Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-08
Is<sM E&TIC,
COY. SEWARD'S LECrURF.

rnI tt~ Eeu. nan 10 deliver th- n Iurory lecture
VII u-f course. HE >ib-c selected T discourse VA
" lie TUE U -atless If ,ut Country" CunsII-red IL
NJ sectional punt q yien and giving occasion f, cn
mont upon national question. Just at his m.men, The
subject of exciting agitation led to an expressoo If tho
speakers sentiments thai will b regarded with GENERAL
interest," perhaps as an index Of sober minded popular
feeling al th- north.
Mr. Steward introduced the snhi-c, IL ra,; IL
elements Of true nailua greatness Ana II c,nnectinn
WIN IL IN the and internal capacities # the
th''ed HiateS-iheir advantage in territorial locality
means Ut l"tec1nmnalcaton. Of climate and Of agricul,
tural and mineral wealth. Thus favored he thought
probaoly beyond other Countries The United States were
IN The hands OF race enerpsing and progressive and
advancing IN strides towalds maximum of prosperity
O1"n reliable bases Of calculation the increase of popula
tom might be estimated reach ing thir.y mon, IN
lSoD. or fifty millions in 1850, Or eighty millions, il
l5p. aid Of more than double that number in less than
one hundred wars.
The Americans, continued Mr. S are hornouene
onS pepe, and although tracing their origin 10 variety
OF sources world eventually. like the ancient Rrman
ahSnrh and completely a>slmate al tic iuhuenc-s-
he remnant, 4 the ADJngIna and African tribes inca
phla y 81 n as~ini!atln, while eXertng Influence
upon The c,nrolllng race, may be assumed destined
t. disappear alinJeher. Inc Americans family
speaking The an1naqe & exposed in the case
of other prs differences arising from rrecnncl4a
Die conflicting Interests that lead To estrangemet dis
seriSl,n, f-ud and ruin.
The Amer are free not prone to war but prompt
ed bv that maria aror winch anticipates war by decis
Ion. hey are enduei WI activity, mental and physical
that has raised them from nation IN 76, without ca pi
tai, WITHOUT credit, with very ind ltnt agriculture, and
Struggling commerce, t. What the United States are
n"w-wlth adequate capital, prosperous agriculture III
sug manufactures, and IN rank the second commercial
nation OF The world. And with snch characteristics as
nation, moral. law abdlg enterprsng and virtuous
they have solved the pr blen the capacity of mrn
70 receive republican, government. This the rdlan
ut oil IPaI tho had
blow.
i ne only true object nf government is the happiness
OF the people, and ms attained by the institution Of
Democracy, based practically the principles of univer
sal liberation of conscience and universal suffrage which
l. the perfection OF political lsce, because it poca
equality.
Mr.. Seward then reviewed the features Of the Am
eHcan Political system Legislative. judicial and execu
i've. THIS system would cause those who Instituted it,
i they were wholly AMI al disappear from Il
earth 70 rene nhsrr in perpnulty for exec lent Wis.
dom and unsurpassed magnanluy. Thes. institutions
nave tendency To strengthen their deep fuunda-
non, IN the elements of nauni character and popular
affection. An anxiety TO these institutions from
serious danger or overthrow is the predomnating mo-
i've OF every cllzn every occasion o public action
he American system possessed blIity. and ade
quate ioall tunctots Of government. Where it lacks
me Prnmp"ess, energy, and uness Of monarchy, there
! more than compensation in H. direct connection slth
the Interests and WISHES Of the people
.COuld then governments simple in principe vet
socompleXed IN organZaUn, and resting much con
sent, endured the shock which it must be exposed
he experience of sixty years, through irving ordeal
gives a satisfactory reply
n farther considering the probability Of a dissolution
q the Union, Mr. Seward sad-he only danger now
apprehendei IS that Of Of more If tho
States Since the expansion Of the Union and the in
crease OF the number Of its members il is apparent that
oven Sec'SSlon OF one or more States would now
Il might have done formerly. subvert the whole slruc
tnre Ii would still exist. yielding protection and dis
pensing prosperity to the members which should re-
nam The certainty Of This result could not but exert
great influence probably controlling one against dec
SION 70 separate by any discontinued State.
Adnlnlsirat cannot always be equally bpnefcent 10
all the States although II should BE- always equally
just which is not To be expected. spirit sufficiently
compromising hrs been always developed the grear
ques ION III finance. and the increasing wealth and
strength of the various industrious cl of the country
are diminishing the lmportan of that question In 70
gard TO Slavery the only subject viii h gives rise to ap
Prrhensl"n, whatever Is vital to any State guarded
against interference by the other STATES and even auains,
Federal lnerpOstion. There is now, and there
never has been, IN any quarter. dlsp respass
oy"ad tue 0TblddeR mIts Incidental questions ha We
been discussed with heat and acrmonv. because liberty
OF DEBATE was INSTRUCTED denied Nevertheless they
have been decided with various advantages to the con
ficng parties, and they have acquiescrd 1t viii he 81
hereafter. and emnrnly So because debate being free
VIII ne seen that Truth effective when she EMPLOYS
ne language OF persuasion and Of moderation and that
trro- YES all her strength to physical resistance
IN all scuatlonS upon this subject, there might be
al1tnl Ia the scope 1T possible forecast What NAV hap
pen when our Pacif en,ulaes in wealth and DOW
or The Atlantic Is left only uncertain conjecture
Bar probabilities considered lie could discern no cause
why 10 that tar 1T period the motives Of nationality
sIo''d he ueeker THAI now
Having surveyed-slii the speaker in CONCLUDING
passage rrprte with eloquent and beautiful thought
having surveyed the elements Of cuunirys greatness
- the philosopher Of Ehl and performed that duty for
MS own native land, We may employ his language in
ant"ureng the sublime result
- tdss soem Orjenttrn IN Occiiente None of
thr greatest IL marches which IN Inc memory of lines
nave risen ~ the hahIaDle world had fair seeds and
he4Innng> as harh Tins and country whatever
w event shall De, whIch must depend Gods will and
Prnvld-1.ce''
81 this grateful theme. We see ouiy the rising of lh-
sun ct tmplre-ony the fair seeds and beginnings If
great Nation. " neither that 81 wing orb Shall attain TO
meridian height. or fall suddenly from It's glorious
spheFe-whpih'r those prolific SEEDS sna il mature
auiumnal npene>s or shall perish Welding Il harvest
depends ea trodS will and providence But q dis will
and providence operate by casualty or caprice but by
nSrd and revealed laws. we would secure the ufpa
ness set hetnre u.s. find the way which th,ne
laws INDICATE, and keep within it. That way is new
and all unired. We departed eary-we departed at the
o@innlng-Our lot was cast in age of Revoluten-a
ke'oulIon which waste bring all mankind from state of
srrvude 10 the exercise of sp accommodation under
HE tyranny ct PHYSICAL Force to the gentle sway Of
opinion from under subsection Matter to dominion
"'er Nature II was ours 10 lead The way, take up
e crss OF Repubcansm aud bear before the nations
II lght lis earliest battles ENJOY lis earliest iriumphs
10 Illustrate lis purifying and elevaiing virtues, and by