PEE CH O F
20 0
those l aws whether th ey a r e fundam ental o r de
r iv a t iv e
I d o n o t s a y tha t a p r i va te i ndivi du al i s
b oun d to m ake a tour o f h is S ta te i n order to a ssis t
a n own er o f a slave to recove r h i s p rop erty ; bu t
I do say i f h e i s p res ent when th e owne r o f a
slave i s ab ou t to a ssert h i s ri ghts and endeav o r to
ob ta in p oss essi on o f h is p rop e rty every m a n p r es
ent wh eth er h e b e a n o fficer o f th e G en e ral ! o v
e r n m e n t or th e Stat e gove rnm ent o r a p rivate in
divi d u al i s b ou n d t o a ssi st i f m en ar e b oun d a t
all to a ssist in th e executi on o f th e laws o f th ei r
cou ntry
N o w wha t i s th i s provi s i on ? I t i s tha t su ch
fu gitive shall b e delivere d up on cla im o f th e p a rty
t o wh om su ch s ervi ce o r lab o r m ay b e du e As
ha s b e en alr ea dy rem a rke d i n th e cours e o f th e
deb a te up o n th e b ill up on th is subj ect whi ch i s now
p ending th e l a ngua ge u s e d i n regard t o fugi ti ves
from crim ina l offen s es a n d f u gi tives from lab or i s
p reci sely th e sam e Th e fugi tive from j u sti ce i s
to b e del ivere d u p a nd to b e remove d to th e Sta te
h avi ng j u ri s di cti on ; th e fugitive from l ab or i s to
b e delivere d up o n cla im o f th e p arty to wh om
su ch s ervi c e i s du e Well h a s i t eve r b e en c o n
t ende d o n th e p a rt o f a ny Stat e tha t sh e i s n o t
b oun d to surr ender a fu gitive from j u sti ce up on
?
dem an d from th e State from whi ch h e fl ed
I
b eli ev e not Th er e h a ve b e en s om e excepti ons
t o th e p er formance o f th i s duty bu t th ey h ave n o t
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HENR Y C L A Y
20 1
deni ed th e gen er a l r ight ; an d i f th ey h ave re fu se d
i n a n y instanc e to give up th e p ers on demanded
i t h a s b een u p on som e techni cal o r l egal ground
n o t a t all qu esti on i n g th e gen era l ri gh t to have th e
fugi ti ve surr ender ed or th e obli gati on t o delive r
him up a s i ntende d by th e Consti tuti on
I th ink th en M r Pr esi dent tha t with rega rd
t o th e tru e i nterpr eta ti on o f th i s p rovisi on o f th e
C onsti tu ti on th er e c a n b e n o doub t I t imp ose s
a n obli ga ti on up on a ll th e Sta tes fr e e o r slave
h o l din g ; i t i mp o s es a n obli gati on u p on all o fficers
o f th e G overn m ent Stat e o r F e dera l ; a nd I wi ll
a dd up on a l l the p eopl e o f th e Uni t ed Sta tes
unde r p art i cu la r c i r c um stances to a ssi st i n th e su r
r ende r an d r ecovery o f a fugitive slave from h i s
m aster Th er e h a s b e en some c on fu si on and I
think s o m e m i s c on c epti on on th i s subj ect i n con
s e qu ence o f a recent de c i si on o f th e Sup rem e C ou rt
I t h ink that d eci s i on h a s
o f th e Un i te d States
b e en entirely m i sapp reh ended Th er e i s a vast
diff eren ce b etween imp osing i mp e di m ents an d
a ffordi ng fa ci l i t i e s for th e r e co ver y o f fugitive
S laves
M r Pr esi dent I do th ink th a t tha t whol e class
b egi n ning i n th e N orth ern State s
o f legi s l ati on
an d extendi n g to som e o f t h e Western States by
wh i c h ob s tru cti on s a n d i mp e dim ents have b e e n
thrown i n th e way o f th e r ecovery o f fu g i tive
slaves i s u nconsti tu t i on a l an d h as or i ginated in a
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N O TE D
20 2
S PEE CH
OF
spi r i t wh i ch I trust w ill c orrect i ts el f wh en tho se
