What did Daniel Webster mean in his Seventh of March speech when he said I would not take pains to reaffirm an ordinance of nature nor to re-enact the will of God?

In his Seventh of March speech, Daniel Webster was expressing his belief that certain truths and principles, such as the moral implications of slavery, are inherently understood and do not need to be legislated or reiterated. By stating he would not "reaffirm an ordinance of nature" or "re-enact the will of God," he emphasized that the moral law is intrinsic and should guide human actions without the need for formal declaration. This reflects his view that lawmakers should recognize and adhere to these natural laws rather than impose their interpretations. Ultimately, Webster was advocating for a pragmatic approach to the contentious issue of slavery, seeking to bridge divides rather than exacerbate them.