The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1Webster, Daniel
History
The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1
Webster, Daniel
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
Give me the fact, the time, the
manner. He speaks of the war; that which we call the late war,
though it is now twenty-five years since it terminated. He would
leave an impression that I opposed it. How? I was not in Congress
when war was declared, nor in public life anywhere. I was pursuing
my profession, keeping company with judges and jurors, and
plaintiffs and defendants. If I had been in Congress, and had
enjoyed the benefit of hearing the honorable gentleman's speeches,
for aught I can say, I might have concurred with him. But I was not
in public life. I never had been for a single hour; and was in no
situation, therefore, to oppose or to support the declaration of
war. I am speaking to the fact, Sir; and if the gentleman has any
fact, let us know it.
"Well, Sir, I came into Congress during the war. I found it waged,
and raging. And what did I do here to oppose it? Look to the
journals. Let the honorable gentleman tax his memory. Bring up any
thing, if there be any thing to bring up, not showing error of
opinion, but showing want of loyalty or fidelity to the country. I
did not agree to all that was proposed, nor did the honorable
member. I did not approve of every measure, nor did he. The war had
been preceded by the restrictive system and the embargo. As a
private individual, I certainly did not think well of these
measures. It appeared to me that the embargo annoyed ourselves as
much as our enemies, while it destroyed the business and cramped the
spirits of the people. In this opinion I may have been right or
wrong, but the gentleman was himself of the same opinion. He told us
the other day, as a proof of his independence of party on great
questions, that he differed with his friends on the subject of the
embargo. He was decidedly and unalterably opposed to it. It
furnishes in his judgment, therefore, no imputation either on my
patriotism, or on the soundness of my political opinions, that I was
opposed to it also. I mean opposed in opinion; for I was not in
Congress, and had nothing to do with the act creating the embargo.
And as to opposition to measures for carrying on the war, after I
came into Congress, I again say, let the gentleman specify; let him
lay his finger on any thing calling for an answer, and he shall have
an answer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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