New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-20
SENATOR SEWARDS POSITION.
FROM The Erening Post, Fe6. IL.

FROM The EreH11 Post, Eco H.
There is no DENYING the fact that Senator Seward
course upon the Army bill has generally disappointed
bis friends. An article which We copy from iHE IRi-
BUsE of this morning is temperate and mild express
sion Of that disappointment. Circumstances nave
given an unexpected Importance to his vote for with
out it the bill would not have passed Senate why
he saw fit to separate himself from those with whom
he processes TO be acting and vote tor an increase OF
the Army which the Government admit Is to be used
in part to enforce unlawful laws and unconstitutional
Constitution upon the people OF Kansas IL an enigma
which as yet has received no satisfactory pubic sou-
ton. Without claiming more than an average ais
cemment We think we can explain this vote without
convicng Mr.. Seward Of any special inconsistency or
employing any other lights than those which he has
himself suspended along the path OF his Senatorial
career. -
When Mr. Seward entered the Senate he found biIr
self almost alone among the opponents of Slavery in
that body, representing State having vast couIler,
cal and other material interests, asking COngressicnal
aid and comfort. lie represented IN part the COM
mercial emporium of the Union and body OF mer-
charts in intimate business relations with all the capt.
talists of the South To be opponent OF Slavery,
and at the time to represent these apparently
conflicting ntere sts in the Senste, was difficult duty
1t is well known that for many years there has been
combination among the ProSlavery party in Congress
to de stroy every Northern man who faithfully repre-
sented the Northern view of the Slavery question:
ard their way of doing it was to defea every measure
with which his name and interest was specially den
fed The effect Of this species Ct SsrS S TSvsntry
Hhha 10 make the class who had claims upon Gov.
eminent, or wanted mail contracts or other
special legislation dissatisfied with their representa-
tive. Mr.. Seward appreciated this difficulty, aud he
has overcome it by giving, to pretty much every
measure contemplating the expenditure of money,
Systematic support which, with the votes he could
influence, has proved suftic mt inducement TO the
Pro Slavery Senators to allow his Of bust
ness character to pass without the customary pro-
scipton SO successful has he been In establishing
this understanding with what are called the =" "rea-
sury politicians" of the Senate-wth such men as the
late Senator Rusk with Senators Gwin Brown, Bright
and their assOcatesthat there is no one in that body
whose influence in putting forward measure OF special
legislation not involving party issue creator than
Senator Stewards. We have so often had occasion to
dsapprove of this style Of craftsmanship, that 1t Is
unnecessary for us to repeat our well. known
views upon the susect; ut the same time it must
be borne in mnd that Mr.. Stewards theory of Govern
ment expenditure from the beginning, is one which
renders the course he has pursued easier than 1t
would at least should be to person brought up in
the Democratic schsol of polti.s He looks upon the
Federal Government as sort of in the political
syste the function of which is to distribute heat and
light and water wherever it is wanted TO make things
grow and work ont the ends Of Providence; in other
words, that there is nothing improper for the Gov
ernnent to spend money in doing, that is worth
any individuals spending money to do. Wheth-
er it is wise OF right for man TO purchase the
support of hostile majority by an indscriminate
support of It's jObbing schemes, that he may
retain a position in which he can fight the
battle Of freedom more effectively than he sup
poses he could fight it in o private station,
il but another fOfm Of tue ih"y
do evil that good may come. Mr. Seward thinks such
a course is under the circumstances, both wise and
right Macaulay has stated that there had been :, a
"market for the sale Of votes at the Treasury IN the
"last century, as surely as there had been market
for the sae Of cattle at Smithfed, and that even
bis own incorporating and honest hero, William
Ill., had no alterna but 10 buy them nay, he goes
50 far as to say that there must be qud pro quo Tor
POLITICAL services and that the plague spot OF cor
Eruption was most black when the personal charac er
" of the Minister most pure. "
Mr.. Seward, doubtless, takes the same view oil his
duty and not having Offices TO reward wltn, gives
what he has votes and hence his vote upon the Army
bill.
There is but one aspect Of this vote which IS AT
yaraI ce with the uniform tenor OF his puoc lie, so
far as we know and that is the evidence IL furnishes
to come of his best friends of disposition TO suoof-
dnate the cause of freedom to other interests, ior
which bis partizars have not such general concern lie
has voted to strengthen the Army, after ant avowai
from the Government Of determination TO use POt-
tion of II in Kansas II the necessity which no. e1s
for force there continues That Is equivalent 70 vot-
ing for military force ocompel the Free-Stste party
10 submit to the urju-t exactions OF minority
ipdorSIg the orders Of the President by ~hicn the
original Utah expedition was broken up to suppBsa
military force 10 Governor Walker Of course sen
aor Seward did not intend TO further the interests OF
III. PrcSavery party in Kansas by his late VOTE out
he has we fear laid himself open o suspicious "h'c1
are rot calculated 10 increase his usefulness.