The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-24

Mn. WEBsTERs SPEECH YEsrERDAy.-Mr. Web
iter made his argument before the Supreme Courl
yesterday upon the passenger tax case. The court
Dom was crowded the ladies' occupying most Of IN.
minenty Webslerinn-close, compact, powerful.
lis reply 10 Mr. Van Buren, was distinguished for
loint force and great playuness, particularly IN an
'werng the argument that II was New York which
poured of her abundance into the lap OF the national
treasury.
Mr.. Webster admitted the great commercial In.
ortance Of New York the skill and industry Of her
mechanics the great distinction Of her professional
men, her present pre-eminence and destined great
less but she was the mere distributing point of the
IMPORTS of the Union. Much of her wealth was de-
lived from the fact that she was SO placed as 10 be
he distributing agent Of the Government and OF
he consumers and producers OF these points OF tho
Union.
Unaided by the rest Of the Union N York would
be as nothing huge deformity-a caRut morttrlm
and nothing more. So In regard 10 her courts,
which had rendered decision in this case against
the plaintiff in error,
However respectable these courts il became the
nty Of this court revise their decisions and II the
Constitution Of the u States had been encroached
upon, 10 reverse their judgments. This court was
charged with precisely this duty the revision Of the
decisions OF the courts below; and no matter how
respectable The courts were or were presumed TO be-
Mr.. Webster spoke powerfully OF the sanctity oi
the decisions OF the Supreme Court, In reply 10 u
remark of the opposite counsel that The people were
beginning 10 forget the life tenure of the Judges IN
consequence of the infusion Of popular sentiment
into the decision OF the courts He considered this
as very left-handed compliment al best and il was
one he certainly should not pay he court.
The early decision of this Court were in some
measure nharent to the Conste tuition ITSELF They
We're, indeed part Of the Constitution, and he could
not be so dsrespected 10 the memory of Jay, Els
worth, Marshall Story Thompson, Baldwin, lredell
and others, as 10 reflect upon decisions made by
thein and interviewed us they were with the Consti-
| tuition of the Government.
Mr.. Webster early came to the argument of the
| casennd spoke with power and force which GER
tainly cannot be surpassed If equaed by any coun-
-el or jurlst In the land.
The concluding remarks Of Mr.. Webster were some
stirring comments upon the commercial power OF
the country, and some eloquent references TO the
circumstance which originated its existence in the
Constitution Of the u States, which was mainly the
necessity of the State. These could not thrive without
the existence Of this power, and with some genera
depository Of its enactment such Ms the Congress OF
the United States
Authorities were quoted TO show that commerce
extended opersons as well as tothings; to masters
Of vessels upon whom this tax was imposed as to the
vessels over which they had command The grea
test difficulty, 1t was argued, would flow from the
surrender now, or the acquiesencc in the exercis,
Of such power on the part of the State.
Mr.. Webster incidentally alluded to the question OF
domestic slavery, which had been made prominent
by counsel upon the other side. 1t was, he said, Il
peculiar institution the existence Of which was re-
cognised by the Constitution of the United States
There II was placed By those who framed It's existence
and he did not wish disturb IT, not should he lift his
finger to do so. Itbeonged not to him but TO those
alone who had power over it,