S tates com e c a l mly to c onsi der the n ature an d e x
tent o f the i r federa l obli gat i ons O f al l th e
Sta tes i n thi s Un i on u nl ess i t b e V i rgi ni a th e State
o f wh i ch I a m a res i dent su ffe rs m ost by th e e sca p e
o f th e i r S laves to a dj o ining States
I have very l ittle doub t i ndee d tha t th e e x tent
o f l oss t o th e Stat e o f Kentucky
i n c onseq u en c e
o f th e escap e o f h e r slaves
i s great er a t l east i n
p rop orti on to th e tota l numb er o f slaves whi ch a r e
held with in tha t c ommon w ealth even than i n V i r
gi ni a
I kn o w full w ell an d s o do es th e h onor
able S enato r from O hi o know th a t i t i s a t th e
u tm ost ha z a rd a n d i ns ecu ri ty o f l i fe i tsel f tha t
a Kentuckia n can cro ss th e ri ver a nd go i nto t h e
i nteri o r to take ba ck h i s fu giti ve sla ve to th e pla c e
fr om whence h e fl e d R ecently a n exa mp le o c
cu rr e d even i n th e c i ty o f C incinnati i n r esp ect t o
o n e o f ou r m ost r esp ectabl e c i ti z ens
Not h avin g
Vi site d O hi o a t all bu t C ovi ngton o n th e oppos ite
S i de o f the r i ve r a l i ttl e slave o f h i s escap ed o ver
to Ci nci nna ti H e p ursu ed i t ; h e fou nd i t i n th e
h ous e i n wh i ch i t w a s con c eale d ; h e took i t o u t
an d i t wa s rescu e d by th e V i ol en c e an d for c e o f a
—
n egro m ob from h i s p oss essi on
th e p oli ce o f
th e c ity standing by an d e ith er unwilling o r u n
able to aff ord th e assistanc e whi ch w a s r equ isite t o
en abl e h im to r ecover h i s p rop erty
Up on thi s subj ect I do think that we have j ust
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26
N O TE D
4
S P EE CH O F
—
i ne ffe ct i ve i t i s in cumb ent on C ongress
an d I
hop e h er ea fter i n a b etter stat e o f feeling wh en
m ore ha rm ony a n d goo d w i l l p reva i l a mon g th e
memb ers o f th i s con federa cy i t w i l l b e regarde d
by th e fr e e S ta te s th ems elves a s a p art o f th e i r
du ty also
to a ssist i n allayi ng th i s i rri tatin g a n d
distu rb in g su b j ect to the p ea ce o f ou r Un i on ; b u t
a t all events wh eth er th ey do i t o r n ot i t i s o u r
du ty to do i t It i s o u r duty t o m ake th e law
m or e effective an d I sh al l go w ith th e S ena to r
from th e South who go es furth est in m aking p en al
laws a n d imp osi ng th e h eavi est sancti ons for th e
r ecovery o f fu gi tive sl aves a n d th e r est o rati on o f
th em to th e i r own er s
Mr Presi dent up o n th i s p a rt o f th e subj e c t
h oweve r a llow m e t o make a n ob serva ti on o r two
I d o n ot th ink t h e State s a s Sta tes ought t o b e
r esp ons ibl e fo r all th e m iscondu ct o f p a rti cula r in
I th i nk th at th e
d iv idu a l s withi n th os e States
Sta tes a re only t o b e h el d r esp ons i ble wh en th ey
a ct i n th e i r soverei gn c apa c i ty If th er e ar e a
f e w p ersons i ndi scre et m a d i f you ch o os e
—
fa na ti cs i f you ch o os e s o to call them
who a r e
fo r di ssolv i n g th i s Un i on a s w e know th e re a re
s om e a t th e North a n d for d i ssolving i t i n co u s e
o
f
th
e
c
onnecti
on
wh
i
ch
exi
sts
b
etwe
en
th
e
u
n
e
c
e
q
fre e an d slave holding Stat es I do n o t think tha t
a n y Sta te i n wh i ch su ch m a dm en a s th ey ar e t o b e
found ou ght t o b e h el d r esp onsibl e for th e do c
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HENR Y CLA Y
tr ines th ey p rop a ga te
a dop ts thos e d octrin es
,
26
5
unless th e State itsel f
.
