March 5 – Daniel Webster, US, Statesman

March 5 – Daniel Webster, US, Statesman

March 5. Daniel Webster. When you think of Daniel, think of the number three.

He was a member of three different political parties, each of which advocated for strong centralized government: the Federalists, the National Republicans, and the Whigs.

He ran, unsuccessfully, for the office of President three times: 1836, 1848, and 1852. He served as Secretary of State under three different presidents: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore.

While serving in the US Senate, Daniel was known as a member of the “Immortal Trio” along with his colleagues Henry Clay and John Calhoun.

Daniel was an outstanding orator who worked hard in college to overcome a fear of public speaking. And he became a successful lawyer who argued many high-profile constitutional cases before the Supreme Court. By 1822, Daniel was considered to be the nation’s leading lawyer and a rising political power. On this date in 1841, Daniel was appointed as the 14th US Secretary of State.

When critics attack, God enables us to respond in love.

In the mid-1800s, Daniel was a legal powerhouse on Constitutional issues. His speeches enthralled people, and they crowded in to hear him speak in court or in the House of Representatives.

In 1841, President Harrison appointed Daniel Secretary of State, which was a good fit for him, his principles, and his values.

But nine days after his inauguration, President Harrison died, and Vice President Tyler stepped into the job. All of President Harrison’s Cabinet appointments—including Daniel—agreed to remain.

President Tyler’s leadership style and policies differed greatly from President Harrison’s. A conflict developed. When President Tyler vetoed a bill to create a national bank, tensions exploded. In a show of solidarity against the President’s actions, the idea was for the entire Cabinet to offer their resignations.

But Daniel knew certain foreign-relations matters desperately needed resolution, including a border dispute with Great Britain over Canada.

So, Daniel had to choose—he could act in solidarity with his political compatriots or stay and continue the important negotiations with England. He had always been a man to put the country’s interests before loyalty to any party. And he had no reason to change now. In the end, Daniel was the only Cabinet member to remain in his post.

In the months following, many in Daniel’s political party distanced themselves from him. Others went even further and treated him rudely for agreeing to work with the President.

Instead of defending himself to his critics, Daniel worked steadily to resolve the border dispute. Almost a year later, that issue ended with the Ashburton Treaty—an agreement highly praised in North America and Europe. Suddenly Daniel’s reputation resurrected from political pariah to celebrated statesman.

Not long after this success, Daniel attended a political dinner where many of his friends-turned-enemies would be. When he arrived, the same people who had criticized him now raised a gallant toast to his negotiation skills.

Daniel’s ability to wield words put him in a perfect position to skewer those who had derided him. But, as his former secretary wrote, “No man ever had his powers more completely under command.”

And so, Daniel said, “I have also a sentiment for you: to the Senate of the United States, without which the Ashburton Treaty would have been nothing, and the negotiator of that treaty less than nothing.”

In that moment, Daniel demonstrated that he considered his “sense of [his] individual responsibility to God” as more important than his reputation among men.

“I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me” (Psalm 30:1 NIV).

Who are the “enemies” in your life? How does God want you to respond to them? When critics attack, God enables us to respond in love.

“Daniel Webster.” New World Encyclopedia. Newworldencyclopedia.org. Accessed August 17, 2020. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Daniel_Webster.

Nathans, Sydney. “Daniel Webster.” Marshfield.net. Grolier Electronic Publishing, 1995. Accessed August 17, 2020. http://www.marshfield.net/History/webster.htm.

“Webster, Daniel: Biography.” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 17, 2020. https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=W000238.

“William Henry Harrison and Daniel Webster.” Presidential History Geeks. Published January 15, 2014. https://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/437947.html.

Everett, Edward. The Life of Daniel Webster. New York: J.A. Hill and Company, 1904. Google Books. Accessed December 2018. https://books.google.nr/books?output=html_text&id=B6HY4EkcHvYC&jtp=231. p.231.

“Presidents and Their Cabinets: John Tyler.” Presidential History Geeks. Published March 29, 2018. https://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/951556.html. 

Lanman, Charles. The Private Life of Daniel Webster. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1852. Google books. Accessed December, 2018. https://books.google.com/books?id=EyEFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. p. 136.

“Daniel Webster’s Greatest Thought.” 1timothy4-13.com. Accessed December 19, 2018. https://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/chr_vik/webster.html.

365 Christian Men is a project built on some basic truths about God and His character. God cares deeply about each man, and He has a specific purpose for every man’s life. In fact, God wants to tell His stories through the lives of His men. These very short stories are about men who have fought their battles, are overcoming their obstacles, and are using the lessons they’ve learned to help others. Discover more about 365 Christian Men.

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