It embodied the principle from which he never swerved, and led to all that he represents and to all that his influence means in our history.
As the first expression of his conception of the destiny of the United States as a great and united nation, Mr.Webster was, naturally, "more fond of this child" than of any other of his intellectual family.

The speech itself was a noble one, but it was an eloquent essay rather than a great example of the oratory of debate.

This description can in no other case be applied to Mr.Webster's parliamentary efforts, but in this instance it is correct, because the occasion justified such a form.

Mr.Webster's purpose was to show that, though the true policy of the United States absolutely debarred them from taking any part in the affairs of Europe, yet they had an important duty to perform in exercising their proper influence on the public opinion of the world.

Europe was then struggling with the monstrous principles of the "Holy Alliance." Those principles Mr.Webster reviewed historically.