Daniel Webster on South Carolina, by Ari Sclar

This leads us to inquire into the origin of this government and the source of its power. Whose agent is it? Is it the creature of the State legislatures, or the creature of the people? If the government of the United States be the agent of the State governments, then they may control it, provided they can agree in the manner of controlling it; if it be the agent of the people, then the people alone can control it, restrain it, modify, or reform it. It is observable enough, that the doctrine for which the honorable gentleman [from South Carolina] contends leads him to the necessity of maintaining, not only that this general government is the creature of the States, but that it is the creature of each of the States severally, so that each may assert the power for itself of determining whether it acts within the limits of its authority…This absurdity (for it seems no less) arises from a misconception as to the origin of this government and its true character. It is, Sir, the people's Constitution, the people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people. The people of the United States have declared that the Constitution shall be the supreme law. We must either admit the proposition, or dispute their authority.

• Daniel Webster, 1830

1. What is the context of Webster’s passage? What is Webster’ point of view?

2.

What does Webster mean when refers to a ‘misconception as to the origin of this government and its true character’? Provide details of two examples of how this misconception caused tensions in the relationship between the states and the federal government between 1790-1830 (not including the above issue)?