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C O N S T I TU TI O N
THE G R E A T C O MM O N
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I NTER S
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WILLIA M
S TREE T
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D I S C O U R S E
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on
xxxi v
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hal l br e ak i n p i e c e s m i g ht y m e n w i t h o u t nu m be r
t he i r s t e a d
W h e n H E g i v e t h q u i e t n e s s w ho t h e n
w ho t he n c a n b e ho l d
A n d w h e n H E hi d e t h hi s f ac e
i t be
s
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,
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do ne
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,
A G A INST A
TH E b eau tifu l li ght Of th i s
N A TI O N , o r
a
g a i ns t
a
M A N o nl y
”
.
i
s
s
t
ra
n
g
e
ly
ti
n
e
w
i
th
o
v
er
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Our th an k s givi n g son g s and pra i ses are bl endi n g wi th
S pread i n g dar k ness
’
th e fu nera l d i rge a nd with th e s l ow so l e m n th ro bbi n g Of a nati on s h ear t
’
b ereav ed A S m orn i ng s fragran t r o se en fo l ds th e de w g e m i n it s pe t al s , S O
—
f
o u r y oun g, j oy ous and b eau ti u l Repu b l i c h as a t ear drop i n i t s ey e t o d a y
And a s b eau ty i n t ears th e m ore b eau tifu l i s , so o ur b eau tiful Repu b l i c
appears th e m ore g l or i ous fo r th e t ears S h e i s s h edd i n g fo r h er mighty dead
!
G od i s b reaki ng i n p i eces mighty m e n with out nu m b er , a n d se tti n g o th ers
”
i n th ei r s t ead ! and h e i s do in g i t a g ai ns t a na t i on , no t ag ai ns t a m a n on ly
! e t G o d ha s bl essed , whi l e h e h as s mitt en , th e n a t i on
He h as crowned
th e l ab or Of all c l asses Of o ur c i ti zens w ith succe ss Our co mm erci a l re l a
ti ons h av e b een un i n t errup t ed O ur hu sb an dm en h av e reaped l u x ur i an t
h arv es t s , and g ath ered r i c h fru i t s i n ab undance Our pro fess i onal m e n h ave
b een prospere d Our m erc h ant s h av e i ncreased i n wea lth Our m a n u fa c
Our
t u re rs h av e found a qu i c k and profi t a bl e m ar k e t fo r th e i r wares
m ech an i cs and a rt i za n s h av e m e t a j us t reward fo r th e i r t o il And whil e
’
th e r i c h m an s b oard h as groaned b eneath i t s we ight o f l u xu ry, t he poor
!
’
The pes til ence th at wa lk e th i n dark
m an s t abl e h as be en we ll supp l ie d
”
ness and th e des truc ti on th at was t e th a t noonday, h a v e n ot b een perm i tt ed
t o scourg e o ur l and , as i n so m e y ears pas t Wa r h as no t des o l at ed o ur
fie l ds b urned O ur c iti es , nor drun k th e bl ood Of o ur nobl e sons P eace h as
wav ed h er Ol iv e b ranc h o ve r o u r co mm erce, and a l l o u r b orders In all thi s
i s th ere no reason for ren deri n g Tha nksg i v i ng t o A lmigh ty G o d 22 ! e t
n o t a l one for thi s annua l ou t pour in g O f b l ess i n g and prosper i ty s h ou l d we
!
pay o ur h o m ag e i n grat e fu l th ank sgivi ng a nd prai se t o th e Fath er o f
!
”
”
m ay a m ead Of th e r i c h es t and
M erc i es ! b u t fro m th e E m p i re S t a t e
h o li es t prai se ascend t o Heav en , w ith eac h re t urn o f th i s day, fo r th e
In th ese Un ited S t a tes
G EN I U S A ND P ER P E TU I T! o f o u r Fre e I ns t i t u t i on s
th e roy al high way t o usefu l ness, success h onor and fa me, li es i n vi tin gly
O pen t o all c l asses and a l l persons , wh ere i n te g ri ty, t a le nt and i ndust ry for m
t he sub s tra t a Of th e m a n T h e hi s t ory o f o u r success fu l and grea t m en fully
e st i ve
da y
.
,
-
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!
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-
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3
A
DI S C O UR SE
O
N
j us tifies thi s s t a te m en t For e xam pl e , Of th e f o urt e e n ci t i z e ns wh o hav e
b een e l e vat e d t o th e Pres i dency , J o hn ! ui ncy A d a m s and W i lli a m Henry
Harri so n are th e on ly ones w ho can cl aim e x e m p ti on fro m th e ( o therwi se
For gi n g t h ei r o wn
u niv ersal ! l aw Of Ob scure and u n wea lthy p a r e n t a g e
i ns t ru m en t s and u si n g th e m u nh e ral ded and una i ded by power or wea lth,
th ey fou ght th ei r way th rou gh b a ttl e fie l ds cour t s and s e nat es t o th e proud
”
!
Tem pl e o f Fa m e , w h ere eac h carv ed for him se lf a l o fty n i ch e Harr i son
descended i mm ed i a t ely fro m a S i g ne r o f th e D eclara ti on Of Independence a n d
re m o t e l y fro m one o f th e J u dg es w h o conde m ned C h ar l es I t o th e bl oc k
And th e Si re o f J oh n ! A da m s h ad , b efore h i m, fi ll ed th e proudes t pos i t i on
i n th e g i ft O f a grea t and free pe o p l e Wh at a l esson do th ese fac t s t eac h
th e no b l e an d t al en t ed y ou th O f o u r co un try 2
.
,
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,
-
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,
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,
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.
Few y ears S O frei ght ed wi th h i s t or i ca l weal th as th e pas t , h av e ev er
For hi s t o ry feeds no t
dawned u pon th i s v as t , S pread i n g rea l m Of freedo m
u pon th e g rea t w hi l e li v i n g : but upon t he n o bl e, pa t r i o ti c , m i g h t y dead S h e
feas t s and g rows r i ch , a n d so b es t o w s o n th e m h er m os t fr a g ra n t h onors
’
I n th e y ear pas t a Pres i den t h as b een chosen ! th e l as t t wo O f Am er i ca s
m i ghty t ri um v i ra t e g ha v c l e ft th e Sen at e and th e Ca bi ne t t o pass th rou gh
’
th e v e il , i n t o th e au g us t presence O f E t ern ity s So vere ign T h ere w e l eav e
—
t he i r S p i r i t s b u t t o pos t e r i ty w e co mm i t th ei r d e eds , th e i r c h arac t er and
th ei r fam e Wh il e th e kne l l o f 9 J ack son , an A dam s , a H a rr i son a Calh oun ,
a Po lk, and a Tay l or, y e t ech oes o n t he d i s t an t hill s o f our wi de spread i n g
coun t ry, C l ay, l i k e a m i ghty p i ne o f th e pri m i t i ve fores t, b o w s un der th e
we ight Of y ears and servi ce b e fore th e resi s tl ess t r i u m p h a l car O f dea th :
and W eb s t er , l ik e a hu g e co l u m n O f so m e m agni ficent t e m p l e fal l s s u d denly
i n t o t he grav e, s h a ki n g t o i t s deepes t foundati o ns th e wh o l e pol i t i ca l fab ri c
.
.
,
.
.
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,
,
,
.
Hen ry C l ay a n d D ani e l W e b s t er, th ou gh dead, y e t S peak 3 a n d th e i r wor ds
wi ll b e waft ed b y th e b rea th Of hi s t ory fro m g enera ti on t o g enera ti on as
—
ech o l eaps fro m m oun t ai n t o m ount ai n fo r t hey S pok e w ords i ns ti nc t with
i mm or t al i t y Sena tes a n d Court s ! ay e , a nati o n, h u n g u pon th e i r e l oquen t
li ps wi th b rea thl ess a we ! w hi l e t he wo rld paused i n it s course t o li s t en
th en p l uck ed l eav es Of l a ure l fo r th e i r b rows a n d pas sed o n H e nry C l ay
i s o ne am on g ou r e m i n e n t m en , w ho , i n add i ti o n t o th e di sad v an tages O f
p ov er ty and Ob scur i ty was call e d t o encoun t er i n co mm on with W ashi n g t o n ,
H i s fa th er w a s a
J ack son a n d o th e rs th e s t erner t ri al O f ear l y O rp h ana ge
B ap t i s t C l er gym an o f fa i r t al en t and s tern i n t e gr i ty bu t a s h e d i ed wh en
Henry was on ly four y ears Of ag e, h i s ch arac ter and h abit s cou l d no t h a v e
i nfl uenced h i s so n A n d h ence h e d i d for him no thi n g b ey ond l e a vi n g hi m
a C h r i s ti an e x am p l e and an h o n es t nam e HENR! C LA ! w a s b orn A pril
12 th 1 7 7 7 i n a di s t ri c t Of Hano v er Coun ty, V i r gi n i a w h i c h fro m it s phy s i
ca l ch aract er, and for wan t o f a b e tt er nam e , was fam i li arly call ed th e
”
Mi ll b oy Of th e S l as h es , i s s till c h eri s h ed i n t he
A nd th e
S la she s
,
.
