Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-03-19
Speech Of VIM. II. Seward,
IN THE SENATE II THE UNITED STATES.
MARCH 3, 1858.

tilunphal demonstrations un0er the
floors of the Capitol Four years
later, we exploded altogether the time
honored system of governing the
Territories by Federal rules and regula.
tions, and published and proclaimed in
its stead new gospel of sovereignty
whose ways, like those of wisdom were
TO be ways of pleasantness and all Of
whose paths were supposed to be fiowery
paths of peace. Ncvcrthele S. the
question whether there shall be Slavery
or no Slavery in the Territories, is again
the stirring passage of the day. The
restless Proviso has burst the cercments
of the grave, and, striking hands hero
in our very presence with the gentle spirit
Of popular sovereignty run mad, is seen
raging freely in our halls. scattering
dismay among the Administration
benches in both Houses of Congress-
Thus an old and unwecome lesson is
read to us anew. The question o.
Slavery in tho Federal Territories.
which are the nurseries of future States.
Independently ofall its moral and humane
elements, involves dynastical struggle
of two antagonistical systems, the
labor of freemen, and the labor of
slaves, for mastery in :, tho Federal
Union. One Of these systems par
takes jof an aristocratic J characters;;
the other is purely democratic. Each
one Of the existing States has stahed =.
or it will ultimately stake. not only its
internal welfare, but also its influence
in the Federal councils, on the decision
Of that contest. Such struggle is not
to be arrested, quelled. or reconci(ed,
by temporary peiients Or compromi-
Sos.
Mr.. President, I always engage
reluctantly in these discussions, which
awaken passion just in the degree that
their importance dcmanls the impartial
umpirage Of reason This reluctance
deepens now, as look around me. and
count the able contestants who have
newly entered the lists on either side.
and shalowy forms of many great and
konared statesmen who once were elo-
qaent in these disputes, bpt whose
tongues have since bee me striesless IN
3lruncutS,riSe up tefore me. 1t is, however
a IN kim in military science, thatin prep
ara'ion for war, every one should think
as if the last event depended on his
counsel. and in every great battle each
one should fight as il he were the only
champion The principle, perhaps, is
equally sound in political affairs. If il
he possible, | Shall perform my present
duty in such way as to wound
no just sensibilitics. must. however,
review the action of Presidents. Senates,
and Congresses. do indeed, with all
my heart, reject the Instruction given
by the Italian master of political science,
which tclches that all mon are bad by
nature, and that they will not fail 20
show depravity wherever they have a
fair opportunity. But jealousy of
executive power is a lish, practical
virtue in Republics; and we shall fad
i, hard to deny the justice Of tie charac-
ter Of free legislative bodies, which
NUiTl's JtlltN oA tltN, NiItH uI Sutl
that the British House of Commons, of
which he was at the moment equally
an ornament and an idol, like every
other popular assembly, must be viewed
as a mass Of men capable of too much
attachment and too much animosty.
capable Of being biased by weak and even
wicked motives. ana liable to be governed
BY ministerial inference, by caprice, and
by corruption.
Mr. President, propose to inquire, in
the first place, why the question before
us is attended by real or arparen, dan
gers.
| think our apprehcnsions are in part
due to the intrinsic importanc of the
transaction concerned. Whenever we
add a new column to tho Federal col
onnade. we need to lay it's fuundations
so firmly, to shape its shaft with such
Just proportions, to poisc it with such
exactncss, and to adjust its connections
with the existing structure so carefully.
that instead of falling prematurely, and
dragging other and venerable columns
with it to the ground, it may stand erect
forever, increasing the grandeur and
the stability of the whole massive an. 4
imperial fa5ric. Still, the admission Of
new State is not necessarily or even
customarily atten led by either emharrass-
ments alarms. We have already admit
cd e shtecn new States without scri rus
connections, except in the cases ot
Missouri, Texas, and California VIZ
are even now admitting two Others
Minnesota and Oregon and thcs(
transactions 90 on 50 smoothly, that
only close observers are aware that we
are thus consolidating our dominion OF
the shores Of Lake Superior, anl
almost at the gates ot the Arctic ocean.
It is manifest that the aPprehend.'
difficulties in the present case have som
relation to tn, dispute conccrnin;
Slavery which is raPinq within tn
Territory Of Kansas. Yet i: must b
remembered that nine Of the new State
which have been almittel, cxpressl
established Slavery, or tolerated it, an
niae Of them forbade it. The excite
ment, therefore, is dae to pcculia
circumstances. | think there are thre
,ef t'lcnr namely