cmyer@newsandsentinel.com
“‘Liberty! Liberty!’ Pho! Let Mr. Webster, for decency’s sake shut his lips for once and forever on this word. The word ‘Liberty’ in the mouth of Mr. Webster sounds like the word ‘love’ in the mouth of a courtesan.”
That was Ralph Waldo Emerson, reacting to Sen. Daniel Webster, Whig-Mass., after he spoke before the U.S. Senate, asserting slave holders were entitled to the protection of their property and urging strengthened fugitive slave laws. He was supporting fellow Sen. Henry Clay, Whig-Ky., in his Compromise of 1850. You know, the one that held off civil war for a while, but resulted in the continuation of slavery.