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,
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,
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,
,
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-
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HE NR!
C LA !
A
DANIEL
ND
W
TER
EBS
5
.
e m or y O f th at co mm unit y wi th proud sati s fac ti on A t a n earl y a g e w e
—
O
r
f
M
D
find hi m i n th e s t ore
Ri ch ard enn y , i n Ri chm on d V a th e n i n th e
La w O ffice o f Mr Pe t er T i ns l e y, C l er k o f th e H igh Cour t Of C h ancery , i n
th e c ity Of R i chm ond Soon aft er C h ance ll or Wy th e e m p loy ed h i m as hi s
am anuens i s Here w a s O pened t o th e aspi r i n g y ou th th e r i ch es t t reasures
Of l eg a l l ore H i s h i s t or y t ell s ho w w e ll h e i m pro v ed t hi s O ppor tun i t y
H i s pos iti on sec ured fo r hi m th e acquai n t ance and w ar m fr i endshi p O f t he
”
m os t e mi nen t l a wy e rs O f th e O l d D o m ai n
am o n g w h o m w a s R o be rt
In
B rooke E sq th en A tt orney G eneral , a n d for m er l y G o v ernor Of V a
1 7 9 6 we find h i m a pup il O f thi s e mi n en t m an , pursu i n g a m ore th orou gh
and Sy s t e m at i c s t ud y Of th e l a w He soon b eco m es c a p tiv at e d w i th G re
I n 17 97,
o i a n and Ro m an C l ass i cs w hi c h h e pursued w i t h b r illi an t success
M r C l ay Obt ai ned a li c e nse t o prac ti ce hi s pro fess i on fro m th e J u dg es O f th e
Cour t O f Appeal s i n hi s na t i v e S t at e ! e t a y ou t h , w e are call ed t o fo ll o w
th i s no b l e a n d h ero i c S p i rit t o th e , t he n lit t l e vill a g e Of Le xi n gt on i n
—
—
n
e
! en tuck y th e ar na Of hi s ear l y co fli c t s and t ri u m ph s w h ere h e l a i d
!
b road a n d deep th e founda t i on Of hi s fu t ure gr e a tness a n d fa m e
He w en t
”
!
t o Le xi n gt on i n th e words Of C hi e f J us t i ce Rob er t son l ean i n g a l one on
Pro v i dence a w i do wed m o th er s pray ers and th e un tu t ored t al en t s , with
”
i c h G o d h ad b een p l ea sed t o b less hi m
For a tim e h e de v o t ed him sel f
wh
chi e fly t o th e fu rth er prosecu t i on Of hi s l e g al s t ud i es, a n d t o th e g e nera l
d i sci p li ne O f h i s mi nd He j o i ned th e vill a g e de b atin g clu b bu t en t i r e l y re
fra i ne d fro m par ti ci pa ti n g i n t h e i r d i scuss i ons ! un t i l o n e e v en i n g j us t a s th e
!
questi on w a s a b o u t t o b e put for deci s i on , he rem ark ed , th a t t he q ues ti on
”
d i d no t app e ar t o him t o b e e x haus t ed Upon t hi s h e w a s call ed o u t and for
th e fi rs t ti m e h e arose t o ad dress th e Soci e ty H i s fir st w ords were G e n t le
”
S O e x c e ss iv e w a s h i s e m b a rr a s sm en t a n d timi di t y th a t
m e n of t he J u ry
!
h e b l und e red O u t th e sam e a s e cond t im e, b u t soo n h e b ro k e for th i n t o an
orati on O f great l o gi cal s t re n gth Of e xt re m e b e au t y O f d i cti on and O f t hri l
li n g e l oq ue nce , wh i c h e x c it e d t he ad mi ra t i on and th e p ro fo un de st r e spec t o f
”
hi s h earers
T hi s w a s th e firs t bl a s t O f th a t s t i r ri n g t r um p e t w hi ch for
ab ou t h a lf a cen t u ry peal ed th ro ugh t he l e n g th and b r e ad t h o f o ur l a nd
aro u s in g all th a t i s no b l e i n ac t i on and p a t ri o ti c i n fe e li n g Hence fo rw ard
H e nry C l ay b e lo ng ed t o h i s S t a t e , hi s C ou ntry and th e WO R LD H i s e a gl e
—
t
i
n
ey e w a s s o on fi x ed O n th e t eres s Of hi s adop ted S t at e hi s h e a r t and i n
t e l le c t and e l oquence , w ere l ai d u pon h er a lt a r and as w e g a ze a t him w e
—
f
di sco v er h i m ad v anc in g t o th e ore fron t ran k Of par ty S t a t e po liti c s
!
”
Here h e earne d th e proud ti t l e Of The G re a t C o m m one r ! w hil e th e
!
m u ltit u de w e re ready t o p l uck O u t th e i r ey es fo r h i m
H i s pop ul arity
m
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-
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’
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-
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!
hi s
hi m
U
O
p n o ne
pp n e nt
o c c a si o
o
o
e ve r
n
whe
n
he ha d
p e pl e l i t e a lly
wi t h a n d f r t he m
.
t he
o
o
r
.
co
mpl e t e d
bo re hi m
o ff
a
p pu l
o
ar
i n t he i r
ha ra ng u e
ms i n t
ar
of
ri u m
p
p
n st
f nd
o we r a g a i
g re a t
h
The p e op le o u
.
DIS C O UR SE
A
N
O
con ti nued t o i ncrease as h i s po wers were devel ope d, a nd soon h i s fam e h ad
S pread th rou gh ou t th e l and Now gi rd up y our m inds, a n d p l u m e y our
fancy t o fo ll ow him fro m h e i ght t o h eight, fro m v i c t or y t o t r i u m p h , th rou gh
th e S t at e Con v enti on , su mm oned t o revi se th e Constit u ti on Of th e S t at e O f
—
—
! en t uc ky th rou gh th e S ta t e Le gi s l a t ure wh ere h e occup i ed th e c h air
—
2
6
wh en b u t
y ears Of age u p t o th e Senat e Of th e
O f th e House
—
Un it ed S t at es, wh en b u t 2 9 and agai n throu gh th e S t at e Legi s l a
t ure ! th en th rou gh th e House O f R e presen t ati ves i n Con gress , ( th e
c h ai r Of wh i c h h e was appo i n t ed t o fi ll , by an o ver w h e lmi ng v o t e, th e
firs t day h e se t foo t upon i t s fl oor , b ei n g th en bu t 3 4 y ears O f ag e
T hi s was a high d i s ti ncti on , nev er b efore nor s i nce con ferred upon an y
m an ! S ti l l fo l l ow him up t o th e Unit ed S t at es Senat e i nt o th e Cab i ne t
’
th en t o G he n t , wh ere h e was fore m os t o f th e Un it ed S t at es Co mmi ss i oners
—
i n concl udi n g a t reaty o f peace with h er po w er fu l and h aughty r iv al En g
l and— S O h ono rab l e t o h i m se lf and S O gl ori ous t o hi s coun t r y And y e t
on w ard and up w ard h e r i ses till , l ik e th e no bl e eagl e , h e i s rad i an t w ith a
’
gl or y all hi s o w n Mr C l ay s firs t en t rance upon po liti cal l i fe w a s proud ly
s ignal i zed b y th at c hi v al r i c b o l dness S O m ar k ed a fea ture i n hi s wh o l e ch ar
ac t er , w hi c h th re w t o th e wi nds ev ery th o u ght O f persona l popu l ari ty, and
g a v e force on ly t o th e generous im pul ses Of h i s h ear t and t o h i s o wn pro
found con vi c ti ons o f th e t ru th and j us ti ce O f th e pr i nc i p l e h e h ad espoused
H i s nature, I concei v e, peculi arl y fi tt ed him t o b e th e O riginat or and c h a m
p i on Of grea t pu b li c m e a sures B o l d fearl ess , far see i n g and e l oquen t, h e
wou l d pl an d ige st and weigh a su bj e c t a n d wh en h e for m ed a conc l us i on h e
woul d s t and upon it i n th e face Of a ll O ppos iti on ! th rowi n g h i s i m pass i oned
and power ful mi nd, like a bl az i n g co m e t i n a flood o f res i s tl ess and th under
i n g e l oquen ce upon hi s O pponen t s , b ear in g down a ll O ppos iti o n b efore him
Hence we can account for hi s un i for m ly and firml y O pposi n g th e ext ensi on
—
Of S l av e po wer and sl av e t err it or y fo r hi s con vi cti ons w ere th at th e sy s t em
!
