Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/59

 WEBSTER honorable gentleman himself has gone, and I hope not so far. I content myself, therefore, with debating the matter with him. And now, sir, what I have first to say on this subject is, that at no time, and under no cir- cumstances, has New England, or any State in New England, or any respectable body of persons in New England, or any public man of standing in New England, put forth such a doctrine as this Carolina doctrine. The gentleman has found no case, he can find none, to support his own opinions by New Eng- land authority. New England has studied the Constitution in other schools and under other teachers. She looks upon it with other regards, and deems more highly and reverently both of its just authority and its utility and excellence. The history of her legislative proceedings may be traced. The ephemeral effusions of tempo- rary bodies, called together by the excitement of the occasion, may be hunted up ; they have been hunted up. The opinions and votes of her pub- lic men, in and out of Congress, may be explored ; it will all be in vain*^ The Carolina doctrine can deriv.e from her neither countenance nor sup- port.,- She rejects it now; she always did reject it; and till she loses her senses, she always will reject it. The honorable member has referred to ex- pressions on the subject of the embargo law, made in this place, by an honorable and ven- erable gentleman, now favoring us with his IX— 4 49 /