What did Daniel Webster say about nullification?

Answer 1

Answer
He opposed it with a vengeance. "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseperable," is his most famous quote, and it pertains to this matter.

On the contrary to the above opinion, this quote addresses the notion of secession which is the actual physical separation of a state from the Union. While Webster often argued against the use of nullification and interposition, this was likely done solely on political grounds or for technical reasons. This is to say that he did not oppose the practice of nullification and interposition in principle, but believed that most cases in which these doctrines arose, he believed the causes were too inconsequential to justify acts of nullification or interposition by the states. In fact, if one reviews his speech on the Senate floor on the practice of conscription, there you will find Webster, himself, invoking the principles of 1798 and claim that it is the duty of the states and part of their essential function to nullify or interpose on behalf of the people under their jurisdiction in the event Congress should attempt to force an unconstitutional act such as conscription upon them. Consider the below quotation which was taken from this speech:


"The operation of measures thus unconstitutional and illegal ought to be prevented by a resort to other measures which are both constitutional and legal. It will be the solemn duty of the State governments to protect their own authority over their own militia, and to interpose between their citizens and arbitrary power. These are among the objects for which the State governments exist; and their highest obligations bind them to the preservation of their own rights and the liberties of their people"