defence, commercial regulations, and national revenue” were the very corner-stones of the Constitution, and that these great interests had been crippled and abused by the departure from Washington’s policy.  He developed, with great force, the principal and the most unanswerable argument of his party, that the navy had been neglected and decried because it was a Federalist scheme, when a navy was what we wanted above all things, and especially when we were drifting into a maritime conflict.  He argued strongly in favor of a naval war, and measures of naval defence, instead of wasting our resources by an invasion of Canada.  So far he went strictly with his party, merely invigorating and enforcing their well-known principles.  But when he came to defining the proper limits of opposition to the war he modified very essentially the course prescribed by advanced Federalist opinions.  The majority of that party in New England were prepared to go to the very edge of the narrow legal line which divides constitutional opposition from treasonable resistance.  They were violent, bitter, and uncompromising in their language and purposes.  From this Mr. Webster was saved by his breadth of view, his clear perceptions, and his intense national feeling.  He says on this point:—­

“With respect to the war in which we are now involved, the course which our principles require us to pursue cannot be doubtful.  It is now the law of the land, and as such we are bound to regard it.  Resistance and insurrection form no part of our creed.  The disciples of Washington are neither tyrants in power nor rebels out.  If we are taxed to carry on this war we shall disregard certain distinguished examples and shall pay.  If our personal services are required we shall yield them to the precise extent of our constitutional liability.  At the same time the world may be assured that we know our rights and shall exercise them.  We shall express our opinions on this, as on every measure of the government,—­I trust without passion, I am certain without fear.  By the exercise of our constitutional right of suffrage, by the peaceable remedy of election, we shall seek to restore wisdom to our councils, and peace to our country.”

This was a sensible and patriotic opposition.  It represented the views of the moderate Federalists, and traced the lines which Mr. Webster consistently followed during the first years of his public life.  The address concluded by pointing out the French trickery which had provoked the war, and by denouncing an alliance with French despotism and ambition.

This oration was printed, and ran at once through two editions.  It led to the selection of Mr. Webster as a delegate to an assembly of the people of the county of Rockingham, a sort of mass convention, held in August, 1812.  There he was placed on the committee to prepare the address, and was chosen to write their report, which was adopted and published.  This important document, widely known at the time