A Plea for Harmony and Peace

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Author’s Background
Daniel Webster is considered one of the greatest orators in the history of the American senate. In fact, his speech “Reply to Hayne” is considered to be the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress. Daniel was a senator for Massachusetts and a prominent figure among Northerners. Through his life he was a part of three different parties: Adams, anti-Jacksonian, and Whig. This speech was widely considered to be contrary to the ideals of the Whig party and after giving it Daniel Webster was never fully trusted again by his party(24 Annuls).
Historical Background
The speech "A Plea for Harmony and Peace" was delivered in 1850. It's content touches on problems that would eventually cause The Civil War. One of the main issues mentioned is what should be done with runaway slaves. The country was divided into three groups on this point. The North wanted to stop all expansion of slavery, the South wanted to, at least, retain it’s slavery and, at most, expand slavery into new states and territories. Finally, a third group urged that there should be compromise between the states. Daniel argues that fugitive slaves should be returned in accordance to the Supreme Court's orders. Another topic mentioned in his speech is the possibility of secession. The fact that it mentions secession tells us that this idea was in some people's minds at least as early as 1850. However, compromise, namely, The Compromise of 1850 was also on people’s minds and this very speech was in support of it.
Audience
This speech was delivered to the Senate on the seventh of March, three days after Senator John C. Calhoun gave his speech, “The Clay Compromise Measures.” In Calhoun’s speech, he urges that the cause of dissent between the North...

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...aders to win their promised support for the presidency.” Not long after this speech Webster left the Senate and finished his career as Secretary of State.
Final Evaluation

Works Cited

Webster, Daniel. “A Plea for Harmony and Peace.” Annals of America. USA: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1968. 24-27. Print0
The Works of Daniel Webster by Daniel Webster; The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster by Daniel Webster; Fletcher Webster; Life and Memorials of Daniel Webster by Daniel Webster; The Private Life of Daniel Webster by Charles Lanman
The North American Review , Vol. 104, No. 214 (Jan., 1867) , pp. 65-121

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3276
Irving H. Bartlett, Daniel Webster (1978) http://www.nationalcenter.org/CalhounClayCompromise.html http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Speech_Costs_Senator_His_Seat.htm

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