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Story
April 12, 1838
Virginia Free Press
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
In a Senate debate, Daniel Webster vehemently denies accusations of opposing the War of 1812, challenging John C. Calhoun to substantiate the claim and revealing failed attempts to find evidence against him.
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MR. WEBSTER AND THE LAST WAR
—One of the most prominent charges which has been urged against Daniel Webster, by his political enemies, for a series of years, is, that he was opposed to the last War. The charge has been so repeatedly made, and put forth with such confidence, that even many of that gentleman's own friends were induced to believe it. Now, hear how that gentleman himself puts the story down. During the late Sub-Treasury debate in the Senate, Mr. Calhoun thought proper to allude to this charge against Mr. Webster. In reply, Mr. W. said :
"The remarks of the Senator from South Carolina, in his mere passing allusion to him in connection with the War, were made from no motive at all, or they were made for the purpose of impeaching his patriotism. Sir, said Mr. Webster, in his strong and mighty voice, I put the Senator upon his responsibility—I defy him to say when and where, and how, and with whom, and to whom. I put him upon his responsibility to lay his finger upon any act of mine which will warrant him in saying that I was an enemy to the War.
When the war broke out, said Mr. Webster, I was closeted with judges and jurors—lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants—with Johnny Roe versus Doe—I was not a public man. I was in no public assembly. I had no power.
Mr. Webster then examined his own course during the War, and said that "since the war the whole country had been ransacked to prove that he was an enemy to the War. Every speech, every public letter, every expression of opinion, all that he had written and all that had been published, had been conjured up and scanned to make good a false charge against him. A regular search was made for five successive years to prove the allegation, and the result of all this labor was, that a gentleman who had lived formerly in New Hampshire, but who had removed to the extreme of New York, had in his possession a letter from me. This letter was brought to Washington, and a solemn conclave here assembled to deliberate over it, and the result of that deliberation—was, that it was there voted that if nothing more than this letter can be brought against Mr. Webster, it was best not to publish that letter."
—One of the most prominent charges which has been urged against Daniel Webster, by his political enemies, for a series of years, is, that he was opposed to the last War. The charge has been so repeatedly made, and put forth with such confidence, that even many of that gentleman's own friends were induced to believe it. Now, hear how that gentleman himself puts the story down. During the late Sub-Treasury debate in the Senate, Mr. Calhoun thought proper to allude to this charge against Mr. Webster. In reply, Mr. W. said :
"The remarks of the Senator from South Carolina, in his mere passing allusion to him in connection with the War, were made from no motive at all, or they were made for the purpose of impeaching his patriotism. Sir, said Mr. Webster, in his strong and mighty voice, I put the Senator upon his responsibility—I defy him to say when and where, and how, and with whom, and to whom. I put him upon his responsibility to lay his finger upon any act of mine which will warrant him in saying that I was an enemy to the War.
When the war broke out, said Mr. Webster, I was closeted with judges and jurors—lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants—with Johnny Roe versus Doe—I was not a public man. I was in no public assembly. I had no power.
Mr. Webster then examined his own course during the War, and said that "since the war the whole country had been ransacked to prove that he was an enemy to the War. Every speech, every public letter, every expression of opinion, all that he had written and all that had been published, had been conjured up and scanned to make good a false charge against him. A regular search was made for five successive years to prove the allegation, and the result of all this labor was, that a gentleman who had lived formerly in New Hampshire, but who had removed to the extreme of New York, had in his possession a letter from me. This letter was brought to Washington, and a solemn conclave here assembled to deliberate over it, and the result of that deliberation—was, that it was there voted that if nothing more than this letter can be brought against Mr. Webster, it was best not to publish that letter."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Bravery Heroism
What keywords are associated?
Daniel Webster
War Opposition Charge
Senate Defense
Patriotism
Sub Treasury Debate
What entities or persons were involved?
Daniel Webster
Mr. Calhoun
Where did it happen?
Senate
Story Details
Key Persons
Daniel Webster
Mr. Calhoun
Location
Senate
Event Date
During The Late Sub Treasury Debate
Story Details
Daniel Webster defends himself in the Senate against charges of opposing the War of 1812, challenging Calhoun to provide evidence and recounting how extensive searches failed to find any proof of disloyalty.