Webster's Second Reply to Hayne

[Rob Wick]

I personally think what Webster is saying is that if one looks at the states that made up the Northwest territory, the fact that they were settled without the introduction of slavery gave them an advantage both economically and, more important, morally. Hayne seemingly took that as an attack on the institution of slavery, which I think Webster really was trying to do, only in such a way as to make it appear that he wasn't. I think to a point Webster was being somewhat disingenuous. In other words, I don't think Webster was looking at it from a purely economic point of view, although there were certainly those who left Kentucky, like Thomas Lincoln did, due in part to slavery. I think he was saying that while economic integrity would flourish under a free society, the lack of slavery as an institution provided a moral benefit equal to or greater than the economic one.

I base none of this on any documentation or anything other than my own opinion. Given that it's free, take it for what it's worth.

Best
Rob