Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/64

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS on the government itself, to be exercised by its appropriate department, and under its own responsibility to the people, this power of de- ciding ultimately and conclusively upon the just extent of its own authority. If this had not been done, we should not have advanced a single step beyond the old Confederation. Being fully of the opinion that the embargo law was unconstitutional, the people of New England were yet equally clear in the opinion (it was a matter they did not doubt upon) that the question, after all, must be decided by the judicial tribunals of the United States. Before these tribunals, therefore, they brought the ques- tion. Under the provisions of the law, they had given bonds to millions in amount, and which were alleged to be forfeited. They suffered the bonds to be sued, and thus raised the question. In the old-fashioned way of settling disputes, they went to law. The case came to hearing and solemn argument; and he who espoused their cause, and stood up for them against the validity of the embargo act, was none other than the great man of whom the gentleman has made honorable mention, Samuel Dexter.^ He was then, sir, in the fulness of his knowledge and the maturity of his strength. He had retired from long and distinguished public service here, 1 Senator from Massachusetts, 1799-1800; secretary of -war, 1800; secretary of the Treasury, 1800-1804; candidate in 1816 for governor of Massachusetts, on a platform opposing the Hartford Convention. Defeated by 3,000 votes. 54