T hi s al so account s for
w a s frau ght w ith m u t ua l e vi l t o s l a v e and m as t er
—
t
l
ff
hi s ardent ad mi rati o n and no b e e or t s for Co l oni za i on and a b o v e all, for
”
!
!
By th e
h i s gigan ti c e ffor ts for th e A m e ri c a n S ys t e m
A m er i can S y s
”
—
t e m w e m ean th e Un it ed S t at es B an k Pro t ec ti on t o Ho m e Indus t ry— a
—
s t abl e , b u t n o t high Tari ff th e I m pr o v e m en t Of o u r Riv ers and Harb ors by
—
th e Federa l G o v ern m en t and an equal di s tr i b u ti on o f th e proceeds O f th e
Pu bli c Lan ds a m o n g th e S t at es T h e ad v ocacy Of th ese m easures h as i de n t i
NO S t at es m an h as b een m ore
fi e d h i m w ith th e m i n a ll co mi n g t im e
th orou ghly A m er i can i n hi s ch arac ter , o r j eal ous Of foreig n encroac hm en t s
A fin e
o r i n t er ference i n th e affa i rs Of o u r G o v er m en t th an Henry C l ay
ill us trati on O f thi s fac t i s found i n hi s S peec h i n th e Senat e Of th e U S ,
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-
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l
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Mr C la y
ffe re d a n u mbe r O f hi s S l a v e s
p ro v i d e d fo r t he i r l i be ra ti o n i n hi s Wi ll
.
O
.
t he i r
fre e do m
a nd
t he y
re
fuse d t o
le
ave
hi m
.
.
He
HENR !
C L
A!
A
ND
W EBS
DANI EL
TER
7
.
whi l e a b ill wa s pendi n g t o appropr i at e a sum Of m oney t o procure supp l i es
O f corda g e , sa il c l o th and o th er m un iti ons O f war , j us t b e fore th e rup t ur e
!
Fo r m any y ears a ft er
b e t ween Engl and and th e Un it e d S t at es i n 18 1 0
—
—
th e war
Revo l uti onary sai d h e, suc h was th e par ti a l i ty fo r En gli s h
’
pro duc ti ons i n th i s coun t ry, th a t a g en tl e m an s h ead cou l d no t wi th st and
th e i n fluence Of th e so l ar h ea t, unl ess co v ered wi th a London ha t ! hi s fee t
cou l d n o t b ear th e peb b l es O r th e fros t, un l ess pro t ec t ed by London S h oes !
and th e co mfor t o r ornam ent O f h i s person was consu lt ed on ly wh en h i s coat
was cu t ou t by th e s h ears o f a t ai l or j ust f ro m London A t l en gth , h owev er,
th e wonderfu l d i sco v er y h as b een m ade, th a t it i s no t ab so l ut e l y b ey ond th e
reach Of A m eri can s kill and i n genu i ty, t o pro vi de th ese ar t i cl es , co mb i ni n g
”
’
wi t h equa l e l e gance great er durabil i ty
A b i rd s ey e vi e w O f th e l eadi n g
m easures t o whi c h h e de v o t ed hi s ener gi es and po w ers w ill de m ons trat e
th e effec ti ve great ness O f th e m an , as we ll as th e w i sdo m and l o fty patr i o t
i s m whi c h an i m at ed hi m i n th ei r ad v ocacy On th e 5 A li en and Sedi ti on
!
Laws
T h e rep ly t o Hon J os i a h ! u i ncy, Of M as s , o n th e Increase Of th e
!
—
Ar my
T h e b o l d and ab l e defense Of th e Un it ed S t at es , ag ai ns t th e c l aim s
!
”
—
O n th e Increase Of th e Na vy
O f Spa i n upon o u r Loui s i ana possess i ons
— O n th e ! New Arm y B il l — O n ! In t erna l I m pro ve m en t s — O n th e vi gor
”
!
!
—
O us Prosecu ti on Of th e W ar O f 1 8 12 wi th En gl an d O n th e Se m i no l e
!
”
—
—
O n Pro t ec t i on t o Ho m e Ind u s t r y
W ar
O n th e G ree k Re v o l u t i on
!
!
!
—
—
O n C o l on i zat i on
O n M anu fac tures
O n A m er i can Indus t r y
!
—
O n Pub li c Lan ds
I n D e fense O f t he A m er i can S y s t e m
O n eac h O f
—
th e t hre e g re a t C o m pro m i se s v i z : T h e Sou th C aro l i na
th e Mi s
!
”
—
a n d th e
O n th e Su b t reasur y, a n d
S l avery Co m pro m i ses
so u r i
th
er
m
eas
u res o f t he g ra v es t m o m en t, th e e l oq u en t and co m m and i n g v o i ce
o
O f Henry C l ay h as b een h eard i n defense O f pop u l ar r ight s , and th e l ar g es t
lib er ty cons i s t en t wi th th e l aws and i n t eres t Of o ur co m m on coun try T h a t
nob l e and pa t i ot i c sen ti m en t, ascrib ed t o a l m os t al l o f o ur pub l i c m en , ( re
re d by a l l who wo u l d b e g rea t
z
i
I
and
a
t
t
e
d
h
e
k
o
e
a
v
n
w
n
o
N
or
t
h
,
p
f
,
”
!
”
finds i t s S i re i n t he G rea t Co m m o ner O f
n o S o uth, no E a s t, no We st ,
! en t uc ky
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-
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W ar m and ar den t , fear l ess and zeal o us , l o ft y, y e t affab l e— we nee d no t
b e surpri sed th a t Henry C l ay m ade fr i ends a nd ene mi es t o h i m self i n pro
fus i on
N O m an , S i nce W as h i n gt on , h as b een so de v ou tly and arden tl y
l o ved by a vas t nu mb er Of h i s fe l l ow c i ti zens, o r so bitt er ly and pers i s t en tly
h at ed by o th ers, as Henr y C l ay N 0 m an h as b een S O i do l i zed and gl or i fied
by h i s fri ends , o r S O traduced and vilified by h i s e n e m l e s And y e t, suc h
was hi s ch aract er th at h e forced respec t, wh ere h e fail ed t o wi n suppor t
H i s e xcursi ons throu gh th e l and were a tt ende d by a ser i es Of th e m os t bril
li an t de m onst ra t i ons from th e popul ace A n d wh e n h i s s o u l h ad re turned
t o G o d, a nd h i s a sh e s were b orn e t o th e i r l as t res ti ng p l ace, th e na ti on,
.
.
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.
.
8
A
DI S C O UR SE
O
N
a nd
w i th ou t re ference t o par ty t i es , wa i l ed and l a m en t ed h i m !
cl ad i n sab l e , w ep t upon th e t rac k Of h i s funera l car
-
the m i lli on,
.
