_principle_ of property, and the value and the _principle_ of liberty, could alone have permitted the comparison. But I have extended this communication greatly beyond my original purpose. Several other topics contained in Mr. Webster’s speech, or growing out of what has since happened in relation to it, and hardly less important than those already considered, must await another opportunity for discussion; unless, indeed, some disposal of the question shall render further discussion unnecessary. I am not unmindful of the position in which I stand. I am not unaware that circumstances have placed me in an antagonist relation to a man whose vast powers of intellect the world has long so vividly enjoyed and so profoundly admired. I well know that a _personal_ contest between us seems unequal, far more than did the impending combat between the Hebrew stripling and that champion of the Philistines who had a helmet of brass upon his head, and greaves of brass upon his legs, and the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. But the contest is not between _us_. It is between truth and error; and just so certain as the spirit of Good will prevail over the spirit of Evil, just so certain will Truth ultimately triumph. In such a case as this, there is one point of view in which Mr. Webster is a desirable antagonist; for the thick and far-beaming points of light which he has left all along his former course of life, cannot fail to expose, to all eyes but his own, the devious path into which he has now wandered. HORACE MANN. WASHINGTON, June 6, 1850. * * * * * Several editions of the preceding Letters having been exhausted, another was printed, under date of July 8, 1850, with Notes. FOOTNOTES: [9] All my quotations from Mr. Webster are taken from the edition of his speech which he dedicated to the “PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS,” March 18, 1850. Among the numerous readings which have appeared, I suppose this to be the most authentic. [10] This argument may be found repeated and enlarged upon in a subsequent part of the present volume, p. 409, _et seq._ It is retained here only to preserve the logical and legal symmetry of the letter. [11] See an elaborate opinion of Chancellor Walworth, 14 Wend. 507, _Jack_ VS. _Martin_. NOTES TO THE PRECEDING LETTERS.