deeper-toned chord. It has
arrested the religious feeling of the country; it has taken strong
hold on the consciences of men. He is a rash man, indeed, and
little conversant with human nature, and especially has he a very
erroneous estimate of the character of the people of this country,
who supposes that a feeling of this kind is to be trifled with or
despised. It will assuredly cause itself to be respected. It may be
reasoned with, it may be made willing--I believe it is entirely
willing--to fulfil all existing engagements and all existing
duties, to uphold and defend the Constitution as it is established,
with whatever regrets about some provisions which it does actually
contain. But to coerce it into silence, to endeavor to restrain its
free expression, to seek to compress and confine it, warm as it is
and more heated as such endeavors would inevitably render
it,--should this be attempted, I know nothing, even in the
Constitution or in the Union itself, which would not be endangered
by the explosion which might follow."

Thus Mr. Webster spoke on slavery and upon the agitation against it, in
1837. The tone was the same as in 1820, and there was the same ring of
dignified courage and unyielding opposition to the extension and
perpetuation of a crying evil.

In the session of Congress preceding the speech at Niblo's Garden, numerous
petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District had been offered.
Mr. Webster reiterated his views as to the proper disposition to be made of
them; but announced that he had no intention of expressing an opinion as to
the merits of the question. Objections were made to the reception of the
petitions, the question was stated on the reception, and the whole matter
was laid on the table. The Senate, under the lead of Calhoun, was trying to
shut the door against the petitioners, and stifle the right of petition;
and there was no John Quincy Adams among them to do desperate battle
against this infamous scheme.

In the following year came more petitions, and Mr. Calhoun now attempted to
stop the agitation in another fashion. He introduced a resolution to the
effect that these petitions were a direct and dangerous attack on the
"institution" of the slave-holding States. This Mr. Clay improved in a
substitute, which stated that any act or measure of Congress looking to the
abolition of slavery in the District