Reservin g for ano th er p l ace th e cons idera ti on Of h i s I nt e lle ct ua l a n d
M o ra l c h arac t er, we t u rn fro m hi s t o mb t o b eh o l d t he
G rea t Ne w En g
”
l ander
D A NI E L W E B S TER was b orn i n Sa li s b ury , New Ham psh i re , o n
’
th e 1 8 t h Of J a n , 1 7 8 2 : h ence , a t th e tim e Of h i s death , Lord s day, Oc t
T h e ear ly l i fe Of
2 4 t h 1 8 5 2 , h e w a s 7 0 y ears , 9 m on th s and 6 day s O l d
Mr W e b s t er h as b een S O recen tly pr e sen t ed t o t he publ i c ey e by th e press
and t he e l oquen t ora t or, th a t I S h all n o t pause t o giv e a de tail ed accou n t O f
!
it H i s fore fa th ers per for m ed g ood serv i ce for th ei r count ry i n th e day s
”
th a t tr i e d m en s sou l s
And th e pecu l i ar ! ank ee ch arac ter Of Mr W e b s t er
was an h ones t i nh er it ance fro m h i s New E ngl and fath e rs B orn am on g t he
rock s th e co l d bl ast s and th e i ron i n t e gr i ty Of ch aract er whi c h h av e ev er
b een th e b oas t and th e gl ory O f New Ham ps hi re g o i n g o n foo t fo r mil es t o
sch oo l , i n th e se v er i ty o f wi n t er, a n d h e l d u n der th e s t r i c t es t p a ren t al and
”
swar th y D a n co m m enced th e de vel op m en t and
m ora l d i sc i p l i ne , th e
t rai n i n g Of th at pondero us i n t ell ec t, w h ose s t u pendous en gi nery h as m o v ed
thi s nat i on and b een fe lt b y th e th rones Of th e wor l d A t th e a g e Of f our
”
’
P hilli p s A cade my E x e t er Ne w Ha m pshi re T h en
t e e n w e se e him i n
”
!
at B osca w en under th e t u i t i on Of t he Re v Sam ue l W oo ds In th e su m
m er Of 17 9 7 h e en t ered th e Fres h m en C l ass Of D a r tm ou th C o l l e g e I t i s sai d
wh en he graduat ed , h e t ore up hi s D i plo m a and th re w i t i n t o th e h a ll Of th e
’
Pre siden t s h ouse , say i n g, I w il l n o t depend u pon Co ll e g e h onors fo r my
—
success i n th e worl d O l d D ar t m ou th w ill h ear fro m D an i e l W eb s t er
”
ag a i n
A n d sure l y Sh e di d ! for wh en S h e was en t an gl ed i n th e m es h e s Of
th e l aw, h e cam e t o h er resc u e and b ore h er cause fro m Cour t t o Co u r t,
un til at l en gth , i n th e Suprem e Cour t Of th e Un i ted S t at es, h e t r i um p h antly
!
”
v i ndicat ed h er c l aim s , and re t urned t o hi s A lm a M a t e r h er C h ar t er ,
unscath ed by th e fiery ordea l th ro u gh w hi c h it h ad passed O n l eavi n g
C oll e g e , h e co mm enced h i s l e g al s t ud i es w ith Mr T h o m pson O f Sali sb ury
He , l ik e C l ay, was pass i onat e ly fond O f th e La ti n C l assi cs In 1 8 04 h e
re m o v ed t o B os ton , M as s and s t ud i ed w ith C hri s t op h er G ore, aft er war ds
G o v ernor Of th at S t a te T h e m os t am p l e O pport uniti es were h ere enj oy ed
In M arch, 1 8 0 5 h e w a s
fo r a co m p l e t e and th orou gh l e g a l educa ti on
adm i tt ed t o prac ti ce i n th e S ufio lk Cour t Of Co mm on P l ea s and i n 18 07 as
He
A tt orne y and Counse l l or O f th e Supre m e Cour t O f New Ha m ps hi re
th en rem o v ed t o Por ts m ou th , wh ere h e resi ded for n i ne y ears T h e B a r Of
tha t ti m e presen t e d a ro ll O f b r illi an t na m es and W eb s t er lift ed up hi s e l o
quen t and po ten ti a l v o i ce as a peer Of th e m all Soon a ft er th e war w i t h
En gl and was dec l ared M r W e b s t er was el ect ed a Represen tati v e i n C o n
”
!
gress T h e coun t ry was ser i ous ly di v ided o n th e wa r que st i on so m e
ad v ocat in g i t s rigi d prosecu t i on, and o th ers l oud ly decl aimi ng a g ai ns t i t In t o
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9
HENR!
C L
A!
A
DANIEL
ND
W
EB S
TER
.
th e mi ds t O f thi s cau l dron O f con fli c tin g sen ti m en t was Mr W e b s t er th rown
b y hi s cons tituen ts M r C l ay th en Speak er O f th e House , i mm ed i at ely
”
!
pu t Mr W e b s t er on th e Co mmitt ee Of Fore ig n Affai rs, w hi ch res po ns ibl e
s t ati on h e fi ll ed w i th h onor t o h i m self and hi s co u n t r y H i s firs t speec h i n
!
”
Con gress was founded o n th e D e cre e s of B e rli n and M i la n, and t oo k th e
Ho use by surpr i se I t was a s t at e ly and dig n i fied , as w e ll as patri o ti c and
e l oquen t produc ti on T im e forb i ds my fo ll o wi n g hi m th rou gh th e l on g
path w ay o f hi s Le g a l and Po liti cal career , as th e ab l e and e l oqu e n t Counse l
l o r, Represen t a tiv e , Sen a t or, D i p l o m a ti s t and C ab i ne t M i n i s t er , t o th e ze n i t h
Of hi s Po liti cal and Le g a l fa m e and gl or y Bu t as an i ll us tra ti on Of h i s v as t
resources and powers as a J u ri st , a S t a t e s m a n and a D ip lo m a t i s t we m ay
m en t i on , tha t th e m os t im por t an t c a se s i n l aw th a t h av e occurred fo r m an y
y ears pas t h av e b een i n trus t ed t o hi s care If ques ti ons Of g r e a t i ntr i cacy
and im por t ance arose , i n v o l vi n g Constit u t i onal La w, i n any o f o u r S t ates ,
Hence , hi s we ll earn e d
D a ni e l We bs t e r m us t b e th e u m pi re t o dec i de th e m
”
!
t i tl e O f E x pounder and D e fender Of th e C ons tit u t i on
For it w a s no t
a l one th e abil i ty and po wer h e di spl ayed w hil e de fend i n g and e x pound in g
th e gl or i ous M ag n a C h art a Of th e Federa l G o vernm en t th a t earned him
thi s proud titl e A S a s t a t es m an h e s h one wi th a m ore b r i lli an t l us tre th an
—
any A m er i can l i vi n g a t th e t i m e O f h i s death and pro b ably th an an y m an
T h e power , th e m aj e sti c s tat el i ness and th e o v erwh e lmi n g
o n th e ear th
el oqu ence o f hi s S peec h es , finds an ep i to m e i n h i s rep ly t o C ol Ha yne O f Sou t h
Caro l ina In th e annal s o f Co n gress th ere i s n o t recorded a m ore b ril l i an t
and t r i u m p h an t forens i c e ffor t Mr W e b s t er espoused th e cause Of th e
No rth and th e R ight s o f th e Federa l G o v ern m en t, ag a i ns t th e doc tri ne o f
S tat e R ight s , S O ably enforced by Mr Ca lh oun In hi s rep ly t o C o l Hay ne,
h e rose t o a h eight a nd grandeur O f e l oquence wh i c h m or tal s rare ly a tt ai n
And as h e proceede d, h i s m ass iv e b ro w , h i s fl as hi n g ey e, hi s no bl e b eari n g
h i s deep ponderous vo i ce h i s scathi n g sarcas m and hi s i n vi nc ibl e arg um en t s ,
rendered hi m an Obj ec t O f pro foun d ad m irati on and awe t o h i s co ll eag ues ,
and a t error t o hi s O p ponen t s , upon wh o m h e de sce nde d li k e an i m pe t uou s
t orrent, or th under in g cat arac t And y e t , w i th i n hi s sou l vas t th ou ght s, l i k e
th e mighty b il l o ws Of th e deep see m ed t o b e surgin g, t oo big fo r u tt erance
Sepul ch ra l s il ence rei gned— th e v as t aud it ory were S pe ll b oun d— and h e
rai sed th e cap s t one t o i t s p l ace i n th at m as t erly e ffor t wh il e h e pronounced
!
