Who Signed The Constitution? The Webster Mystery

While there is no mention of a Webster among the 39 delegates who signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, there are two prominent figures named Webster who were involved in significant constitutional cases and debates. Noah Webster, the dictionary creator, was a loyal Federalist who opposed the adoption of the First Amendment as he believed it would give citizens too much freedom to act lawlessly. Daniel Webster, on the other hand, was a skilled attorney and influential statesman who played a crucial role in several landmark Supreme Court decisions that helped shape the interpretation of the Constitution.

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Noah Webster did not sign the Constitution

Noah Webster, the dictionary creator, did not sign the United States Constitution. The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended, and 39 signed the document.

Noah Webster was not one of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention. However, he was known by many of the delegates and frequently dined with them. Webster was a loyal Federalist and a strong supporter of the Constitution. In 1785, he wrote a series of four essays called "Sketches of American Policy," which highlighted the weaknesses of the existing Articles of Confederation and advocated for a new government. He also wrote essays favoring the ratification of the new Constitution but opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, including a national amendment protecting freedom of the press.

Webster is often called the "father of American copyright" for his successful efforts in securing copyright protection for his books and influencing Congress to adopt the first copyright law. He also played a significant role in shaping the American brand of the English language and uniting pupils around common readings on American history.

While Noah Webster did not sign the Constitution, he made significant contributions to the early political and intellectual landscape of the United States, particularly in the areas of copyright law, language, and support for a strong federal government.

Noah Webster opposed the First Amendment

Noah Webster, the dictionary creator, did not support the adoption of the First Amendment. He was a loyal Federalist and played a significant role in shaping the American English language and uniting students through common readings on American history. However, his opposition to the First Amendment stemmed from his belief that the Bill of Rights would empower citizens to act lawlessly.

Webster's stance on the First Amendment is particularly intriguing given his career as a journalist. In his essay "Reply to the Pennsylvania Minority: 'America'," published in the New York Daily Advertiser in 1787, he expressed his opposition to a national amendment safeguarding freedom of the press. He argued that defining the liberty of the press and determining its scope over centuries would be challenging, and that unrestrained liberty could warrant any breach of law.

Webster's views on the Bill of Rights were not unique among Federalists. Many argued that a nation ruled "by the people" did not require a Bill of Rights. James Madison, for instance, initially believed that enumerating individual rights in the new constitution was unnecessary. However, he eventually drafted 17 amendments, 10 of which were ratified as the Bill of Rights, recognizing that the new constitution would not be ratified without them.

Despite his opposition to the First Amendment, Noah Webster wrote essays supporting the ratification of the new Constitution. In 1785, he penned "Sketches of American Policy," a series of four essays that highlighted the weaknesses of the existing Articles of Confederation and advocated for a new government. Webster's influence extended beyond politics; he is often called the ""father of American copyright"" for his successful lobbying efforts in securing copyright protection for his books and influencing Congress to adopt the first copyright law.

Daniel Webster was a strong advocate for the Constitution

Daniel Webster was an American statesman, orator, and lawyer who practised prominently before the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as a U.S. congressman, senator, and secretary of state. Webster was a strong advocate for the Constitution, playing an important role in eight of the most celebrated constitutional cases decided by the Court between 1814 and 1824. In "Dartmouth College vs Woodward" (1819), he maintained that a state's grant of a charter to do business was a contract that the state could not impair. He argued that the Constitution's Contract Clause prohibited the legislature from altering the college's board of trustees. The Marshall Court ruled in favour of Dartmouth, reaffirming the supremacy of the constitutional protection of contracts.

Webster also successfully argued in "McCulloch vs. Maryland" (1819) that a state could not tax a federal agency, as the "power to tax was the power to destroy." This argument was adopted by Chief Justice John Marshall in his famous declaration. Webster's success in Supreme Court cases led many to call him the "Great Expounder and Defender of the Constitution." As a presidential elector, Webster remained politically active outside of Congress, delivering a well-received speech attacking high tariffs. He was then elected as a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1820–1821, where he spoke in opposition to universal suffrage, arguing that power followed property.

Webster's strong advocacy for the Constitution extended to his belief in a "perpetual" union. In a famous rebuttal to Senator Robert Hayne, Webster defended the powers of the federal government, arguing that the people held the ultimate power and had established the Constitution as the supreme law of the country. He objected to the doctrine of nullification, stating that it constituted treason and would lead to civil war. Webster's stance on preserving the union at the expense of ending slavery remained consistent throughout his career, even as the national debate over slavery intensified. He was also a strict constructionist of the Constitution, opposing protective tariffs that stimulated manufacturing as unconstitutional, arguing that Congress could only levy duties for raising revenue.

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Daniel Webster was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1820-1821

Daniel Webster was an American lawyer and statesman who was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, in 1782. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801 and was admitted to the New Hampshire state bar in 1805. Webster went on to become a U.S. congressman in 1813 and soon gained recognition as a talented attorney. Notably, he successfully represented his alma mater, Dartmouth College, in the Dartmouth College vs. Woodward case.

Webster was also actively involved in politics during his time out of Congress. He served as a presidential elector, interacting with officials like Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. In 1820, he was elected as a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, which lasted until 1821. At this convention, Webster opposed universal suffrage, independent of property ownership, arguing that power and property were inherently linked. However, his advice was not heeded, and the constitution was amended to include suffrage.

Webster's political career continued as a member of the Federalist Party, the National Republican Party, and the Whig Party. He served as the secretary of state under three presidents: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore. Despite his affiliation with the Federalists, Webster did not resign when President John Tyler, a Whig, vetoed the Bank of the United States. He remained in his post, engaging in discussions with Britain over the Canada-Maine border.

Webster played a significant role in several important constitutional cases decided by the Supreme Court between 1814 and 1824. His arguments in cases such as Dartmouth College vs. Woodward (1819) and Gibbons vs. Ogden (1824) influenced the Court's decisions. Due to his successes, he earned the moniker "Great Expounder and Defender of the Constitution."

Webster's oratory skills, intellectual prowess, and constitutional expertise were widely acknowledged. He vehemently opposed the annexation of Texas and supported a ""perpetual" union, as evident in his Second Reply to Hayne speech in 1830. Webster passed away in 1852, leaving behind a legacy of political and legal contributions that shaped the United States.

Daniel Webster was not a signatory to the US Constitution

The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A total of 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin was the oldest.

Daniel Webster, however, was not one of the signatories. Born in 1782, he would have been too young to have taken part in the Constitutional Convention. Instead, Webster became known as a skilled orator and influential statesman in the early 19th century. He served as an attorney and argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court, including Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) and Gibbons v. Ogden (1824).

Webster played a significant role in shaping the interpretation of the Constitution through his legal arguments. In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, he successfully argued that the Constitution's Contract Clause prohibited the New Hampshire state legislature from altering the college's board of trustees. This case set an important precedent for corporate independence from state influence.

Webster also played a key role in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), where he refuted Maryland's claims that the Second Bank of the United States branch in that state was unconstitutional. He asserted the supremacy of the federal Constitution and warned against unlimited state taxing power. His arguments in this case influenced Chief Justice John Marshall's decision, which reinforced federal power under the Supremacy Clause.

In addition to his legal career, Webster was politically active, serving as a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate, representing Massachusetts. He was also elected as a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1820–1821, where he spoke against universal suffrage, arguing that power was inherently tied to property ownership.

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