Daniel Webster

Having discussed Henry Clay at some length, I feel duty-bound to give equal time to another prominent Whig senator, Daniel Webster, a New Hampshire native who later moved to Massachusetts. Webster served in the U.S. House, representing first New Hampshire, and then Massachusetts. He went on to represent Massachusetts in the Senate, and to serve as Secretary of State in two Whig administrations.

He is considered one of the greatest orators in Senate history, but one of his most celebrated achievements involved oratory in a different room in the Capitol. He argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of his alma mater, Dartmouth College, in the case of Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward. (The Supreme Court at that time met in the Capitol building, long before moving across the street to its own building in 1935.) In 1819, the court ruled that the State of New Hampshire could not void the charter that had been granted to the college by King George III, and make Dartmouth a state institution.

Here is an interesting treatment of Webster on another blog. I suppose it is difficult to argue with the comment on that blog that, in that photo at least, Webster was “creepy looking”.

Image: U.S. Senate