i n deepes t t ones o f path os th e fo l l owi n g words O f so l e m n S i g ni fica nce
Wh en
my ey es s h al l b e t u rned t o b e h o l d fo r th e l as t t i m e th e sun i n h eaven , m ay I
no t se e hi m s hi n i n g O n th e b ro k en and d i s h onored fragm en t s O f a O nce gl ori ous
Un i on o n S tat es d i ssev ered, d i scordan t b e l li geren t ! Or a l and ren t wi th
civil fe u ds , o r drench ed, i t m ay b e, i n frat ern a l b l oo d
Le t th e i r l as t feeb l e
and l ingeri n g gl ance rath er b eh ol d th e g org eou s ensi g n Of th e Republi c, n o w
k no wn and h onore d th rough ou t th e ear th, s ti ll fu l l high a dvanced, i t s ar m s
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-
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2
10
A
D I
SCOURSE
O
N
a nd
t rop hi e s s tream in g i n t h ei r origi na l l u s t re , no t a s tri pe e ra s ed nor p o ll u
t ed no t a s i n gl e s t ar o b scured b eari n g for it s m o t t o n o such mi serabl e
’
‘
i n terro g a t ory, as Wh a t i s a ll thi s w or th 2
No r th ose o th er w o rds o f
‘
’
de l us i on and fo l ly , L ib er ty firs t and Un i on afterw ards 3 b u t e very w h ere
S pread a ll o v e r i n ch arac t er s o f li vin g light, bl a z i n g on a ll it s a m pl e fo l ds , as
th ey fl oa t o v e r th e s ea and o v er th e l and and i n ev ery w i nd under th e
w h o l e h ea v ens , th a t o th er s en tim en t dea r t o e v er y A m er i can h ear t , Li b
”
Lan g uag e h as
e rt y a n d Un i on , n o w a n d f o re v e r o ne a n d i nse p a ra ble
no t po w er t o descri be th e im press i on m ade upon th e m ultit ude presen t, by
thi s pri nce o f ora tors i n th a t m at chl ess pro duc ti on o f hi s g en i u s
’
W eb s t er s ability and s ki ll as a Di p l o m ati s t h as l o n g b een k no w n and
ack no wl ed ged A nd b u t j us t now th at ac kno w l ed gm en t h a s b een m ade i n
E urope by th e l ead i n g j o u rna l s A s one o f th e w i ses t and m os t s kilfu l D i p
I thi n k no A m er i can h as
l o m a t i st s o f an y a g e h e g oes do w n t o hi s t or y
b een so o ft en call ed t o thi s depar tm en t o f re s pons ibl e l ab or nor d i s
c h arg ed i t w ith grea t er fidelity and h onor I n t i m es o f tr i a l and dan g e r
a ll e y e s l oo k ed w ith confidence t o th e a bility and s kill o f D an i e l W e b s t er
t o adj u s t th e di fi cul t y and secure t he h onor and gl ory o f hi s and th e i r
coun try
T h e No rt h e a st e rn and th e Nort h we st e rn b o u ndary ques ti on ,
t o g e t h er w i th o th ers o f scarce ly l es s m o m en t g av e g rea t sati sfac ti on t o th e
H i s Foreig n C orrespondence and hi s v ar i ou s
c oun t ry i n th e i r se ttl e m en t
S ta t e papers , are j us tly re g arded as am o n g th e m os t v al uabl e and abl e
r ecords o f thi s Repu bli c U p t o 1 8 5 0 , M r W e b s t er h ad b een th e b o l d
He ha d w ith an e n
fear l ess and v i c tor i ou s ch am p i on o f Nor t h ern r ight s
l i ghten e d and pat ri o ti c z eal opp o sed t he e xt ensi on o f sl av e t err itory an d
sl a v e po w er , a s uncons tit u ti onal and un w i s e B u t a m os t ser i o u s ali en a ti on
o ccu rred b e t w een th e Nor th and th e Sou t h , and Mr W e b s t er b eli e ved o u r
gl ori ous U n i on w a s en dan g ered th ere by He en ti rely c h an g ed hi s course
—
o f acti on t o m ee t th e s t ern de m ands o f th e ca s e H i s fr i ends i ndeed th e
en ti re Nor th , b eca m e al ar m ed M en t a l k ed e a rnes tly l oo ked th ou ghtfu l
—
and d i s tressed L i s ten t o th i s litt l e co m p a n y and y ou h ear one sa y T h e
—
—
sight o f D ani el W eb s t e r i n th e arm s o f s l a very se lf g i v e n i n th e del usi v e
hO pe th a t th e Sou th w ou l d se t him do w n i n th e E x ecu t i v e C h a i r , i s pa i n ful
t o m e i n th e e xt re m e a s a nor th ern free m an 3 and m ore pai n fu l s till w h en
I r e fl ec t upon th e ce r t a i n result th a t h e w ill b e l a i d fro m th e i r ar m s i n th e
!
g rav e
0 cou l d I , w i t h one mighty s w eep o f th e h i s to ri c penci l e fface
fr o m th a t m ag n i ficen t po li t i cal pi ctu re, thi s gig a n ti c erro r I cou l d pass it
I w ou l d no t care
do wn t o pos t er ity w ith u n mi n gl ed pr i de and sa ti s fac ti on
—
P
t o pai n t him i n th e res i den ti a l C h ai r for h e w ou l d h a v e h onored i t far
m ore th an i t coul d h av e h onored hi m 0 th at W eb s t er h ad kn o w n
S uc h we r e th e fee lin g s o f th e Nor th , i n w hi c h w e all sym pa thi z e d, a t th e
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e
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h
T i s wa s
and foes
.
s a i d i n a t h o u sand po l i t i cal c i r cl es
,
at
t he
N or t h
,
bo t
h
by M r
Webs t er s fr i e nd s
’
.
C LA!
H E NR !
A
ND
D
W
ANI EL
E B S TE R
.
ti m e B u t pause and re flec t for a m o m en t, u pon th e de v o ti on o f M r W e b
s ter t o No rth ern vi e w s and i n t eres t s , th rou gh a l on g and b r illi an t career !
and canno t a m ore nat ura l and h onora bl e e x p l ana ti on o f hi s course o f ac ti on
b e found 2 U pon m a ture re fl ec ti on I b e li e v e th e preser v a ti on o f th e Federa l
U n i on t o h av e b een hi s g r and and r u li n g m o tiv e : fo r h e k ne w th a t h e w ou l d
a li ena t e t wo o f hi s life l on g fr i end s a t h o m e, w h ere h e w oul d m a k e one fr i end
Had D an i e l W e b ste r n o m ore forecas t and
a n d suppor t er a t th e Sou th
w i sdo m th an t o b e l i e v e h e co ul d th us ad v ance hi s prospec t s o f th e P res i
de n cy l A d mitti n g him t o h a v e b een i n error i n thi s m a tt er , s till h e w ill
s hi ne a s un i n th e po liti ca l firm a m e n t o f th e migh t i es t na ti on on th e gl o b e
H i s dea th prod u ced a deep and th rilli n g sensa ti on th rou gh ou t th e en ti re
Rep ubli c B u t hi s Funeral P ag ean ts w ere no t as nu m erous nor as l arg e a s
th ose o f C l ay B ut thi s m ight h a v e b een th e resu lt o f respec t t o hi s dyi n g
reques t Surely G od i s b reaki n g i n p i eces mig h t y m en w i t h o u t nu mb er,
and h e i s do i n g i t ag ai ns t t hi s n a t i on, n o t a g ai n s t t h ese dyi n g S ta t es m en
’
on ly
Le t u s n o w con t e m p l at e and c o n tra s t t he I nt e lle ct u a l a nd M o ra l cha r
.
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’
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-
.
’
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.
'
.
.
a ct e r
of
t he se t wo g r e
a
a nd
t
ho n o r e d
m e n
.