M r Pre s i dent I h ave a grea t deal yet to say
a n d I sh a ll there fo re pa s s from th e c onsiderati on
w ith th e ob servati on
o f th i s s eventh res oluti on
wh i ch I b el i eve I h ave p artly m a de b e for e th a t
t h e m ost str i n g ent p r o vi si on up on thi s subj e c t
whi ch c an b e devi se d will m eet w i th m y h eart y
con c u rr en c e an d c o Op e r a t io n in th e p assage o f th e
b i ll w h i ch i s u n der th e consi derati on o f th e S e n ate
T h e la st res oluti on de c la res :
“
Th a t Congress h a s n o p ow er to p roh ib i t or
obstru ct th e tra de i n S laves b etwe en th e slave
hol din g Sta tes ; bu t th a t th e a dmi ssi on o r e x clu
s i on o f slaves brou ght from o n e i nto anoth er o f
them dep ends exclusively up on th ei r o wn p a rt i en
”
la r laws
T h i s i s a con c essi on n ot I a dmi t o f any rea l
consti tuti onal p rovi si on bu t a c oncessi on fr om th e
North to th e South o f wha t is understo o d I b e
l i eve by a great nu m b er a t th e North t o b e a
consti tu ti ona l provi si on I f th e resolu ti on sh ould
b e adopt ed take away th e decisi on o f th e Sup rem e
C ou rt o f th e Un i te d Sta tes o n thi s subj ect an d
th ere i s a grea t deal I know tha t m i ght b e sa i d
a s to th e r i ght o f C ongress to r egu
o n b oth s i des
lat e th e tra de b etwe en the Sta tes and c o n s e
qu ently th e tra d e i n S laves b etwe en th e States ;
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20
N O TE D
6
OF
SPEE CH
bu t I think th e dec i si o n o f th e Sup rem e C ourt has
b e en founde d up on co rrect p rinciples and I tru st
i t wi l l forever pu t a n en d to th e qu esti on wh ether
C ongress h a s o r h a s no t th e p ower to r egul ate th e
i nt ercou rs e a n d tra de i n slave s b etwee n th e d i ffer
ent States
Su ch M r Presi d en t i s th e s er i e s o f r e s olut i ons
whi ch i n an earn est an d anxi ou s desi r e t o p res ent
th e olive branch to b oth p arts o f th i s di stra cted
an d a t th e p resent m om ent u nhappy country I
have th ou ght i t my du ty t o offer O f a ll m en
up on earth I am th e le a st a tta ch e d t o any p roduc
ti ons o f my o w n m ind N o ma n u pon ea rth i s
m or e r eady th an I a m t o su rrender anyth ing wh i ch
I have prop osed and to a ccept i n l i eu o f i t a ny
th ing tha t i s b etter ; but I pu t i t t o th e c andor o f
h onorabl e S enators o n th e oth er si de an d up on all
s i des o f th e Hou s e wh eth er th ei r duty wi ll b e p er
form e d b y simply l im iting th em s elves to o bj e c
ti on s t o any o n e or to all o f th e s eri es o f
r esoluti ons th a t I have offered I f m y plan o f
p ea ce an d a ccomm odati on an d h arm ony i s not
ri ght p r e s e n t u s you r plan L et u s s e e the coun
t er p roj e c t L et u s s e e h ow a ll th e qu esti ons tha t
h ave a ri sen ou t o f th i s u nhappy subj ect o f slavery
c a n b e b ett er s ettled m o re fa i rly a n d j u stly s ettl ed
t o all qu a rt ers o f th e Un i o n t h an o n th e plan pro
p os ed i n th e res oluti ons wh i ch I h ave off ered
Pr es ent m e su ch a s ch em e a nd I wi l l ha i l i t with
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20
N O TE D SPEE CH O F
8
a rgum ents wh i ch have b e e n m ost o ften and m o s t
s eri ou s l y u rge d by th e S outh ha s b e en th i s th at w e
do n ot want yo u to legi slate up on th e subj ect a t
all ; you ou gh t n ot to tou ch i t ; you have n o p ower
over i t I do no t con cu r a s i s w ell known fro m
wh a t I h ave sa i d up on thi s o c ca s i on i n this V i ew
Bu t th at i s th e South ern a rgu
o f th e subj ect
m e n t We do not want you to legi slat e a t all on
