History

History

After reading the three different speeches it is surprising to see the similarities and differences in the styles and argument points of the three orators. The first basic similarity is that all three speeches are directed in a manor either supporting or opposing the Compromise of 1850. Second the speeches are all directed to the same group of their peers. The arguments are genuine in their beliefs and values and are a representation of the divided beliefs of the people of the period. Beyond that the speeches of Seward and Calhoun go in very different directions than that of Webster. One of the speeches is supporting the compromise and the others against it. The different speeches use everything from examples of overseas conflicts, to stories of how slavery used to be portrayed before the times of many of these men. Webster fought on the position that slaves were treated with the upmost respect, kindness, and compassion by slaveholders, where the other two speakers point out that slavery it inherently wrong and goes against the morals and values of the large majority of the people. The three speeches all used a large amount of imagery to make the listener feel as though he was in the position of the slaves as well as the slaveholders. This tactic on either side of the issue helped to draw emotional ties to one position or the other.
I was curious to begin with if the length of Seward’s speech would affect its credibility. Many of these debaters had to listen to the other side ramble on and on about why their position was better. Political debate can often times lead to a point of the same few points being hammered into a pulp by either side. However, Seward presents an excellent and very convincing speech. I especially found that he didn’t just approach his opposition of the compromise from just one angle. Rather, he looked at the situation from many different angles. For example at one point in his speech he looked at the biblical and religious implications of slavery. For me this is one of the strongest parts of his whole speech, he states that the laws of god are even more powerful than the laws of man. Though the laws of man may say that slavery is wrong above the 36 degrees 30 line the laws of God would say that slavery is wrong everywhere. He looks at the negative implications of slavery in other places worldwide from Russia to Madrid. These well thought out and well researched examples continue to drive his point home. If slavery has failed and hurt other countries it will only do the same in the United States. Finally the best part of Seward’s speech and the point that really moves me as I hope it moved many others listening first hand is when Seward Applies the preamble of the constitution towards supporting his argument. In the preamble he makes a point to “general welfare” by this he means that everyone is included in these rights and liberties even slaves who should be free.
Though the compromise of 1850 was still applied men form both sides applied their orating skills and knowledge in order to sway the benefits towards the cause that they supported.CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS TOPIC