UC Law SF Professor Joel Paul Pens New Book on Daniel Webster
Professor Joel Paul talks about his new book, which explores the history of American nationalism popularized by Daniel Webster in the early 1800s.
UC Law SF Constitutional Law Professor Joel Richard Paul has written a new book,听. The third book in Paul鈥檚 popular history series, INDIVISIBLE tells the story of one of the greatest orators and statesmen of the 19th century. Paul has lectured and published in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. He is the author of 鈥溾 and 鈥.鈥 In his spare time, Professor Paul writes stage plays.
What made you decide to write this book?
My previous book,听WITHOUT PRECEDENT, is about Chief Justice John Marshall and his impact on the Constitution. In addition to being a congressman, senator, and secretary of state, was one of the preeminent advocates who argued many of the most important cases before the Marshall court. Webster鈥檚 most famous speeches opposing slavery, the , and the , popularized Marshall鈥檚 ideas of constitutional nationalism. His speeches were eloquent and hypnotic. Throughout the U.S. and Europe, he was regarded as the greatest orator of the English language. For much of the nineteenth century schoolchildren were required to recite from memory excerpts of Webster鈥檚 greatest speeches. Lincoln cribbed some of his most famous lines from Webster. 鈥淥f the people, by the people, for the people鈥 鈥 those were not Lincoln鈥檚 words; that鈥檚 Webster speaking.
It is always fascinating to examine how history repeats itself. Were there other instances of this in your book?
One of the major figures in the book whom Webster opposed was Andrew Jackson. The parallel between Trump and Andrew Jackson is striking. Jackson was an ignorant, impulsive authoritarian who did not respect constitutional norms. As a general, he invaded Florida without authority, murdered British citizens, and launched bloodthirsty attacks on Native Americans. Jackson lost the presidency in 1824, and when he ran again in 1828, he alleged, without evidence, that there was a 鈥渃orrupt bargain鈥 between and that cheated him out of the presidency. He manipulated the press with disinformation. He was a populist, a cult figure, who appealed to an angry white working class. He promised to clean the swamp in Washington, but instead he replaced qualified civil servants with unqualified, often corrupt, cronies. He viciously attacked his enemies, especially Native Americans, Mexicans, and northeastern bankers.听 He was a bigot who understood nothing about government or economics.
What historical moments inspired you?
In 1850, California petitioned for admission as a state. The southern states, fearful that this would give free states a majority in the Senate, threatened to secede from the union. Clay proposed a compromise that would require the North to return fugitive slaves. Clay needed Webster to endorse this compromise because of his reputation as the conscience of New England and a fiery opponent of slavery. Without Webster鈥檚 support, the northern senators would have voted it down. Webster鈥檚 whole career was about preserving the union and opposing slavery. His most famous line was 鈥淟iberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.鈥 Now, he was forced to choose between those two principles. Webster鈥檚 decision to support the fugitive slave law ended his political career, and he died two years later a broken man. But the Compromise of 1850 saved the union for another decade. If the nation had divided in 1850, you would have had , not Lincoln, leading the fight to save the union. The generation that fought and won that Civil War in 1860 were entirely indoctrinated with Webster鈥檚 view that the 鈥 not our race 鈥 made us听all听Americans. Webster defined what it meant to be an American.