U po n
th e s un th ere are spo t s , and upon th e pures t and no bl e s t charact er s
th ere are bl e mi s h es I s h all spea k t o th ese po i n t s as a ser v an t o f G od and
a mi n i s t er a t hi s h oly a l t ar s The de a t h o f th ese s t a t es m en we b eli e v e ha s
uen
O
u
r
c h ed th e light o f th e migh t i es t or b s i n o ur po li t i ca l s y s t e m
q
coun try m en w ill d i ffer a m on g t h e m se lv e s a s t o th e rel a tive m a g nit u de
and gl ory o f th ese light s, n o w se t fore v er A nd th e j ud g m en t o f o th er
na t i on s m ay di fi e r fro m our o wn ! e t w h en tim e s h al l h av e t h orou ghly
w e igh ed th ei r c h a rac t ers th e i r deeds and th e i r po w ers i n th e g rea t and i m
parti al b a l ances o f hi s t ory , no sane m an ca n doubt b u t th a t th ey w ill find
!
”
Te m p l e o f Fam e
S t ill i t w ou l d b e d i fficu lt to
t h e i r p l aces fa r u p i n th e
find t wo t ru ly grea t nam es on th e scro ll o f hi s tory m ore rad i cally un lik e and
d i s ti nc t i n th e i r m en t a l cons titu t i ons W e b s ter s i n t e ll ec t w a s m ore m as
’
—
s i ve, o f v as ter propor ti ons C l ay s m ore de li ca t e ly and fine ly a tt uned
W eb s t er w oul d s i n k hi s li ne o f i n v es tig a ti on t o a pro founder dep t h— C l ay
wo u l d s cru ti n i z e m ore cl ose ly and analy z e m dre th orou ghly a ll wi t hi n hi s
mighty g rasp T h e i r e l oquence, lik e th a t o f D e m os th ene s and C i cero ,
g rea tly d iffered b u t eac h w a s a dea d ly foe t o hi s an t ag oni s t W e b s t er li ke
—
th e B oa con s tri c t or , w oul d s w a ll o w up an oppo nen t C l ay, lik e t he L i o n ,
T h e Sag e o f A s hl and w a s m o r e im passi oned
w ou l d t ear him i n p i eces
i n deb a t e, m o r e ar den t i n t e m pera m en t m o r e soc i a l i n hi s feeli n g s ,
a war m er l o v er and a m o r e b i tter h ater C l ay cam e neare r th e g rea t
!
livi n g h ear t o f hi s coun t ry He wa s, m o s t e m p h ati cally , t he
G rea t
”
H i s vo i ce wa s th e v o w p apa li W e b s ter dea lt m ore
C o mm oner
’
w ith C on s ti tu ti on s, P r inci p l e s and G o r d i an k no t s o f l a w C l ay s e l o
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-
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A
D IS C O U
RSE
O
N
qu enco wa s a s th e ch arg e o f well d i r e ct ed, h e avy ordnance — t he de a dly ca n
’
W e b s t er s a s th e deep , ponde ro u s mu tt er i n g s o f th e m ighty
n on a di ng
ear th quak e, s h a ki n g w h ol e C o n ti nen t s Ta k e an ill u s t ra t i on o f each :
!
”
Wh en C l ay del i vered h i s grea t s peech o n th e Ne w A r my Bill th e fi r e o f
hi s el oqu ence so en ki nd l ed th e patr i o ti s m o f th e n ati o n th a t i t b urned an
a ll cons u mi n g fl a m e up o n th e alt ar o f Repu bli can freed o m 3 and th e cr y ran g
fro m no r th t o s ou th, fr o m eas t t o w es t E n gl and m u s t no t sha ll n o t fur th er
d i s h onor o u r fl a g by s earchi n g our s hi ps , i m press i n g our sea m en and i ns ti
g a ti n g th e savag e t rib e s t o cr ue l and ig nobl e w ar fare ag ai ns t u s
L e t t he
’
”
A ga i n , t ak e a passag e fr o m W e b s t er s Speech ag ai ns t
wa r be prose cu t e d
Havi n g wi t h g rea t force and cl earne ss s h o wn th e o v erru li n g
C o l Hay ne
po w e r o f th e Fe de ra l C ons t i t u t i on ( t o un i t e a n d bl es s th e who le c o u n
try ! n o t w ith s t and i n g th e i n v i o l abl e sacredne s s o f S ta t e C on s ti tu ti ons and
S tat e so v ere ig n t y 3 and th a t th e Federa l C o ns tit u ti on w a s th e p rope rt y a s
well as th e bu lwa rk o f th e i nd iv i dua l S t at e s ! h e b reak s ou t
I h av e n o t
all o w ed my self S i r t o l oo k b ey ond th e Un i o n, t o see wh a t m i ght b e
hi dden i n th e dar k recess b e hi nd I h a v e no t coo ly w e i gh ed t he ch ance s o f
b
ond
s
th
a
un
it
e
u
s
t
o
g
e
th
er
s
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l
b
e
b
ro
k
en
t
l
e rv i ng lib er ty w h en t he
e
r
s
p
a su nder I h av e n o t a ccu s to m ed my s e lf t o h a n g o v er th e p r eci p i ce o f
d i s un i on , t o se e w h e th er, with my sh o rt sight , I can fa th o m th e dep th o f th e
aby ss b el o w 3 no r c ou l d I re g ard hi m as a s a fe c o un s e ll or i n th e affai rs o f
thi s g o v ern m en t w h o s e th o u ght s s h ou l d b e m ai nly b en t on c ons i deri n g no t
ho w th e U n i on c ou l d b e be s t preser v ed , but ho w t o l erabl e might b e th e
Whi l e
c o nd iti on o f th e peo pl e w h en it s h a ll be b ro k en up and des t roy ed
th e U n i on l as t s , we h av e h i gh e x c iti n g g ratify in g p r ospe c t s S pread ou t
b e fore u s , for o u rse lv e s and our chil dren B ey ond th a t I see k no t t o pene
t ra t e th e v e il G o d g ran t th at i n m y day , a t l ea s t, th a t cu r t ai n m ay
n o t ri s e G o d g ran t t h a t o n m y vi s i on n e v e r m ay be opened w h a t li e s
”
b ehi nd
T h e m o s t o verwh el m i n g i m p r e ss i on w a s prod u ced u pon th e m i nd o f th e
S ou th C aro li na ceased t o lift up th e vo i ce
S ena t e by th i s m a s t e r ly appea l
o f d i su n i on , w h eel ed i n t o th e r an k s o f th e U n i o n ag a i n , and a ll wa s peace
’
and s afe ty T h e gr ea t er ac tivity o f C l ay s mi nd coun t erb a l anced th e g rea t e r
’
m a ss o f W e b s t er s
I f th e w r iti n g s o f W e b s t er s h all e x er t a g rea t er i n fl u
ence o ver s ucceed i n g a g e s th e e l o quen t v o i ce o f C l ay e x er t ed a g reat er
i n fl uence w h i l e i n li fe Wh a t e v e r m a y be th e r el ati ve pos i ti o n ass ig ned
th e m by h i s t ory, thi s i s cer t ai n , th ey h ave b een , t o th ei r coun t ry , th e C on
I n n u m e r ous c i r cl es M r C l ay
st i t u t i o n a l and P o lit i ca l O rac l e s o f th e i r a g e
h as b een ch arg ed w i th an o v er ween i n g a mb i ti on B u t i s a m bi t i o n a c ri m e 2
Wh a t w o ul d an y m an b e, o r wh a t b eco m e d i ve s t ed o f a ll a mbiti o n C! A
c i p h er , a s t up i d dunce a bl o t, a reproac h t o h u m an i ty
I t i s a mbiti on
’
—
th at i nc i te s th e m i nd to a ll th a t i s g o od and
c u rb ed a n d t ra i ned t i s t r ue
-
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’
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HE
NR!
C L
A!
