The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-08-21
seward on the atlantic Gable.


Auburn:
Let me derive from this great subject m |
humble instruction. The TWO great coun.
ries OF which have spoken, presume
nay say all countries, are now ringing with
he praises of Cyrus W. Field, who chiefly
has brought this great enterprise to it's glori-
nus and benefcent contamination. You have
never heard his story let me give you few
prominent points in il ~ lesson that there
is no condition in life in which man en-
dowed with native genius, benevolent spir-
it and courageous patience, may not be-
come benefactor Of nations and Of man
kind. Cyrus w. Field, few years ago, was
a merchants clerk in Broadway. and after
time became, as every capable merchants
clerk may become, retail and then whole
sale dealer: occupying position in the oom
munity such as our Mr.. Griswold, our Mr..
Woodruff, or our Mr.. Choate now holds. -
Telegraph Communications were already per-
fected 10 all directions, across and through
out this broad land and the nations OF Wcs-
tern Europe. The practicability Of subma-
rine cables was successfully established by
telegraphic lines across the Irish Channel
and the German Ocean. All that remained
TO do to unite several continents and bring
together disjointed portions OF the world,
was to stretch cable on the bottom Of the
sea, from the Bay Of Valentia, in Ireland, to
Trinity Bay, on the coast Of Newfoundland.
This unknown and obscure merchant vol
unteered and appointed himself to the mis-.
sion OF etiecting the great and difficult enter
prise. Without eloquence, such Us the gra-
ces Of speech Of our excellent and distn-
guished friend, Gov. King-without any Of
that faculty for making political combina-
tons, such as he and oil other statesmen are
understood to possess-only the qualifca
tions OF faith, energy and patience-this OBJ
scure merchant brought into being an asso-
citation Of Americans and Englishmen, which
contributed from surplus wealth tho small
capital necessary as basis for the enterprise.
1t remained to engage the consent and the
activity Of the Governments OF Great Britain
and the United States. That was all that re-
NAMED. Such consent and activity on the
part OF some one great nation of Europe was
all that remained needed for Columbus when
he stood ready to bring new continent for
ward rs theater for the worlds civilization.
But in each case TINT task was the most diff
cult of all. Cyrus w. Field, by assiduity
and patience, FIRST secured consent and con-
ditional engagement on the part of Great
Britain, and then, less than two years ago,
he repaired to Washington. The President
and Secretary OF State individually fav ored
his proposition; but the jealousies Of parties
and sections in Congress forbade them to
lend their official sanction and patronage
He appealed to me. / drew the necessary
bill. With the generous aid Of others, North
ern Representatives and the indispensable
aid OF the late Thomas j. Rnsk, q Senator
from Texas, that bill, after severe contest
and long delay, was carried through the Sem
ate Of the United States by the majority, if |
remember rightly, Of one vote, and escaped
defeat in the House Of Representatives with
equal difficulty. have said the aid Of Mr..
Rusk was indispensable. II any one has
wondered why |, an extreme Northern man,
loved and lamented Thomas j. Rusk, an
extreme Southern man, they have here an ex
PLANTATION. There was no good thing which,
as it seemed to me, | could not do in Con.
grcss with his aid. When he died, it seemed
to me that no good thing could be done by
any one. But so vehemently were the preiu-
dces entertained against MIR. Field himself,
for what was then regarded as presumption
and oiiiciousness on his part, although he is
the most modest of all men, that the bill was
only saved by his Withdrawing, at the request
Of Mr.. Kusk and myself, from tho Senate
chamber, from ts passage and Hobbies, and
even from the Capitol grounds, and remain
ing unobtrusiye and unseen in bis own lodg-
ings.. Such was the position OF Cyrus w.
Field at that stage Of the great enterprise
But Cyrus w. Field, thus at last fortified
with capital derived from New York and
London, and with the navies Of Great Britain
and the United States at his command, has ,
after trials that would have discouraged any
other than true discoverer, brought the
great work to q felioitous consummaton.-
And now the Queen Of Great Britain and the
President Of the United States stand waiting
his permission to speak, and ready to speak
at bis bidding; and the people OF these two
great countries await only the signal from
him to rush into fraternal embrace that
will prove the oblivion Of ages Of suspicion,
Of jealousies and Of anger.
know, as took occasion to say when
this bill passed, that the merchant in our
cities, the manufacturer in our towns and
the farmer and planter in the country, prao-
tically would know the value Of Gil produc-
tions in the two great markets in the world
every day in their own counting room, work
shop or field, and that the values Of all pro-
ductions and labor would rise with the re.
| trenchments OF commissions, on wastes and
haxsrds, % yet attending exchange; and tina,
this increase Of values would add incalcula-
| bly, to the wealth aud advancement Of the
United States. know now as stated then,
what eur excellent friend, Gov. King, has 80
truly explained, that diplomacy becomes less
difficult, and will gradually become obsolete
when the nations shall be brought into i'm
mediate daily communication with each 9TH
er. Bat will not dwell upon these results
and will present only one other aspect oil
tho great subject. What the nations Of the
world have most needed through all centu
ries which have passed, was q system Of
self government based upon the fundament-
al principle Of the political equality Of al
classes aud conditions Of men. Ii fell tc
the lot Of our government to organize such
system of government, and under the auspi.
ces Of Washington, Adams, Jefferson and
Hamilton, to put it Unsuccessful operation.
But it stood here isolated and alone. The
nations Of Europe saw that system at dis.
TANGO, coveted it, and many OF them have
struggled through seas Of blood to seize and
embrace, adopt and establish it among them
selves. But that was impossible, and has
hitherto been impossible. Before they can
avail themselves OF this great blessing, the
European continent and all other continents
must be brought practically into immediate
proximity to, and intimate communion with
the United States. Mark now how Provi-