Slavery, Daniel Webster, 1850

Updated August 6, 2026

Estimate: 1 / 1000 Stuart, Moses. CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION: WITH REMARKS ON THE RECENT SPEECH OF THE HON. DANIEL WEBSTER IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1850. 8vo, original front wrapper present, rear cover absent, heavy water-staining to much of text, Fair-. A significant theological defense of constitutional obedience published in response to the national controversy over slavery and the Compromise of 1850. Moses Stuart (1780–1852), the influential professor of biblical literature at Andover Theological Seminary, argues that Christians were bound to respect the constitutional protections afforded to slavery while distinguishing political duty from personal moral conviction. Issued in the immediate aftermath of Daniel Webster's famous "Seventh of March" speech, the work became an important contribution to the fierce national debate over slavery, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the relationship between conscience, religion, and constitutional law. Condition: For lots in this online-only auction, condition is stated in general terms only, ranging from Poor to Fine, with Good being average (i.e. an exhaustive list of individual flaws is not included, but only our opinion of the overall cumulative grade is provided.) Most books in this sale have been given a brief inspection only and have not been fully collated (unless the collation is shown.) However, if loss or absence of text is observed during our inspection, then this will always be noted in the description. All lots are sold as-is and not subject to return for any reason. PLEASE READ THE VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOUND IN LOT #1.

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