Town Hall Meeting: Daniel Webster

 My name is Daniel Webster, I am a lawyer, a statesman, and a Former United States Secretary of State. I was born in New Hampshire in 1782 and after moving to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1823, I became a U.S. Representative. I served as a U.S. representative for four years and then became a U.S. senator in 1827. After my fourteen years as a senator, I served as both the 14th and 19th U.S. secretary of state under Presidents John Tyler, William Henry Harrison, and Millard Fillmore. My persuasive arguments helped shape a large number of important decisions regarding federal power.  I was known to be the greatest public speaker of my time and was a founder of the Whig Party. However, before I was involved in politics, I was a salesman. After learning more about the economics of our country and seeing the different walks of life, I was convinced by my wealthy clients to get involved with the law. So after joining the Massachusetts bar practicing the law for several years in my home state of New Hampshire, I finally won political office in 1813.

 In one of the most famous cases that I was present in, McCulloch vs. Maryland (1824), John Marshall accepted my view that under the Constitution, Congress had the jurisdiction to "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper," including the chartering of the United States Bank, and that states such as Maryland could not tax any branches of that bank or any other institution under the federal government. Marshall even used one of my quotes to help support the defense of the bank. This quote being, "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Hence suggesting that if we allow the states to have taxing power over any part of the federal government, we would inevitably be giving them the power to destroy it.

Slavery is a matter of historical reality not a moral principle. The issue of slavery's existence was settled long ago when Congress prohibited slavery in the territories in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and when the regions were divided into free states and slave states in 1820 through the Missouri Compromise. Although I agree that the free states should remain free, I believe that the slave states should be allowed to maintain the continuation of slavery. I also agree with the enforcement of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. In order to uphold the legitimacy of the Missouri Compromise, those who are in the free states should be expected to return any fugitive slaves back to the slave states. If both the free states and the slave states cannot work together to support both sides of the compromise, then is it really even worth having? If we cannot count on the states to do their parts then the only solution is to allow the federal government to have control over all of them and ensure national unity. "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable."

Bible Team Challenge

Throughout history, Christians have not found it difficult to keep both slaves and their faith at the same time. In the book of Genesis, the "father of faith" (Abraham), and the other patriarchs held slaves without God's disapproval (Gen. 21:9-10). 

"Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust" (1 Peter 2:18). Although this is acknowledging the reality of slavery and the submission of slaves, it is not endorsing slavery as an institution. 

In Colossians 4:1, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." This is portraying that even the masters of the slaves have their own master in Heaven, referring to God. 

As time passed, the Christian views of slavery underwent some major changes. In the late1800's, the Quakers played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, helping thousands of slaves escape their lives of captivity. Christianity as a whole now views slavery as unjust and immoral, despite the religion justifying in the past. 

Although religions including Christianity have condoned slavery in the past, there has been some major turnarounds. It is very easy to condone and condemn certain things based off of perception and religious views are based on such a thing. So it makes sense that over time, as people's perceptions of certain things change, their views might follow suit. 

Supreme Court Videos

 After watching the videos on the Supreme Court, I learned a lot more about the role that the Supreme Court plays in our government. The Supreme Court is the most powerful segment of the judicial governing body. So how exactly does it work? Well, for starters, the Supreme Court is composed of nine justices that each serve a sixteen year term. These justices get involved with hundreds of cases each week that have requested their help via written petitions. In order to determine the outcome of the cases, the Supreme Court delegates and comes to a decision in private. 

All of the Supreme Court's power is held within both the history of the Constitution and the faith of the public. Before the Marbury V. Madison case in 1803, the court had only a fraction of the power that it holds today. Through a concept known as judicial review, coined by Chief Justice John Marshall, the Supreme Court has grown into a major position of strength. Through a vertical check and balances system and judicial review, the Supreme Court has the power to review and monitor the actions of the other governing branches. 

What some people don't realize is that in a way, the Supreme Court is holding "the land of the free" (America) together. If the Supreme Court ever stopped enforcing the constitutional law and or the people stopped following it, then our country would be in shambles. 

I found the importance and role of the Supreme Court really interesting. I appreciate the idea of having the judicial branch checking on the other governing branches so that nobody has too much power. Something that surprised me was the sixteen year terms each justice carries out. I feel like it is such an odd number to be in that position for as it is the same time spent in power as it would be for four presidential terms.