Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-13

$500 ~
We have read the speech delivered by Mr..
Seward in the Senate last week, with unmingled
pleasure from beginning to end. Whether we
consider is citation of facts its cogency Of argu-
ment, its ANALYSIS Of free and slave systems. its
sound and intelligent patriotism. its frankncss
Of expression, beauty of Illustration, and purity
of tone We pronounce it model of a senatorial
speech worthy of the best statesman of our best
days II is sure to command attention not only
throughout the free states, but in quarters where
the previous speeches of this Senator have been
- :, : -, - r..'~ T--.~- w"
regret that its length forbids our copying il en-
tire. We can only select two brief extracts as
will best bear separation from the body of the
speech. \ fair abstract of the whole was given
last week. Of popular sovereignty he thus
speaks;
but | shall not insist now on so radical a
measure As the restoration of the Missouri pro-
hibiion. | know how difficult it is for power TO
rchnqulsh even pernicious and suicidal policy
all at once. We may attain the same result in
tins particular case of Kansas without going back
50 far, Go back only to the ground assumed in
lS'4-the ground of popular sovereignty. Hap
ply Tor the authors of that measure, the Jealous
and energetic resistance of abuses practiccd I'M
der 1t has so far been effected that popular soyer-
EIGHTY in Kansas may now be made fact and
liberty there may he rescued from danger
through its free exercise. Popular sovereignty
Is an epic of two parts Part the first presents
freedom in Kansas lost. Part the second. if Won
VIII so consent to write it, shall be freedom in
Kansas regained. 1t is on this ground that
hail the eminent Senator from Illinois, tNIr.
Douglas and his associates the distinguished
Senator from Michigan, (Nlr. Stuart) and the
youthful, but most brave Senator from Califor-
ma, MIR. Broderick.) The late Mr.. Clay told us
that Providence has many ways for saving ma
tons. God forbid that should consent to see
freedom wounded, because my own lead or ey
en- my own agency in saving it should he reiec-
ted. will cheertully cooperate with these new
defenders of this sacred cause in Kansas, and
VIII award them all due praise, when we shall
have been successful, for their large share of
merit in its deliverance
VIII you tell me that it is difficult to induce
the Senate and the House of Representatives to
take that short backward step? On the contra
ry, the hardest task that an Executive dictator
ever set, or parliamentary manager ever under
took, is to prevent this very step from being ta-
ken. Let the President take off his hand, and
the bow, bent so long, and held to its tension
~ - 'A'it q pltSsuIC, Will ICldN, Slrdlknten
itself at once.
Consider now, if you please the consequences
of your refusal. lfyou attempt to coerce Kan
sas into the Union under the Lecompton Con-
stitulon, the people of that territory will resort
to civil war You are pledged to put down that
revolution by the sword. VIII the people lis
ten to your voice amid the thunder of YOUR can
non? Let but one drop of the blood of free
citizen be shed there by the Federal army, and
the countenance of every representative of a
Free State, in either House Of Congress, will
blanch, and his tongue will refuse to utter the
vote necessary to sustain the army in the butch
cry of his fellow citizens.
Practically, you have already one intestine and
Territorial war-a war against Brigham Young
III Utah. Can you carry on two, and confne
the strife within the Territories? Can YOU win
both? wise nation will never provoke more
than one enemy at one time. know that YOU
argue that the Free State men of Kansas are
lmprachcable, faetlous, Scditious. Answer me |
three questions; Are they not majority, and
so proclaimed by the people of Kansas is not
this quarrel, for the right of governing them
selves, conceded by the Federal Constitution
Is the tyranny of forcing hateful government
upon them, less tolerablc than three cents i'm
post on pound of tea, or five cents stamp du- I.
ty on a promissory note? You say that tbev
~ N".bN 'is ''tSoiiltoh CONSTITUTION when /
1t shall have once been forced upon them. Let
1t be abandoned now; What guaranty can you
give for your own adherence to the construction
of the Constitution which you adopt, from ex.
pediency; to-day What better is Constilu-
ton than bylaw of a corporation, if it NAV be
forced on State to-day, and rejected to-mor.
row. in derogation of its own express inhibi- /
tion?" '''0'
The imbecility of slavery propagandism is
clearly illustrated in the following;
"Mr; President, the expansion of territory to
make slave States will only fail to be great
crime because 1t is impractcable, and therefore
WI VIII turn out to be a stupendous imbecility. A
free republican Government like this, notwith.