Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster’s infamous speech on March 7^th, 1850 tackled an issue that was tearing the nation apart; slavery. American interest and perspectives at the time were vastly different depending on geography. The north was more industrialized, their economy was not as reliant on cheap or free labor like the South’s was. The truth is that the North’s rejection of slavery was a result of financial and political reasoning, not ethical concerns. This Northern fear of the South’s extensive population can be most appreciated by the implementation of the three-fifths compromise (1787). There is absolutely no implication to slavery’s immorality but there is instead an attack against its “fairness”. Because the North had no dependence on slavery it became easier for them to condemn the practice. Eventually the abolitionist movement did start, around the 1830’s and the humanitarian aspect increased within the movement. Working as a union was a fairly new concept, and making it work was a whole other animal. Finding common ground proved to be the result of continuous compromise. Like many politicians, Webster had not fully addressed the subject until that fateful day. He claimed, "I speak today for the preservation of the Union" in a three-hour long speech that would continue to support slavery and back the fugitive slave act of 1850. Not many Northerners agreed with his support for the fugitive act and took offense to being legally compelled to participate in the furtherance of slavery. However, as distasteful as it was this compromise did ameliorate the tension and postponed the civil war for another couple of years.