Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-01
oDD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
rHE WEBsTER-HAYNE pEBArE.

One of the greatest speeches in Amer ican political history was delivered Ill the United States senate on January 26, 1880. It was Daniel Webster's famous Reply to Hayne.' which another not ed American orator has styled "A glori- ous speech which holds the first place among the monuments of American ora- tory"
 In May, As2S. a meeting of te South Carolina delegation in congress was held in Washington at the rooms of Gen Hayne. One of the senators of that state to prepare measures against the tariff and the protective policy which it embodied. From the history of the time and the disclosures subsequently, made it is apparent that some violent things were said at this meeting, but it broke up without any definite plan.
 In the course of the following sum- mer there were many popular meetings in South Carolina, largely attended, at which the tariff of 1924 was treated as an act of despotism and usurpatioa, which ought to be openly resisted They occasioned anxiety and regret among the friends of the Union throughout the coun- try, though nothing more.
 But in the autumn the legislature of South Carolina adopted an .'Exposion and protest'' which gave form and sub stance to doctrines which thence forward became known as 'siullifcation. In order to understand them, however, as a theory of the federal Constitution it is necessary to state tht theory to 1 which they are opposed and to over throw which they were brought for ward.
 The government of the United States, l under the Constitution. had hitherto been administered upon the principle i that the extent of its powers is to | be fully determined by its supreme judicial tribunal, not only when there | is any conflict of authority between l it's several departments, but also when | the authority of the whole government | is denied by one or more of the states
 The advocates of nullifcatidn now undertook to establish that state l can determine for it's citizens whether | they are to obey an act of congress | by asserting it's unconstitutional char | acter, and that the right to do this is implied as right inherent in a state, under the Constitution, and results | from the nature of the government The remedy which they sought agains | acts which they resarded as usurpa breaking up of the Union, tn they claim ed, but it wax a remedy they held to | exist within the Union, and to have been contemplated by the people of tn, states when they established the Con stitution.
 How far they considered such a the ory compatible with the continued ex istence of the Union, they did not un dertake 10 explain.
 In the great debate between Gen Hayne, of South Carolina, and Danie Webster, which occurred in the senat on January 26, 1880, the doctrine o notification received for tne first tim a discussion which sank deep into tn mind of the nation. The effect of Web ster's masterly Reply to Hayne" speec had upon the country it is not easy fo 1 us at the present day to measure. Vas nCmbersof the speeches were publishe and circulated in pamphlet form afte all the principal newspapers of the coun try had given it entire totheir readers
 The popular verdict, throughout th Northern and Western and many c the Southern states was decisive. . great majority of the people of tn United States of all parties, under stood, appreciated, and accepted tn view maintained by MT. Webster. c the nature of the Constitution. and tn character of the government which establishes.
 On the morning of the day upo which Webster made this great speecl | hC NoS AAASS DJ O4iS SA HIS ASt4O" -iAtS-A bers of the senate who said to him Tt is a critical moment, MT. Webster and it Is high time that the peopl know what the Constitution is
 Then" answered Webster, "by th blessing of Heaven they shall kno today before the sun goes down wha
 I understand it to be-
 WiTen he pronounced the final word
 Liberty and Union. now and foreve
 one and inseparable," there was
 profound silence.
 (Tomorrow-When Hopkins Wrote Ha Columbia.)