Daniel Webster letter to Francis Brown, 5 January 1833

MR. WEBSTER TO CHIEF JUSTICE LIVERMORE.

Washington, January 5, 1833.

MY DEAR SIR, Your letter of December 29 is received, and has given me pleasure. I regard you, my dear Sir, not only as an acquaintance of many years' standing, but also as one whose countenance and kindness were important to me in youth. I shall be sure to send you any thing which I may think you would like to receive, and I beg of you not to take the trouble to acknowledge receipts. It will be quite enough that I understand generally that such communications are welcome.

The impression here to-day, seems to be that nullification has assumed a less threatening aspect. At least the danger of immediate collision appears less. The act, passed by the legislature of South Carolina, to carry the ordinance into effect, does not come up to the ordinance. It may happen that, notwithstanding the ordinance and the act, things may go on much as they have done.

Nothing is more uncertain than the fate of the new tariff bill. It will pass the House, if the President desires it ; but that is doubtful. If it were now in the Senate, it would be postponed from an indisposition to act again on that subject so soon ; but I do not know what will be done with it, should it come to us a month hence.

It is sometimes said that, in so changing a world, if people will but stand still, others sooner or later will come to them. Were you not struck with this truth, in seeing the proclamation ? I am, dear Sir, with constant regard,

Yours,

DANIEL WEBSTER.