Source: H.W. Brands. Heirs of the Founders (2017)
The most daunting task of Webster’s political career awaited him; after Calhoun’s diatribe, it seemed that there was no hope for compromise since many in the Senate assumed that Calhoun had simply chosen secession as his solution. Webster wasn’t ready to reply to Calhoun right away, telling fellow Senators that he would respond in a couple of days. Webster spoke on the Senate floor on 7 March 1850, and expectations were incredibly high after the speeches of Clay and Calhoun.
Webster started by reviewing the history of how the North and South had reached the current crisis. Webster then went on to say that he wished others shared his level of tolerance since those that did not on all sides were the reason why the nation had reached such a precarious moment. Webster mentioned that when the Constitution was written, both the North and South had similar perspectives concerning slavery, seeing it as at least a necessary evil, and had tolerated it because at that time slavery seemed to be on the decline. Webster pointed out that the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had the entire support of the South, but that was before the cotton gin (1793) and the expansion of the Cotton Kingdom.
Webster started by reviewing the history of how the North and South had reached the current crisis. Webster then went on to say that he wished others shared his level of tolerance since those that did not on all sides were the reason why the nation had reached such a precarious moment. Webster mentioned that when the Constitution was written, both the North and South had similar perspectives concerning slavery, seeing it as at least a necessary evil, and had tolerated it because at that time slavery seemed to be on the decline. Webster pointed out that the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had the entire support of the South, but that was before the cotton gin (1793) and the expansion of the Cotton Kingdom.
Webster refuted Calhoun’s assertion that the federal government had been pro-North in recent years, arguing that if anything, the government had enabled the South with the addition of 9 slave states. The annexation of Texas showed that things were going the South’s way for sure, Webster stated. Webster caused a stir in the audience when he said he did not support the Wilmot Proviso, which in effect meant he was defying the Massachusetts state legislature that sent him to the Senate, contradicting his earlier vote in favor of the measure, and breaking ranks with the North as well as most of his fellow Whigs. Webster ignored the fuss and kept speaking.
On the topic of fugitive slaves, Webster agreed with Clay and Calhoun, saying that the South was right and the North was wrong, and the gasps in the Senate were audible. Webster argued that Congress had the power to enact a fugitive slave provision, and it seemed to Northerners that Webster was in league with the slave catchers. Webster went on to say that Abolitionist societies caused more harm than good. Webster attributed positive motives on their end, but Webster stated that the negative consequences of their actions far exceeded any benefit in terms of their principles.
On the topic of fugitive slaves, Webster agreed with Clay and Calhoun, saying that the South was right and the North was wrong, and the gasps in the Senate were audible. Webster argued that Congress had the power to enact a fugitive slave provision, and it seemed to Northerners that Webster was in league with the slave catchers. Webster went on to say that Abolitionist societies caused more harm than good. Webster attributed positive motives on their end, but Webster stated that the negative consequences of their actions far exceeded any benefit in terms of their principles.
Webster went on to say that due to the machinations of the Abolitionists, the South created even more restrictions on their slaves and dug into their trenches even further. Webster said that the grievances from both the North and South should be acknowledged, but hey should not be encouraged, especially in the form of justifying disunion. Webster went on to say there was no such possibility as a peaceful secession. Webster didn’t want to finish on a grim note, and he said that it was the duty of all assembled, at this crucial turning point, to do their best to keep the Union going.
Webster’s speech stunned the Senate and outraged New England, who in no way believed that the defense of slavery should be tolerated. It became conventional wisdom in the North that Webster was trying to position himself for a run at the Presidency in 1852, and Northern Whigs were highly motivated to do whatever they could to deny Webster the nomination. It reached the point where Calhoun was portrayed in a more honorable light than Webster because Calhoun didn’t stab his supporters in the back. It was difficult to tell whether Webster’s support of Clay’s compromise did any good for several weeks, in part because Calhoun died on 31 March 1850; Calhoun’s death deprived the opposition to Clay’s compromise its most powerful voice.
Webster’s speech stunned the Senate and outraged New England, who in no way believed that the defense of slavery should be tolerated. It became conventional wisdom in the North that Webster was trying to position himself for a run at the Presidency in 1852, and Northern Whigs were highly motivated to do whatever they could to deny Webster the nomination. It reached the point where Calhoun was portrayed in a more honorable light than Webster because Calhoun didn’t stab his supporters in the back. It was difficult to tell whether Webster’s support of Clay’s compromise did any good for several weeks, in part because Calhoun died on 31 March 1850; Calhoun’s death deprived the opposition to Clay’s compromise its most powerful voice.
