The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-16

SEwARD's SPEECH IN TIE SoUTH-The Louis
vile Journal, undoubtedly the ablest paper in
Kentucky, for years the stanch defender of
Henry Clay, declares Mr.. Stewards Rochester
speech to be one of the ablest and most grace
tul ever delivered on the American stump II
says: .4
" The doctrine of the incompatibilty of the
systems of Slavery aud Free Labor is obviously
Just at present a favorite crotchet with the Re-
publlcans. 1t is a CROCHET, but nothing more.
Nevertheless, it is a horrid bugbear to not few
Southern Democrats. Mr.. Seward, in the
course of his speech at Rochester, expressed it
as follows d
at was the antagonistic political ten
dencles OF the two systems which the first Napo-
leon was contemplating when he predicted that
Europe would ultimately be either all Cossack
or all Republican. Never did human sagaeity
utter more pregnant truth. The two systems
are at once perceived to be homogeneous But
they are more than incongruous, they are incom-
patble They never have permanently existed
together In one country, and they never can.
1t would be easy to- demonstrate this impossi-
bity, from the irreconcilable contrast between
their great principles and characteristics. But
the experience of mankind has conclusively es-
tablished it.
" This is the language which Southern Dem
ocrats, who cape and stare at Mr. Seward as the
Prince of all the COLLINS, have understood. or
pretended to understand, as a declaration on
behalf of the Republicans of settled resolu-
ton to exterminate Slavery in the States. 1t is
an annunciation which the organs of Southern
Democratic opinion are holding up and -four
ishing as the avowal of distinct design on
the part of the Republicans to wage fierce and
unrelenting and bloody war upon Slavery wher-
ever n eyiats Snraly tho man xubo .,
or circulate this pitiful misconstruction must
know better. The whole import of Mr.. Sew
ards proposition, as expressed above, is clear.
1t Is unmistakable. But, if it isn't, unquestion-
ably the following precautionary paragraph
renders it so:
80 ltremains to say on this point only one word,
to guard against misapprehension. If these
States are to again become universally slave
holding, l do not pretend to say with what vio-
latons of the Constitution that end shall be ac-
complished. On the other hand while do
confidently believe and hope that my country
will yet become a land of universal Freedom,
do not expect that it will be made so otherwise
than through the action of the several States
cooperating with the Federal Government, and
all acting in strict conformity with their respect
i've Constitutions.
g Thus the terrible hobgoblin vanishes before
the first beam of candor. The proposition is
perfectly innocent 1t is, in fact but the re-
production, in somewhat sharper form, of pet
opinion of Mr.. Clay's. Nothing could be fur
Their from the narrowing import with which dis
tempered or designing fancies have invested it.
The notion belongs wholly to the realm of ideas.
1t does not contemplate a'plan of action, but
merely a scheme of natural development 1t
a speculation, not a project-the outline of a
conviction, not of a campaign. 1t is a mere
forecast of events. 1t is Mr.. Stewards theory of
our national progression. 1t is his Judgment
as to what will happen, in the ordinary course
of things"