"Daniel Webster gave this speech in honor of George Washington on the centennial of the first US president’s birth. In it, he praises Washington’s attributes and recounts his service to America. He states that Washington is a man “whose name is intimately blended with whatever belongs most essentially to the prosperity, the liberty, and the renown of our country.” In recounting the life and work of Washington, however, Webster’s speech also serves as a reflection on the past 100 years in American history and the birth of a great nation. "
"With this famous speech, Daniel Webster joined the nineteenth-century debate over slavery in the US. While personally opposed to the practice, Webster argued that allowing the South to continue using slave labor was essential to maintaining unity of the states. This middle-ground opinion won him support of some Southerner moderates but also lost him the respect of some Northerners. Though it became the subject of much controversy, “The Constitution and the Union” showcases Webster’s unmatched skill as an orator. "
"On June 17, 1825, Congressman Daniel Webster spoke at a ceremony honoring the new Bunker Hill Monument. Past, present, and future came together in this stirring historic speech. He first honored the sacrifice of their ancestors, then moved on to show gratitude to their current veterans, including the forty survivors of the Battle of Bunker Hill who were present at the ceremony. Lastly, he gave an optimistic prediction for the future of democracy in America, saying, “The principle of free government adheres to the American soil. It is bedded in it, immovable as its mountains.” "
"American politician Daniel Webster delivered this speech in 1820 on the 200th anniversary of the landing on Plymouth Rock. In it, he honors the memory of the men and women who laid the groundwork for American civilization. He also challenges the crowd to consider how current political issues, such as slavery, will affect their legacy two-hundred years in the future. “Let [slavery] cease to be of New England,” he urges them in this historic speech, “and let civilized man henceforth have no communion with it.” "
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