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
After having spoken about three hours on the 26th of January, Mr.
Webster gave way for an adjournment. He resumed and concluded the speech
on the following day. During most of the time that he was speaking, Mr.
Hayne occupied himself in taking notes, and rose to reply at the
conclusion of Mr. Webster's argument. An adjournment was proposed by one
of Mr. Hayne's friends, but he wisely determined to terminate all that
he intended to say on the subject upon the spot. He accordingly
addressed the Senate for about half an hour upon the constitutional
question which formed the most important portion of Mr. Webster's
speech. These remarks of Mr. Hayne were, in the newspaper report,
expanded into an elaborate argument, which occupies nineteen pages in
the register of Congressional debates. When Mr. Hayne sat down, Mr.
Webster, in turn, rose to make a brief rejoinder. "The gentleman," said
he, "has in vain attempted to reconstruct his shattered argument"; and
this formidable exordium was followed up by a brief restatement of his
own argument, which, for condensation, precision, and force, may be
referred to as a specimen of parliamentary logic never surpassed. The
art of reasoning on moral questions can go no further.
Thus terminated the day's great work. In the evening the Senatorial
champions met at a friend's house, and exchanged those courteous
salutations which mitigate the asperity of political collision, and
prevent the conflicts of party from embittering social life.
The sensation produced by the great debate on those who heard it was but
the earnest of its effect on the country at large. The length of Mr.
Webster's speech did not prevent its being copied into the leading
newspapers throughout the country. It was the universal theme of
conversation. Letters of acknowledgment and congratulation from the most
distinguished individuals, from politicians retired from active life,
from entire strangers, from persons not sympathizing with all Mr.
Webster's views, from distant parts of the Union, were addressed to him
by every mail. Immense editions of the speech in a pamphlet form were
called for. A proposal was made to the friends of Mr. Hayne to unite in
the publication of a joint edition of the two speeches for general
circulation throughout the country, but this offer was declined. Mr.
Webster's friends in Boston published a pamphlet edition of the
speeches of Mr. Hayne and Mr. Webster. It is no exaggeration to say,
that throughout the country Mr. Webster's speech was regarded, not only
as a brilliant and successful personal defence and a triumphant
vindication of New England, but as a complete overthrow of the dangerous
constitutional heresies which had menaced the stability of the Union.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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