th e subj e c t o f S lavery Bu t i f you a d op t th e M i s
s our i lin e and ext end i t to the Pa c i fi c a nd i nterdi c t
S lavery n orth o f th a t lin e yo u d o l egi slat e up on
th e subj ect o f S lavery a nd you l egi slat e wi th ou t a
corresp ondin g equ ival ent o f l eg i slat i on o n th e s u b
o
e
c
s
ou
th
f
th
e
lin
e
F
o
r
i
f
th
er
e
b
e
l
egi
slati
on
t
j
i nterdi ctin g S laver y n orth o f th e l in e th e principl e
o f e qu ality w ou ld r equ i re th a t th er e sh ould b e
leg i slat i o n a dm itting slavery s outh o f th e lin e
Si r I h av e sa i d tha t I n ever coul d vote f o r i t
an d I r ep ea t th a t I n ever c an a n d n ever wi ll vot e
fo r i t ; a n d n o ea rthly p owe r shall ev er mak e m e
vote t o plant S lavery wh ere slavery do es n ot exi st
Sti ll i f th ere b e a m aj ori ty
and th ere ou ght t o
b e su ch a m aj ori ty
for i nterdi cting sl avery
n orth o f th e lin e th ere ou gh t to b e a n e qu al m a
i
i
f
equ
ali
ty
an
d
j
u
sti
ce
b
e
don
e
to
th
e
r
o
t
j
y
S outh
t o a dm i t slavery s outh o f t h e line An d
i f ther e b e a m aj ori ty r ea dy t o a ccompli sh b oth o f
th es e pu rp os es thou gh I canno t concur in th e
a cti on yet I woul d b e on e o f th e last to cr ea t e any
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HENRY C L A Y
20
9
woul d b e o n e o f the first to a cqu i esce
i n su ch legi slati on th ou gh i t i s contrary to my o w n
j udgm ent and my o wn consci ence I thi nk th en
i t would b e b etter to ke ep th e wh ol e o f th ese t erri
tor i es untou ch e d by any legi slati on by C ongress
l eaving i t op en unde
o n th e subj ect o f slavery
c i ded wi th ou t any a cti on o f Congress i n r elati on
t o i t ; tha t i t would b e b est fo r th e S ou th and b es t
fo r all th e v i ews wh i ch th e S outh h a s from tim e
t o tim e di s c los e d to u s a s corresp ondent wi th h er
wi sh es
And S ir I m u st ta k e occa s i on h er e to s a y tha t
i n my opini on th ere i s n o ri gh t on th e p art o f any
o n e o r m or e o f th e Sta tes to s ecede from th e
Un i on Wa r a n d d i ssoluti on o f th e Uni on a re
i denti cal an d in evi tabl e i n my op i ni on Ther e
can b e a d issoluti on o f th e Un i on only by consen t
C onsent n o on e c an ant i cipa te from
o r by wa r
any exi stin g sta te o f things i s l i kely to b e given ;
a nd war i s th e only altern ative by whi ch a disso
If cons ent w er e
lu t io n coul d b e a ccompli sh ed
—
if i t w er e p ossible th a t w e w ere to b e
given
—
in l ess tha n s ixty
s ep a rate d by o n e grea t lin e
days a fter su ch c onsent wa s given wa r woul d
break o u t b etw een th e slave h olding an d n on
slave h olding p orti ons o f thi s Un i on — b etween
th e two in dep endent p arts i nto whi ch i t woul d b e
erected i n Virtu e o f th e a ct o f s ep a ra ti on In l ess
than s ix ty days I b e li eve o u r slaves from Ken
d i stu r b ance , I
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N O TE D SPEE CH O F
z 1o
tu cky fl o c k in g over i n numb ers to th e oth er si de
o f the r i ver
woul d b e pursu e d by th ei r own ers
O u r h o t an d ardent sp i ri ts woul d b e r estra i ned by
n o s ens e o f th e r i ght whi ch app erta in s to th e inde
n
d
e
n
e
c
e
o
f
th
e
oth
er
si
de
o
f
th
e
river
should
p
tha t b e th e lin e o f s ep a r at i on They w oul d pu r
s u e th ei r slaves i nto th e a dj a cent fre e Stat es ; th ey
wou ld b e r ep elled ; an d th e consequ en ce w ould b e
tha t i n l es s tha n s ixty days wa r woul d b e bla zi ng
i n every p a rt o f th i s n ow h appy an d p ea ce fu l la nd
And s ir h ow a re you go i n g t o s epa ra te th e
?
