ected, however, and the request was refused. The
time, the matter, and the manner, indicated that the attack was made
with the design to crush so formidable a political opponent as Mr.
Webster had become. To this end, personal history, the annals of New
England, and the federal party were ransacked for materials.

It was attempted with the usual partisan unfairness of political
harangues to make him responsible not only for what was his own, but for
the conduct and opinions of others. All the errors and delinquencies,
real or supposed, of Massachusetts and the Eastern States, and of the
Federal party during the war of 1812, and indeed prior and subsequent to
that period were accumulated and heaped upon him.

Thus it was that Mr. Hayne heralded his speech with a bold declaration
of war, with taunts and threats, vaunting anticipated triumph--saying
'that he would carry the war into Africa until he had obtained indemnity
for the past and security for the future.' It was supposed that as a
distinguished representative man, Mr. Webster would be driven to defend
what was indefensible, to uphold what could not be sustained and, as a
Federalist, to oppose the popular resolutions of '98.

The severe nature of Mr. Hayne's charges, the ability with which he
brought them to bear upon his opponents, his great reputation as a
brilliant and powerful declaimer, filled the minds of his friends with
anticipations of complete triumph. For two days Mr. Hayne had control of
the floor. The vehemence of his language and the earnestness of his
manner, we might properly say the power of his oratory, added force to
the excitement of the occasion. So fluent and melodious was his
elocution that his cause naturally begat sympathy. No one had time to
deliberate on his rapid words or canvass his sweeping and accumulated
statements. The dashing nature of the onset, the assurance, almost
insolence of his tone; the serious character of the accusations,
confounded almost every hearer.

The immediate impression of the speech was most surely disheartening to
the cause Mr. Webster upheld. Congratulations from almost every quarter
were showered upon Mr. Hayne. Mr. Benton said in full senate that as
much as Mr. Hayne had done before to establish his reputation as an
orator, a statesman, a patriot and a gallant son of the South; the
efforts of that day would eclipse and surpass the whole. Indeed the
speech was extolled as the greatest effort of the time or