Talk:Daniel Webster

Webster-Hayne Debate

The 1830 debate referenced here wasn't between Webster and Calhoun. Indeed, Calhoun was presiding over the Senate at the time, as Jackson's VP, and so couldn't have taken part in debate. Webster was famously debating with Hayne.

The article requires work -- I hope to get to it soon.

• I agree, Christofurio. I have done some stuff to better organize the article and add more information. Let me know what you think of these changes.

Also, what do you think of this long quote:

The Administration asserts the right to fill the ranks of the regular army by compulsion...Is this, sir, consistent with the character of a free government? Is this civil liberty? Is this the real character of our Constitution? No sire, indeed it is not. The Constitution is libeled...Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly or the wickedness of government may engage it? Under what concealment has this power lain hidden which now for the first time comes forth, with a tremendous and bailful aspect, to trample down and destroy the dearest rights of personal liberty? Who will show me any Constitutional injunction which makes it the duty of the American people to surrender everything valuable in life, and even life itself, not when the safety of their country and its liberties may demand the sacrifice, but whenever the purposes of an ambitious and mischievous government may require it?

In my view, I think we should eliminate this passage. It's too long to be useful and interesting in an encyclopedia article and can be replaced by a number of much better, pithy quotes from him. Can I get a second? Jacob1207 03:10, 3 Apr 2004 (UTC)

How about this quote from Webster, it's probably my favorite quote of any person. Anytime. Period. Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents and parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly and wickedness of the government may engage itself? Under what concealment has this power lain hidden, which now for the first time comes forth, with a tremendous and baleful aspect, to trample down and destroy the dearest right of personal liberty? Who will show me any Constitutional injunction which makes it the duty of the American people to surrender everything valuable in life, and even life, itself, whenever the purposes of an ambitious and mischievous government may require it? . . . A free government with an uncontrolled power of military conscription is the most ridiculous and abominable contradiction and nonsense that ever entered into the heads of men. AdamJacobMuller Thu Oct 28 23:58:45 EDT 2004

Could I ask that somebody disambiguate this paragraph as to who Jeremiah Smith is in relation to the school? I am in no way an authority on the subject, but mentioning Jeremiah Smith is almost useless if nobody knows who he actually was. For all any random person knows, he could be a student. "In 1816, Webster was asked to help in a legal matter representing Dartmouth College. In the wake of the Jeffersonian Republicans' success in the New Hampshire elections (they gained the governorship and a majority in the state legislature) the state decided to declare Dartmouth a public institution. They altered the constitution and size of the College's trustee body and then added a further board of overseers, which they put into the hands of the state senate. In essence they seized control of a private body without consultation or any offer of compensation. Webster assisted his friend Jeremiah Smith in fighting the action all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, where he personally argued the case. The peroration of his speech [1] was both emotional and well-reasoned. Due in large part to Webster's efforts, the court decided five to one in Dartmouth's favor." N.R.Doctor 05:25, 10 November 2005 (UTC) (Edited for clarification, sorry, was my first time posting on wikipedia ^_^) N.R.Doctor 05:27, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Wikisource

Is his "second reply to Hayne" available on Wikisource? freestylefrappe 01:31, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

Picture

Would anyone agree that perhaps the actual photograph of Daniel Webster be placed first in the article? However I think doing so would render the painting somewhat of less use. Sudachi 20:27, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Auto peer review

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You may wish to browse through User:AndyZ/Suggestions for further ideas. Thanks, Ravedave ^{(help name my baby)} 04:02, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

Fear of speaking

Lodge is quoted as saying both that Webster acquired a lasting fear of public speaking and that he got over it at college. Which? Septentrionalis 20:50, 27 August 2006 (UTC)