Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-03
Dangers OF Slavery Extension.
SPEECH OF GOV. SEWARD,
AT THE REPUBLICAN, MEETING AT ALBANY,
Friday Evening, Oct IL, 1856.

Hail 10 the capital Of Eew York! Ven.
cradle ior ils antiquity, and yet distinguish
ed for its loyalty 10 Progress, Liberty, and
Union. This capital is dear to me. fl
has more than once sent me sbroad with
honorable functions, aud eyens in those
adverse seasons wh ch have happened tol
me, Os they must happen 10 all represents
tive men, il has never failed 10 re csive
me at bornc again lin sympathy and kind.
ness. Doubly honoreds be the banner Of
the stsres snd stripes, which here takes on
It's hlshes significance, as it waves over
The halls where equal representatives. make
laws which regulate the lives oil equal lree-
men. HcHored be the statue Of Justice
that surmounts the dome above US! Blind,
that she may not through either passion
or prejudice discriminate between the rich
and the pOcr, the Protestant and Catholic,
{ the nstiVeborn and the exotic, the freeman
I snd hfa whoae liberties baye beea clevsa,
f5ewn, and weighing vita Sexuel b4laRll
! the rights of all classes and all races of
men. Old faralG9r ecEoes greet my ear
/ from beneath these embowered rsoiS! The
voices OF the SDencers, Of Kent and Van
Rensselaer, aud Van Veghten, of the genial
Tompkins, OF Clinton the great and the
elder Clinton, Of King and Hamilton, OF
! Jay the pure aud benevolent, and Schuyler
/ the gallant and infexible. The very air
! that fingers around these arches bresthes
uiterances OF moral, social. and Of physical
enterprise, and of unconquerable freedom.
! You, Old, tried, familiar friends, ask my
: rDunspl ~ bpf hpr IN ciipo g.,
! Traditional controversies aud TO dissolving
parties. or to rise at once to ,nobler alma,
with new and more energetic associat sas!
| do no, wonder at your suspense, snor do
| censure caution, or even umidity. Fi,te-
ness in political associations is weakness
and Precipitancy in public action is crime.
Considered by itseii, i ID unfortunate to be
obliged to separate from an old party, and
to institute a new one. The new one may
exhibit more enthusiasm for l!me, bat it
must also for time lack cohesion nj dis
cipIine. The names Of parties are gener-
ally arbitrary, and not at all indicative OF
their characters or purposes. A generous
man will, nevertheless, cling, as il it i:ere
family altar, to name that hss long
been a rallying cry fer himself and hi,
compatriot..
The grea; question ssosfOrs US, however
ia to De decided, not by feeling, but unds
i counsels o. reason and patriotism. It wGe
the last injunction given by the last one
Of the revolutionary Congresses 10 the a
merican people, never to forget that the
cause OF America had always been, anC
that it h.ust ever continue TO be, the caus.
oil human nature. The question then is
what is the course dictated to us by on
love Of country and of humanity!
The Estrpn wac foUndsd - TIA si.ao!
and practically new principle Of tn, -qul
u and inalrnable rights o! all men, md there
t fore it ss4riy became republic = -
u Other Governments, fOuHd'd ON the N
: cert principle q tae inequality Of sm mer
I are, by force Of an equal necessity, non
e archits or srs,ocrecies. Whenever e;tAe
:, OF these kinds OF Governments loses b
- lspse OF time and change Of Circumstance
II its elementary principle, whether OF equal
= ty, thence forward it takes .apid an
l. Irresistible course toward reGrgGuiZ 10
r Of the oppocite kind. Noone, here O. els,
e where, j. SO disieJsl to biz county or
81 publican system .lail. All agrre tAat
u every case, and Throughout all hazards, q
i' is,ccrssy must be sbh.rred aud avoided.
'e republican, institutions must be de- end.
10 anu preserved.
- Tunk it not strange or extrsvag4nt wht
"' ] say that su arist3cr.cy has already aris.
= here. and that it is already uud5rminr
= the Republic An arstocracy could II
uriao in any county where there was I
privileged Class, ana no special found 4tiC
. Oh which such class could permanent
i stand. On the CO.. trary, every STATE, hoi
ever republican it, Constitution may b.,
~ suIe 10 become an uristouracy, sooner
~ later, II /, has privileged class standil
- n MY on I'll ,enGuFIns special Foundation
- and II that Cluss Is continually grown
." stronger ans stronger, ami the unp-iyileg,
- classes continually growing wesker al
- weaHrri II is not at ali essential 10 pi
~ vlleged class that it rest on teudal tenure
10 ur on military Command, or on eccesiasti
~ al authority, or That lis nights 81 hereti,a
&c or even that 1t be distinguished by till
'u OF nor. 1t may ba even the mole
y SIdluu. snd the more dangerous for lack,
ali these Things, because it will be le
~ obnoxious 10 popular hostility.
A privileged class has existed il Il
eouahy from an early period OF its sett
meut. Slaveh, lderS constitute that cla
- They have special foundation on viii
49, 10 stand-name.y, personal dominion o,
slaves. Conscience and sound policy Il
8 Dld ali mn uIlke from holding slaves, L
some c'tI2eus Glregard tue injunction. Sol
!, OF the States enforce the inhibition; 9th
:, Sta,es neglect or refuse To enforce il.
4 al. oG b, States, here are but three lhu
dred and Gly Thousand ciuzeus wac sv
~ themselves Vi this peculiar lnIu genct; a
those, pruIeced by the laws of these Stat
constitute privileged Class. Tney c.
less themselves 10 De such Class, wh
- tAey desIgna's the syst,m Of Slavs-y al
"pecunar" 'nstiuiilon.
~ the .plri. ul the revolutionary age "
'os adverse 10 that privileged class. Amer
" anu Europe were firmly engaged then
80 prosecuting what was exp c,sd t. te
.ao speed cjmpe.e, ami uny.rsal aboli,
,.e oi Al.lcun .:tsvery. Mary eli h. prIyit
eu cidosea adnittsd that Stavefy as 0
manent system was indetensiole, and fav