The oration begins eagerly with an appeal for the Constitution and the Republic, the ideas always uppermost in Mr.Webster's mind.

As a whole, it shows a distinct improvement in form, but there are no marks of genius to raise it above the ordinary level of Fourth of July speeches.

His next production was a little pamphlet, published in 1808, on the embargo, which was then paralyzing New England, and crushing out her prosperity.
This essay is important because it is the first clear instance of that wonderful faculty which Mr.Webster had of seizing on the vital point of a subject, and bringing it out in such a way that everybody could see and understand it.

In this case the point was the distinction between a temporary embargo and one of unlimited duration.

Mr.Webster contended that the latter was unconstitutional.