A
ND
D
W
ANI E L
E B S TE R
13
.
g re a t and h o ly S h ow m e th e m an th a t w o u l d h av e dr i ven ambiti on fro m
th e mi nd o f C l ay , and I will S h o w y o u o ne w ho w o u l d h a v e pu t ou t t he
—
P ro m e th ean fire o f hi s e y e pa l si e d hi s He rc u l ean ar m and S il enced hi s
e l oq uen t t on g ue 3 ay e ! de th r oned th e G en i u s o f hi s m i nd and dri ven him
ou t o f th e Sena te C h amb er t o ro ve a m on g th e h erd o f co mm on m en A m
biti ou i s t he t on g ue o f fl a m e th a t h ea t s th e b o il er o f th e mi nd and dri v es
i t s my s ter i ou s e n giner y I t i s th e A rchim edean l e v e r W i th w hi c h m en rea r
th ose l o fty and m ass i v e m onu m en t s w h er e Hi s to ry S it s en th ro n ed am i ds t
h e r ri c h es t l au r e l s Withou t a h o ly a mbiti on t o b e g rea t and g ood , i n w i n
n i n g so u l s t o C h ri s t, th e P u lpi t, e v en , woul d b ec o m e a s i l en t oracle Hen ry
B u t h i s life, as
C l ay wa s a mbiti ous , a n d a m biti o n m ade h i m He nry C la y
I read i t g i v e s no e vi dence o f o v e r we e ni ng a mbi t i on T h e e vi dence th a t
c on vi c t s him o f thi s c h ar g e , w ill g i v e hi m th e co m pan y o f a ll w h ose na m e s
S hi ne b ri ght es t on th e s cro ll o f h i s t ory
T h ere W e b s t er w ill s tand , fo r i n
1 8 4 8 h e re fu sed t o b e a c and i da t e for th e V i ce P res i dency decl ari n g h i m se lf
a cand idat e fo r th e Fi rs t O ffic e B u t who w i ll c onde m n D a ni e l We bst e r
fo r b e i n g des ir ou s, a n d h o l d i n g h i m s e lf i n r ead i ne ss , t o fi ll th e E x ecu tiv e
C hai r
’
B or n a t a p e r io d i n o ur c o untry s h i s to ry, li nki n g th e found e rs o f thi s Re
l
r
e
e
i
v
i
n
g
j
u
s
t
th
e
t
ra
i
n
i
n
g
p
h
s
i
ca
and
c
bl
i
c
i
th
th
e
p
r
esen
t
g
enera
t
i
on
w
u
3
,
y
p
m en t a l t o qualify th e m for g rea t and n o bl e dee ds o f h e r o i c da r i n g th ey
!
”
were fi tted t o b e l eader s and co mm an der s o f th e peopl e
W e h av e n o
m ol d i n w h ic h t o c as t an o th er g enera ti on o f s uc h m en : and h en c e, w e m a y
w e l l l oo k t o th e fu t ure po liti ca l h i s t or y o f o u r co u n t ry w i t h an x i o u s hO pe
Le t u s b e s eec h th e A lmighty Ru l e r o f th e U n i ve rs e t o se t o th er s i n th e i r
”
s tead , pene t r at ed w i th th e s a m e w i sdo m, cl o th ed w i th equa l p o w er s , an i
m ated w i t h th e s am e l o v e o f co un t ry and S h ari n g th e s a m e de v o ti o n t o o ur
free and glori ou s I n si t u t i o ns
.
-
e
,
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,
-
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,
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-
,
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,
,
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.
” !
T r uly, G o d h a s d o ne i t ag ai n s t a na t i o n no t a gai n s t a m a n on ly
e t
”
!
w e rej o i ce , th a t w h en he g i v e th qu i e tness , no m an , or na ti on ,
ca n m ak e
”
tro ub l e
No en e my can despo i l u s o f o u r prec i ou s bl oo d—b o u ght freedo m
a n d i n s t i tu t i ons if G od b e fo r u s
T h e r i s in g g rea tne ss and gl ory o f o ur
c oun t ry n o hand can s t ay , w h i l e th e ar m s o f E t erna l W i s do m P o w er and
,
Lo v e enc i rcl e u s I n vi e w o f s u c h t ru ths , i t i s right th a t w e s h oul d m in gl e
o u r so n g s o f T h an k s g i v i n g w i th ou r t ear s fo r th e g rea t depar t ed
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,
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D o y ou as k fo r th e s ecre t o f the i r am az i n g powe r and i n fl u en ce 2 O ne
w o rd r e v eal s th e w h o l e
A dded t o t he r ich end o w m e n t s o f nat u re, it wa s
E D U C A TI O N A l th o u gh C l ay c ou l d no t fl ou r i s h a Di p l o m a gl i tt er i n g w i th
Ac ade mi c h onor s , y e t h i s b r o w wa s s tu dded w i th th e pri c el es s g e m s h e h ad
g a th e red a ll al o ne , fro m th e p r o foundes t dep th s o f th e o c ean o f l earn i n g :
and hi s speec h e s are adorned w i th th e m os t fra g ran t and b eau ti fu l fl o wer s t o
b e c ull ed o n th e b ro a d fie l d o f anc i en t and m oder n l i te ra t u r e B ut W eb s t e r
’
.
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,
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14
A
DI
SCOURSE
N
0
”
dran k a t th e nobl e foun t ai n o f O ld D ar tm ou th
E duca ti on th ey re g arde d
’
—
h
h
as th e poor m an s w ealt and th e r i c m an s gl ory as th e titl e o f ro y a lty
’
t o th e m ass and th e b right es t j e we l i n roy a l ty s d i ade m
!
.
’
.
,
our day an ig noran t pr i n ce w ou l d b e desp i sed
are no t ! whil e a l earned peasan t w ou l d b e respec ted
In
i ndeed a ll pr i n ce s
,
.
E du c a ti on m ade for us a C l ay and W e b s te r ! and
th a t it i s th e A t la s o f our Repu bli c
,
I
w il l
no w
e
w
y
m a
n
e ve r fo rg e t
.
no ti ce b ri e fly th e i r R e li g i ous
C ha ra c t e r
.
I free ly con fess th a t I fee l no sym pa thy with th o s e who l aud and e x t o l
m en o f co l ossal propor ti ons and gi an t po wers o f i n t e ll ec t, as th ou gh th ey
w ere G o ds i n v i r t u e and m o ra l e x c e ll e nce wh en th e s t ern v o i ce o f Tru th
de m ands di scrimi n a t i on a t th e h ands o f th e P ulpi t al t h ough th e Secul ar
P ress and th e Po liti ca l wo r l d m ay no t s o d i scr imi na t e
B o th C l ay and
W e b s t er s h a ll b e dea lt w ith th i s once a s m en, no t as g ods , —a s g rea t and
mighty m en , y e t fa llibl e and imper fec t
,
,
.
.
ear ly life C l ay wa s m ore reckl es s o f m oral la w and r e ligi ou s o bli g a
ti on th an wa s W eb s t er ! bu t as y ears pa s sed on h e b ro k e a w ay fro m si n
after si n, m ourned o v er th e fo lli es o f y ou th and m anh ood , res t rai ned him
se lf m ore and m ore ! hi s consc i ence wa s h eeded , hi s h ear t i n t eres t ed hi s
Bibl e rea d, hi s s i n s dep l ored hi s c l ose t vi s i t ed , hi s Savi or sou ght, hi s co m
m an ds o b ey e d, a n d w e fir mly b eli e v e hi s e t erna l s a lv a t i o n se cure d He d i ed a
m e mb er i n fu ll co mm un i on o f th e P ro te stan t E p i scopa l C h urch L ik e th e
s o l d i er on th e fiel d o f b at t l e h e fe ll w ith th e h arne ss o f d uty on tu rn i n g hi s
!
—
ey es i n dea th t o w ards Ho m e t o w a rds th e ! i n g i n hi s b eau ty , and t he
”
I m os t h ear tily respond t o th e b eau tiful sen t i
l and th a t i s v ery far o fl
m en t e x p r essed by G enera l C ass , i n hi s eu l o gy pronou nced upon M r C l ay ,
i n t he Senat e, wh en hi s death w a s o fi c i a lly announced t o th a t b ody
Sai d
h e, Wh en we S h a ll en t er th a t narro w v a ll ey th rou gh w hi c h h e ha s pa s sed
b e fore u s, a n d whi c h l ead s t o th e J u dg m e nt sea t o f G od , m a y w e b e abl e
t o say , th rou gh faith i n h i s Son , our Savi or i n th e b eaut ifu l l an g uag e o f
—
th e hy m n o f th e dy i n g C h ri s ti an dyi ng , but e v e r li v i ng a nd tri um pha nt
In
,
,
,
,
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.
,
,
,
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.
,
-
,
!
The worl
d re e d es i t d i s appe a rs 3
H e a e n o pe n s o n y eyes
y e a rs
W i t h so u nd s ser aph i c r i ng !
