Daniel Webster and His Contribution in Politics
Daniel Webster acted in various capacities which included
topnotch constitutional lawyer, notable public speaker and a prominent
congressional spokesperson. Webster started his life with a well backed up
legal career and he was known to have worked with some top minds of that time.
Right from his childhood, Webster was surrounded by people who were strong
federalist and he came across as a staunch federalist too.
House of
Representative
Through the course of his legal career, Webster showed
remarkable skills and the speeches he delivered were highly influential. In the
year 1813, he was elected to the House of Representatives on the side of Federalist
Party. From then on till the year 1827, Webster refrained himself from politics
and focused more on his legal career. It is during this period he influenced
judges to pass some landmark judgment including the power to tax was the power
to destroy.
Senator
In the year 1827, Webster was elected senator from
Massachusetts and in this period he actively took part in several activities.
He was well known of his support for protective tariff. There was great
improvement in the manufacturing space in Massachusetts. It is mainly because
of his initiative that the Tariff of Abominations came into existence in the
year 1828.
Though many of Webster’s speeches were highly power-packed
and delivered strong messages, his exceptional response to Senator Robert Y.
Hayne of South Carolina with regard to Southern State’s Rights Doctrine made
him quite popular in the region. In his speech, Webster eloquently spoke in
favor of the federal government. He successfully put-forth the weaknesses in
Hayne’s speech and also contended that the constitution and union dependent on
the people and not that of the state.
Webster as secretary of
state
Webster served as secretary of state between the years
1841-1843, 1850-1852. In this period, he earned huge reputation and was known
to have served the state in a better manner. The negotiation of the
Webster-Ashburton Treaty in the year 1842 that significantly eased the border
problem with Britain was one of his greatest achievements. There was always a
dispute over the border of Maine and New Brunswick between Britain and the US
and the problem was amicably solved with a treaty.
Despite being a strong and influential Whig leader, Daniel
Webster did not receive the nomination from his party as Presidential candidate
which is something that he was completely disappointed with.
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