Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-01
FORENSIC ELoQUENcE.

Although the grave and quiet chamber OF The
Supreme Court is the theatre in which are exhibit
ed the highest efforts of mind, and often the high
est flights of eoquence, yet, from the professional
nature of these displays, and their disconnexion
with the topics of popular interest, they seldom at
tract the notice of the pressor reach the knowledge
of the distant public. One of these surprising ex-
ampes of the highest powers of reasoning and
eloquence combined has been lately exhibited in an
argument delivered before the Court by Mr.. WEB
sTER. Having heard much of this speech and of
the admiration with which it inspired numerous
auditory, we quote the annexed account Of it from
the correspondence of the Baltimore American
WAsuISeTos, DEC, 90, ls47.
Mr.. WEBSTER made bis argument before the Supreme
Court this morning upon the passenger case The court
room crowded, the ladies' occupying the
signed to the audience. The argument emnenty Web
serancose, compact powerful. know not when have
heard Mr. Webster with pleasure instruction His
reply to Mr. Van Buren, distinguished for point force,
and great payuness particularly in answering the argument
that was New York which poured of her abundance into
the lap Of the National Treasury
Mr. Webster admitted the great commercial Importance Of
New York. the skill and industry Of her mechanics the great
distinction of her professional men, her present
and destined greatness, hut she the distributing
point OF the imports Of the Union Much of her wealth
derived from the fact that she placed be the dis
rbung agent of the Government Of the consumers and
producers Of other points of the Union.
Unaided by the Of the Union New York would be as
nothing huge deormity-a caput mortu, and nothing
more 30 in regard to her courts which had rendered
cision in this case against the plaintiff in error
However respectable these courts il became the duty of this
court to revise their DECISIONS and if the constitution of the
United States had been encroached upon their
judgments This court charged with precisely this duty
the
ter how respectable the were or were presumed 10 be-
Mr. Webster spoke powerfully of the sancty Of the dec-
sons OF the Supreme Court in reply remark of the OPP
poe counsel that the people beginning forget the life
tenure OF the Judges, in consequence of the infusion of
popular sentiment into the decision of the courts He
sdered this very lef-handed compliment best and it
was one he certainly should not pay the court.
The early decisions of this in in
herent to the constitution itself They were indeed, part
of the constitution and he could be srespecu the
memory of Jay, Ellsworth, MARSHALL, Story, Thompson,
Baldwin, ede and Others, reflect upon decisions made
by them, and interviewer they with the constitution
of the government.
Mr.. Webster early the argument of the case, and
spoke with power and force which certainly be
passed, equaed by any counsel jurist in the land
The concluding remarks of Mr. Webster stirring
comments upon the commercial power the country and
some the circumstances which originated
its existence in the constitution of the United States which
mainly the necessity of the States. These could
thrive without the existence Of this power and with
general depository Of its such the Congress Of
the United States.
Authorities quoted to show that commerce extended
to persons well things masters of vessels upon
whom this tax imposed 10 the vessels which they
had command The greatest difficulty was argued would
flow from the surrender now acquescence in the
ercise Of such powers the part of the States
Mr. Webster incidentally alluded the question of domes
tic Slavery which had been made prominent by counsel upon
the other side 1t was he said, peculiar institution, the
existence OF which recognised by the constitution of the
United Staes There placed by those who framed its
existence, and he did wish disturb should he
lift his finger do belonged not to him, but to those
alone who had power over IT,
Mr.. CHoArE viii the Massachusetts to-
morrow and the further argument may be postponed for
days. Mr. AsHNUS, Of Massachusetts, remarkng that Gov.
DAVIS, counsel the side, having been taken i'll on
Monday and then able to be attendance upon the