Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-09
Speech of William II. Seward

In the Senate Of The United States. Feb. %,
1855, on the Bill to Protect Officers Of the
United States.
Mr. President The scene before me,
and all its circumstances and incidents, ad
monish me that the time has come when the
Senate Of the United States is about to grant
another of those concessions, which have be-
&C me habitual here, to the power OF Slavery
in this Republic. For the second time, in
period of nearly three months, the brilliant
chandelier above our heads is lighted up:
the passages and galleries are densely
crowded all the customary forms of legisla-
ton are laid aside. The multiiarious sub
iects. which have their rise in all parts of
this extended country. are suddenly forgotten
in u concentration of feeling upon II single
question of intense interest. The day isspent
without adjournment. Senators foregoing
their natural relaxation and relreshment, re
main in their seats until midnight ap-
proaches. Excitement breaks out in every
part of the Chamber. Criminations and re-
ordinations, and denunciations of Senators
individually, and Of Senators by classes,
equally OF those who have participated in the
debate, and of those who have remained silent,
CRATE harshly upon the ear. Such as these
were the incidents that heralded the passage
of the Fugitive Slave act of 1850. Such as
COMPROMISE in 1854. | know full well that
the fall of constitutional Liberty is as GER
tain TO follow these incidents occurring now +,
| as 1t followed .- like incidents on the sad
| occasions tn which have referred. And /,
| for aught | know, tho teeming gun, which
proclaimed those former triumphs OF Slavery,
is already planted again under the caves of
the Capitol, to celebrate another victory
My course, on this occasion, has been the
same as ON all former occasions of like
character. | have iorborne from engaging in
| the debate, until near the end OF the contro-
versy, that the country may know who it il,
and who it is not, that disturbs the public
harmony, and breaks the public peace, by the
agitation OF Slavery in these Halls; and |
shall speak now, less in the form of an argu
ment against the bill before us, than of a pro-
test, upon which shall take my stand, to
abide the ultimate judgment which shall be
rendered by the American people.
For myself there is u painful association
connected with the rise OF this debate,
arose in my place at | | o'clock this morning
simultaneously with the honorable Senator
from Connecticut, (Mr. Toucey) and each o
us demanded an audience, which was assigned
by the Chair to him. lie announced this bill
which, however obscure in its language, was
as we all instantly knew, designed for tn,
are engag ged in executing the Fugitive Slav,
Law. On tho other side, held in my hant
/ a proposition, TO he su omitted to the Senate
/ for the erection of bronze monument, fit,
{ feet high, IN the city of Washington, whicl
, should illustrate the life and the death o
e Thomas jefferson, and commemorate the i'm
} mortal names of the signers of the Declara
{ ton of American independence. Ii was
new acknowledgment which was about /
4 ask from the Senate of the United States I
t the great fact on which the liberties OF thi
; country and all it Constitutions rest-tha
a all men are created equal. Sir, the success
d which the honorable Senator from Conneoti
e cut (Alr, I oucey) obtained over me, whe
v tho floor WIS assigned to him. was ominou.
; The Senate Of the United States will erect n
y monument to the memory of jefferson, VIII
t declared that in the unequal contest betwee
I Slavery and Freedom the Almighty had n
4 attribute which could take part with the or
y pressor. But the Senate will, on the othC
| hand, promptly comply with the demand /
3 raise another bulwark around the insttutio
n Of Slavery.
e Mr.. President as there is nothing new j
Is the circumstances of this transaction, 50
0 has happened now us on all similar occasion
y heretofore, that everything foreign from tn
. question at issue has been brought into Ill
: debate. The introduction OF these foreig
u matters has, as heretofore, been attended wit
ii profusion of reproaches, and calumnie
s. and epithets, as inapposite to the occasio
as they are inconsistent with the decorui