Year: 1877

Hon. II. w. Hilliard In Harper's Magazine


for March.


Mr.. Webster entered upon the great


task before him-the constitutional


argument He undertook to demolish
the structure so elaborateiy reared by
the Senator from South Carolina, and
so powerfully supported by the class
of gentlemen who followed Mr.. Cal
houn as a political leader. He under
took to show that our political system
was a goUernment established by the
people of the United States, and not a
mere compact between the States. He
aimed to exhibit the Constitution,
which defined the powers Of the Gov
ernment, and to annihilate the theory
that any one State or any number of
States could, by right reserved when
our political system was organized, ar
rest the course of the Government or
overturn it. He at the same time ad-
mitted the right of revolution on the
part of the people, right higher than
the Constitution and supreme over all
governments. Never at any period Of
the worlds history had a statesman
undertaken greater task. 1t is not
too much to say that upon that debate
depended the stability of the Govern
ment, the destiny of the republic.


Mr.. Webster was profoundly con-
scious of the importance of the occa-
sion. He rose to the full height of its
grandeur; Ee advanced in his great
argument with bearing nothing less
than majestic. HIS eye swept the
whole field of controversy. He dis
dained all the little arts of debate he
stated the propositions of his adversa-
ry, which he meant to combat, with !
tbs most perfect fairness and he !
struck the shield of the formidable |
champion of the opposing party as il |
hung in front of his tent with the point /
of his lance. The tournament, upon
which the eyes of the vast assemblage
representing the whole country were
fixed, was to him not a field for dis
play, but real field of battle. Not
only did he hold in hand the lance
with which to unhorse the powerful
man who opposed him in the lists, but
the battle-ax which none but his great
arm could WELD was within his reach,
with which he would crush all comers,
until the field was yielded him.


1t is impossible to overestimste the
service rendered by Mr.. Webster to
the Constitution and to the country.
The influence of his great argument
in behalf of the supremacy of the Con-
stitution, and of the laws of Congress
passed In pursuance Of its authority, is
lmmeasurable. Not only did it settle
the opinions of men at that time, but
it has ever since given to the national
government a moral power which
makes it irresistible and indestructi-
Bile. The American flag was flying
over the Senate chamber when he de-
Iivered his immortal speech, and
through the glass dome its folds might
be seen floating in the breeze. While
the effect upon the audience which
thronged every spot within the reach
Of his voice was overwhelming. the
words still ring in our ears, and will
be heard by every succeeding genera
ton. History and painting will pre-
serve the scene as one of the most
and impressive which has
in the fortunes of the repub- {
ic. Some appropriate spot in the
capitol of the United States should be
chosen, where a monument may be
reared to the honor of the great Sena-
.or who saved the Constitution. He
vas man


mot for an age,


But for all time"