AND THE SENTIMENT OF UNION 381 



Webster's treatment they acquired a philosophical 

 value, and were fraught with most serious and earnest 

 meaning. These orations were conceived in a spirit 

 of religious devotion to the Union, and contributed 

 powerfully toward awakening such a sentiment in 

 those who read them afterward, while upon those who 

 heard them from the lips of the majestic speaker the 

 impression was such as could never be effaced. The 

 historian must assign to them a high place among 

 the literary influences that aroused in the American 

 people a sentiment of union strong enough to endure 

 the shock of war. 



In 1822 Mr. Webster was elected to Congress from 

 the Boston district, and was twice reflected by a popu- 

 lar vote that was almost unanimous. As chairman of 

 the Judiciary Committee of the House, he prepared 

 and carried the "crimes act," in which the criminal 

 jurisprudence of the federal courts was thoroughly 

 remodelled. The preparation of this bill showed in 

 a high degree his constructive genius as a legislator, 

 while in carrying it through Congress his parliamen- 

 tary skill and persuasiveness in debate were equally 

 conspicuous. Of his two most celebrated speeches in 

 Congress during this period, the first related to the 

 revolution in Greece. In January, 1824, Mr. Webster 

 brought forward a resolution in favour of making 

 provision for a commissioner to Greece, should Presi- 

 dent Monroe see fit to appoint one. In his speech on 

 this occasion, he set forth the hostility of the American 

 people to the principles, motives, and methods of the 

 Holy Alliance, and their sympathy with such struggles 

 for self-government as that in which the Greeks were 

 engaged. The resolution was not adopted, but the 



