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
general conference of the American powers; if for no other reason, to
observe their movements. But all the motives for such a course could not
be avowed, and of those that could, a part of the force was weakened by
the avowal. The influence of the United States was impaired in order
that the administration might be distressed.
The subject was discussed with great ability in both houses. The greater
portion of the senatorial debate was with closed doors. Mr. Webster's
speech in the House is far the ablest of those published. It raised the
question from the wretched level of party politics to the elevation of
real statesmanship. It discussed the constitutional question with a
clearness and power which make us wonder that it was ever raised; and it
unfolded the true nature of the proposed congress, as viewed in the
light of the public law. A very important topic of the speech was an
explanation of the declaration of President Monroe, in his annual
message of 1823, against the interposition of the governments of Europe
for the purpose of enabling Spain to resubjugate her former colonial
possessions on this continent. Mr. Webster pointed out the circumstances
which warranted at the time the opinion that such interposition might be
attempted; and he stated the important fact, not before known, that the
purpose on the part of the United States to resist it was deliberately
and unanimously formed by Mr. Monroe's cabinet, consisting at that time
of Messrs. Adams, Crawford, Calhoun, Southard, and Wirt. The principles
assumed in the debate on the Panama mission by the friends of Messrs.
Crawford and Calhoun were greatly at variance with the spirit and
tendency of the declaration, as they were with what has more recently
been regarded as the true Democratic doctrine in reference to the
relations of the United States to her sister republics on this
continent.
The speech on the Panama question was the most considerable effort made
by Mr. Webster in the Nineteenth Congress. In the interval of the two
sessions, in November, 1826, he was reëlected with but a show of
opposition. The eulogy upon Adams and Jefferson, of which we have
already spoken, was delivered in the month of August of this year. In
the month of June, 1827, Mr. Webster was elected to the Senate of the
United States by a large majority of the votes of the two houses of the
legislature of Massachusetts, the Hon. Mr. Mills of Northampton, who had
filled that station with great ability, having declined being a
candidate for reëlection in consequence of ill health.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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