Free Lecture: “Forced Into Politics: Daniel Webster, Ralph Waldo Emerson, And The Fugitive Slave Crisis,” By Geoffrey R. Kirsch

The long and storied Senate career of New Hampshire’s favorite political son came to an ignominious end with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. After Daniel Webster endorsed the notoriously harsh law as part of a broader compromise meant to forestall civil war, his constituents turned on him. Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once admired Webster as “the conscience of the country,” accused him of having “no moral sentiment” and lamented that he had “betrayed the North to please the South.” Why did Webster support the Fugitive Slave Act as a means of preserving the Union, and why did it backfire? How does the explosion of antislavery sentiment after 1850 parallel the political polarization and social justice activism of 2020? And how, ultimately, should we assess Webster’s legacy at our own politically fraught moment? Scholar Geoffrey R. Kirsch, doctoral candidate in Harvard University’s Department of English, is a New Hampshire native, hailing from Concord and earning his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College. His writings on the intersections of legal and political history and American literature have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and the New England Quarterly, among other publications. This program is part of Humanities To Go, a program of New Hampshire Humanities. This lecture is open to the public and admission is free of charge.

Mask Policy:

Masks fully covering the mouth and nose are to be worn by all visitors and staff in public spaces at the New Hampshire Historical Society. While recent progress with vaccinations is very encouraging, no one can tell who is and who isn’t vaccinated. Our priority is to have a policy that promotes the health and safety of everyone— visitors and staff—at the Society. The Society welcomes families with young children, and we know that only a very small percentage of children under 18 have been vaccinated. We also welcome all adults, including those who may not be able to be vaccinated due to a compromised immune system. In order to accommodate all individuals, young or older, we will continue to adhere to our existing mask policy until further notice.

Accessibility:

The New Hampshire Historical Society’s building, including the rotunda, exhibition gallery, auditorium, reading room, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking is located behind the building in the Society’s lot (entrance off North State Street), and the building’s rear entrance is wheelchair accessible via a ramp from the parking lot.