A second death came into play: President Zachary Taylor died of natural causes. Taylor was in opposition to Clay’s compromise, in large part because HE viewed himself the leader of the Whigs, not Clay. Clay had not asked or deferred to him on party matters, and Taylor felt upstaged by Clay. Taylor’s death left Clay the unchallenged leader of the Whigs, which meant the odds of his compromise moving forward greatly increased. Clay had been convinced to combine his resolutions into an omnibus bill, and with President Millard Fillmore, a veto was basically off the table.
A first term Democratic Senator from Illinois, Stephen Douglas, found majorities in the Senate for various parts of the bill. When Clay returned after the sweltering summer, he found that Douglas had done all the necessary work and all that really needed to be done was to get the bill to Fillmore. Clay believed that the Compromise of 1850 had bought the nation time, maybe 20 years, and by then, Clay hoped the sectional discord would be defused.
A first term Democratic Senator from Illinois, Stephen Douglas, found majorities in the Senate for various parts of the bill. When Clay returned after the sweltering summer, he found that Douglas had done all the necessary work and all that really needed to be done was to get the bill to Fillmore. Clay believed that the Compromise of 1850 had bought the nation time, maybe 20 years, and by then, Clay hoped the sectional discord would be defused.
The Fugitive Slave Act greatly polarized the already existing tensions, in that it shifted the burden of proof from the slave hunters to the alleged escapees. Also, the act compelled the cooperation of Northern law enforcement and civilians, and miscarriages of justice under the act would result in many acts of kidnapping innocent Free Blacks.
Southerners resented the Compromise of 1850, since with the admission of CA the North had a +2 advantage in the Senate, and with the political martyrdom of Calhoun, the idea of secession gained momentum. Clay’s compromise further agitated both the North and South, and both regions held Clay responsible as Abolitionism grew more powerful and influential. Clay watched as the anger grew worse, but he was powerless to stop it this time; Clay died of consumption in July 1852. In 1852, the Whigs again went with a war hero, nominating Winfield Scott, and again Webster was on the outside looking in. But Webster knew he didn’t have a chance, so he agreed to be Fillmore’s SecState, which gave Webster the out he needed to escape a still very angry Massachusetts.
Southerners resented the Compromise of 1850, since with the admission of CA the North had a +2 advantage in the Senate, and with the political martyrdom of Calhoun, the idea of secession gained momentum. Clay’s compromise further agitated both the North and South, and both regions held Clay responsible as Abolitionism grew more powerful and influential. Clay watched as the anger grew worse, but he was powerless to stop it this time; Clay died of consumption in July 1852. In 1852, the Whigs again went with a war hero, nominating Winfield Scott, and again Webster was on the outside looking in. But Webster knew he didn’t have a chance, so he agreed to be Fillmore’s SecState, which gave Webster the out he needed to escape a still very angry Massachusetts.
In October 1852, Webster died of complications from a carriage accident that occurred in May. The deaths of Calhoun, Clay, and Webster marked the end of the second generation of America’s nationhood. Clay became the first American to lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol, and before Lincoln’s Mourning Train back to Springfield (Ill) in 1865, Clay’s train back to Lexington (KY) was the train Americans waited on the tracks to mourn.
The honors towards Calhoun were sectional; he in essence was given the honor of lying in state in the state capitol building in Richmond (VA), and Massachusetts had forgiven Webster, acknowledging the contributions of the state’s most famous adopted son (Webster was originally from New Hampshire). In battling the unfolding events that were the legacy of Calhoun, Lincoln turned to Clay and Webster, where Clay gave Lincoln his philosophy, and Webster gave Lincoln the words.
The honors towards Calhoun were sectional; he in essence was given the honor of lying in state in the state capitol building in Richmond (VA), and Massachusetts had forgiven Webster, acknowledging the contributions of the state’s most famous adopted son (Webster was originally from New Hampshire). In battling the unfolding events that were the legacy of Calhoun, Lincoln turned to Clay and Webster, where Clay gave Lincoln his philosophy, and Webster gave Lincoln the words.