States o f th i s con federa cy
In my humble
op i ni on M r Pres i den t w e sh ould b egi n with a t
l e ast thre e s ep a rat e con feder ac i e s There would
b e a con federa cy o f th e North a con fed era cy o f
th e S ou th ern At l anti c sl ave h ol din g States an d a
con fed era cy o f th e valley o f th e M i ssi ssipp i M y
l i fe u p on it tha t th e vast p opula ti on wh i ch ha s
a l re a dy c oncentra te d an d w ill c oncentr at e o n the
h ea d waters a n d th e tr i bu tari e s o f th e M i ssi ssipp i
wi ll n ever gi ve thei r c onsent th a t th e m outh o f
tha t r i ver shall b e held subj ect t o th e p ower o f a ny
forei gn State o r communi ty w hateve r Su ch I
b eli eve woul d b e t h e c onsequ ences o f a dissolu
t i on o f th e Un i on i mm edi at ely ensu ing ; but other
con federa ci es would sp ring up from tim e t o time
a s d i ssati s fa cti on and di scontent wer e dissem i nated
throughout th e country — th e c on federacy o f th e
lakes p erh ap s th e con federa cy o f New E ngland
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N O TE D
2 12
S PEE CH
OF
solve th e p rob lem o f th e cap a ci ty o f m a n for s el f
governm ent an d c rush th e lib erti es o f b oth th e
s evere d p orti on s o f th is c o m mon e m p i r e C an
?
i
you d o u b t t
L ook a t all hi story
c onsult her p a ges a nci ent
—
look a t human na tu re ; lo ok at th e
o r m o dern
contest i n wh i ch you would b e engage d i n th e sup
p osi ti on o f wa r followin g up on th e di ssoluti on o f
th e Uni on such a s I have su ggeste d ; a nd I a sk
you i f i t i s p ossible fo r yo u to doubt th a t th e final
di sp os iti on o f th e whol e would b e s om e desp o t
—
trea ding down th e lib erti es o f th e p eopl e
th e
fin al r esul t w ould b e th e e x ti ncti on o f thi s last and
glori ou s li gh t whi ch i s l ea ding all m ankind wh o
a r e ga zin g u p on i t i n th e hop e a nd anxi ous ex
i
o
th
at
th
e
lib
erty
whi
ch
p
reva
ils
h
er
e
will
c
t
a
t
n
e
p
so oner o r late r b e di ffus e d throughou t th e wh ole
Si r ca n you l i ghtly con
o f th e civi li z e d wo rld
templa te thes e cons equ ence s ? Ca n yo u yi el d
yoursel f to th e tyranny o f p a ss i on am i d dangers
wh i ch I h ave dep i cted i n colors fa r to o tam e o f
wha t th e r esult would b e i f th a t dir e ful event to
wh i ch I h ave re ferre d shoul d eve r o ccu r ? S ir I
implor e gentlem en I a dj u re th em wh ether from
th e Sou th o r th e North by a ll tha t th ey hold dea r
—
—
by
i n th i s world
b y a ll th e ir love o f lib erty
—
by all
all th e i r ven era ti on fo r th ei r a ncestors
thei r rega rd for p osteri ty
by all th ei r grati tu de
t o H im wh o ha s b estowed o n th em such u n n u m
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HENRY C L A Y
2 13
—
b er e d and countless blessings
b y all th e duti es
wh i ch th ey o w e t o m ankin d — and by all the
du ti es whi ch they o w e to th emselves to p au s e
solemnly to p au s e a t th e edge o f the p r ecip i ce b e
for e th e fea rfu l and dangerou s l eap b e taken into
th e yawn i ng abys s b elow from whi c h n one wh o
eve r take i t shall return i n sa fety
F inally M r Presi dent an d i n conclu s i on I im
r
l
b
a
s
th
e
b
est
b
essing
wh
i
ch
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eaven
ca
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p
stow up o n m e up on ea rth th a t i f th e di re ful event
o f th e dis solution o f this Uni on i s to happ en I
sha ll n ot survive to b ehold th e s a d a n d h eart
r ending sp ecta cle
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.