Le n d l e nd yo r w i n g
I
o u n t I fly
O h G ra e
wh ere i s t hy v i c t ory 2
”
O h D e at h
wh ere i s t hy s t i n g 2
c
,
m
m
v
u
,
s
m
,
v
,
,
”
his
m e d i e th e dea th o f th e right eo u s and l e t my l a s t end b e li k e
’
f
o
i
n
ti
n
g
t
o
th
e
co
fin
M
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l
a
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re
ligi
ou
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arac
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er
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eds
a
h
a
l
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o
f
P
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!
(
gl ory o ve r h i s po liti c al fa m e To g arner s uc h i n tell ect ual t reasu r e s a s h e
!
Le t
,
.
.
.
.
H E NR !
C L
A!
A
ND
D
A NI E L
W
E B S TE R
15
.
gath ered and l e ft for po s t er ity, i s w o r th l i vi n g fo r, if on ly s anc ti fied t o th e
wor l d by s uch a religi ous ch aract er as h e h as l e ft b e h i nd
! oun g m an t a k e C l ay for y our e x a m p l e , w h en t e m p t ed by th e popu l ar
i nfi de l sen tim en t o f th e day i n h i gh p l aces , t o snee r a t p i e ty and re ligi on a s
un w or thy o f th e t ru ly g reat Tak e u p y ou r cross and fo ll o w th e Sa vi or i n
’
’
!
life, th a t th e Sav i or s C ro ss m ay b ear y o u up i n th e da y o f th e wor l d s
”
doo m
M r Web s te r w a s m os t faithfu l ly t au ght th e great p ri nci p l e s o f rel i gi on
i n hi s y ou th He early l earned t o re g ard th e h o ly C h ri s ti an Sabb a t h t o
r e v eren ce th e t eachi n g s o f Scr i p ture , and t o fi l l hi s p l ac e i n th e Sanc tuary o f
G od ! and w h en i n M arshfie ld, it w a s hi s cus t o m re g u l arly t o fi ll hi s
s ea t i n th e par i s h C o n g re g a t i onal C h u r ch , o f w hi c h h e w a s a m e mb er H i s
i n tell ec t w a s th orou ghly s t ored with a k no w l e dg e o f th e L i vi n g O racl e s o f
th e L ivi n g G od ! b u t I a m pai ned t o sa y I a m unabl e t o find s ati s fac to ry
e vi den ce o f hi s con vers i on t o C h r i s t
W e igh a ll th at h a s b een s a i d o f h i s
rea di n g th e Scri p tures, ad mi ri n g th e m as t e rly ep i c o f J o b, and th e l o fty and
m aj es ti c prop h es i es o f I sa i ah ! b e in g ch ar me d w ith th e swee t and b eau tifu l
S im p li c ity o f th e G ospe l hi s t ory o f th e Ne w Te s t a m en t ! o f hi s pro found ly
r e v eren t th o u ght s o f th e gl or i ou s w i sdo m po wer and g oodnes s o f th e G rea t
C rea t or a s d i sp l ay ed i n th e p hy s i ca l un i ver s e 3 o f hi s i n t en ti on s t o w r i t e o n
th e Evi dence s o f C h ri s ti an i ty, ( i n w hi c h , dou btl ess , h e firm ly b e li ev ed ! !
!
add t o all thi s h i s dy i n g w o rds , T h a t i s wh a t I w an t thy rod , thy rod ! thy
”
s t aff thy st afi !
A nd i s th e h umbl e b r o k en h ear ted pen i t en t seen i n it
O th a t I co ul d b el i e v e
! e C h r i s ti an m en t e l l m e was th e g rea t W e b s t e r a
W ou l d t o G od I c ou l d sa y o f him as o f C l ay, th a t a s h e ad v an ced
C h r i s ti an
i n y ears h e b ro k e o fi th e fo lli e s and s i n s o f y ou th and m anh ood
! e t th e
J ud g e o f a ll th e ear th w i ll e v e r d o and w ith W e b s t e r h e h a s done , r i ght
No t e s say i n g t o lift th e v e il and g az e i n u p o n th e secre t s o f th e Infin it e O ne ,
’
M ay all hi s
w e canno t dec i de th e fa t e o f A m er i ca s m os t po we rfu l i n t e ll e c t
v i r t ue s b e i m i t a t ed , a ll hi s n o bl e deeds b e e m u l a t ed and a l l h i s pa t r i o ti c
S er vi ces cop i ed by th e y o u n g m en o f th e l an d, i n w h o s e w e lfare D an i e l
W e b s t er felt a liv e ly i n t eres t A s th e s er van t o f th e E v er L ivi n g and I n fin
i t e J e h o vah I w o u l d h ere sa y as I m us t m ee t i t a n d y o u b e fo r e hi s T h rone
o f J ud gm en t, w h en a ll h ear t s S h a ll b e re veal ed , I h av e b u t littl e confidence
i n death b ed repen t ance M e n w ill t he y m us t fee l and b e li e v e th en 3 for
th e v e ry D evil s b eli e v e and t r e mbl e ! e t s u ch i s no t C hri st i a n f a i t h
t he fai th th a t l ay s h o l d o f and appropr i a t e s t he w o r k and m er it s o f t he c ru
B e n o t d e ce i v ed i n th e b eli e f tha t y ou can spend a ll t he
c i fie d Redee m er
gl ory and s tren gth o f y ou th a n d r i per y ears i n fi ghti n g ag ai ns t G o d, and
pers i s t en tly rej ec ti n g th e on ly Sav i or and t h en w h en dea th i s fee li n g for y ou r
h ear t s t ri n g s and th e g ay w orl d i s g ro w i n g d im and fad in g a w ay fo re v er
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u pon th e m erc
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16
H E NR !
C L A !
ND
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Wh en h e h i de th h i s fac e, who
G o d, and find fo r giv ene ss and s al vati on
I f repen t an c e b e , by y o u , d e ferred t i l l th e dyi n g
th en can b eh o l d him 2
h o ur 0 rem e mb er, G od m a y th en hi de hi s face fr o m y o u , a s y ou h av e wi th
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h el d y o ur h ear t and l o v e fro m th e adorabl e J e sus th e fr i end o f si nners !
Le t no t th e i dea th at W e b s t er s ou ght and found pardon on th e c ru mbli n g
v er g e o f ti m e , sa ti s fy y o u , th a t y o u m ay d o th e s am e T h o u gh w e c o ul d
fai n hope ( and alm o s t dare b eli e v e, ! th at hi s mighty mi nd i s n o w e mp l oy ed
i n th e l o fty h all e l u i ah s o f th e hea v en ly c h o i r y e t our h ope ri ses ou t o f th e
m i ds t o f a g r eat c l o ud o f s i n s and fears, w hi ch m u s t e ve r c o m pe l th e C h ri s
ti an t o h ope o f hi m w ith t re mb li n g
Learn th en th a t g rea t m en l i k e c o l oss al co l u m n s , m u s t u lti m at e ly fall
b e fore th e r es i s tl e ss m a rch o f t i m e T h o s e wh o ar e w i se and g rea t i n th i s
wo rl d o n ly, are a s c o l u m n s for m ed o f cl ay or w ood , th at, m in gl e s o on w ith
e arth ag ain Bu t th e pi ous great a re a s c o l u m ns h e w n fro m th e s o li d g ran
i t e , o r fo r m ed o f g o l d and p r ec i o u s s t one s , thou gh th e y fall , th ey r i s e ag a i n , a s
!
”
pre ci ou s and a s gl ori o u s a s b e fo r e Wh e n w e fa ll , m a y th e Rod a n d S t aff
o f G o d b ea r u s u p D e v ou tly th an k i n g G od for l e n di n g t o o ur co u n t ry, fo r
a t i m e su ch m i nd s a s th o s e o f Hen ry C l ay a n d D an i e l W e b s t e r, l e t u s
A nd th ou gh th e
e n t rea t hi m t o r e m e mb e r u s I n o u r na ti o n al b erea v e m en t
S un o f th e C a bi ne t and th e M o on o f th e S e na t e h av e se t , m ay th e s t ars
t h a t dec k ou r po l i ti c a l firm a m e nt ca t c h th e ir light a n d s h ed it u po n t he
’
track o f Fre e do m s E m p i re, t i ll S he sh a ll fill t he w h ole e a r th w i th h e r lig ht,
h e r b le ss in g s a nd he r gl ory
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