The Irish standard., 1910-02-19
A MEMORABLE 0RA7|ON
BY DANIEL WEBSTER.
His Reply to Hayne is Said
to be the Greatest Speech
Since Demosthenes and is
Still Considered a Master.
piece---It Holds the First
Place Among the Monu-
ments of American Oratory
and Immortalizes Him.

IT,. A3ASAAS0 Va 8 A3AA~A 4NG&AA \<4 GASV4y
and lmmortalizes Him.
AS q lawyer, Daniel Webster's ora
tory won many cases, but it was in the
Senate of the United States that his
greatest victory was won. 1t was be-
fore that body that, on January Is,
$780, he made what has been styled
"the greatest speech since Demos
themes" his famous reply to Hayne,
his Liberty and Union" speech which,
says a distinguished critic, remained
the watchword Of American patriotism
and still reverberated thirty years later
in the thunders of the Civil War. That
speech still continues to hold the first
place among the monuments of Amer
lean oratory."
It is not necessary here to detail the
cause Of that great grafton. Out Of
the question concerning the sale of
public lands had grown a discussion
as to the powers of the States and
National Government. 1t was the time
when the struggle between State SOW
ereignty and national supremacy was
feroe, both in and out of Congress-
and the Senator from South Carolina
Mr.. Hayne, awaited himself of the OPP
portunity afforded by the discussion
It arraign the State Of Massachusetts,.
crush its chief representative, Mr..
Webster, and establish the rights of
the States to interfere with and over
ride, for their own benefit, the Ma
.tional Government.
ep Hayne's invective was a strong, for
chile. intense and personal speech
which for two days occupied the at
tention Of the Senate and awakened
all the fears and forehoding Of the
supporters Of the Constitution; for it
seemed to them unanswerable. Hayne
had carefully prepared his speech,
which aroused his Southern admirers
to such degree Of enthusiasm that
Gee of the Senators from Missouri
moved that as a tribute to the splen-
did effort the Senate at once adjourn -
which was done. Webster was pres
ent and was expected to reply next
day, but had been so occupied by press :
ing engagements that he was unable
to devote any time for a preparation
for reply. The next day Mr.. Web
ster delivered speech in which he
tRtoo11 up Mr.. Haynes accusations, and
answered them with great power.
This retort provoked a long and
able reply from Mr.. Hayne, in which
he not only assailed Mr.. Webster, but
set forth quite ingeniously and elab-
orately the doctrine Of notification,
1t was finished on January rs, and
8 Mr.. Webster made an immediate re-
ply, which is known in history as the
REPLY to Hayne." The debate had
now lasted SO long that people had
come from different parts Of the coun-
try to Washington to hear it. and on
!, January 26 the crowd not only filled
the galleries and invaded the Senate
and entries within hearing distance
and even beyond.
The throng knew that, on that day
Daniel Webster was to take up the
4 gage that the champion Of disunio.
had thrown down and was to flghr
for the supremacy of the Union under
the Constitution. Slowly he rose
quietly he began. The latent fire.
Of patriotism and national love which
were burning so flercely in his hear
did not at first burst into flames.
"Mr. President" he said, "when TIL
mariner has been tossed for man,
DAYS in thick weather and on an un
known sea he naturally avails him.
self of the first pause Of the storm
the earliest glance Of the sun, to taxi
his latitude and ascertain how far tn
elements have driven him from hi.
true course. Let us initiate this pru'
dence: and before we float further ol
the waves of this debate, refer to tn
point from which we departed, tina
we may. at least, be able to conjec
ture where we are. I ask for tn
reading Of the resolution before tn
Senate"
The tense excitement Of both sup
porters and opponents, strained in ex
pectation as the orator arose to speak
was Gained and restrained by this sim
pie and quiet opening. Then by tn
time the clerk had read the origina