The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-05
SEWARD AND SLAVERY.
Another Abolition Manifesto from our BiacI
Republican Oracle.

H. M,
BIER 20, 1885,
When Senator Seward he greeted with enthu
sastic cheers, long continued and often repeated He
spoke substantially as follows
FELLOW CnzKNs-Persona interests necessarily mingle
themselves under free government with all political
public transactions Such interests however, are subor
dnate and temporary while policies and principles survive
and endure II has been CUSTOM therefore always
w e s
the present because am obliged TO know although
have tried TO be ignorant Of the fact that doubts
ertaned by portion OF the republican electors OF Oneida
county whether they cannot consistently with the ine
rests OF the cause of freedom permit the return of demo-
cratic member to the House OF Representatives from this
Congressional district II will appear plainly enough in the
sequeth such result cannot wisely be permitted
so TO be returned is "democrat But seems to me to
be not only not improper but also duty which owe the
republican candidate to say more.
think that questions my fidelity to the
cause of human freedom throughout the period OF my
connection with public affairs. (Cheers) Your kind re.
Spouse enables me to assume this During all that period
Mr.. Mattcson, your present representative in Con-
gress has been intimately connected with bear in
his behalf willingly and gratefully the testimony that at
Washington all times and under all circumstances, he
has been faithful further testify that he has been able
and efficient there. perform pleasing duty, moreover,
declaring here the OF his constituents, that
always and under all circumstances Mr. Matteson render
ed me the sympathy, support and aid Of trusy reliable
and devoted friend yet further and declare that
being acquainted with the facts and circumstances OF the
vote Of which passed upon him in the House
OF Representatives was my convicon az tat tme as
Is my conviction now, that that unsustaned
by any adequate evidence unjust and partial pot
cal and partisan and dictated by the hostility Of the slave
interest in retaliation for the vigorous and successful re-
sistance to that interest which he had made. II
was natural under such circumstances Mr.. Mat
teson should desire and think he had claim upon the
republican electors of his district for nomination aud
a reelection which would prove a popular vndcation
against Judgment incurred in their service Of course
that among many elements which entered into
the question OF nomination for member OF Congress at
the coming election The republican electors of Oneida
were rightiuy the judges upon the whole question en-
bracing all its details. l desgnedy and cautiously
Trained from interfering with the discussion Of that subject
because Jealous feemen could and ought not to toe
rate sucn interference from any quarter And the electors
from every district in this State have special claim upon
me to practice non intervention in such personal contests
and conflicts You have decided that the interests Of the
in this district will be best promoted by the election
of another member Of the party Mr.. Roscoe Conklng 1t
is my duty to acquesce in that decision and l do ac
quiesce in without regarding the subject open for
review further consideration. As it has been pleasant
for me TO bear nv testimony in behalf Of Mr. Matteson
is occasion Of sincere pleasure to speak in terms
Of the highest respect and esteem for the gentleman whom
you have nominated to be his successor Mr. Conklng,
has been known TO longer than
selves. He was born think certainly he reared in
the which live, and his parents and family have
been for near twenty i've years among my most intimate
personal friends. in his childhood and early youth
the indications Of that high order Of genius and talent
remarked those indications with pleasure, it would be
unjust to withhold the further confession that when dv
sons occurred which carried many friends into
and associations diverging from mine, Mr. Conkling
NAMED in the course which thought the wise and
true and pcrseverngy adhered to my fortunes
in political life.
After bearing this testimony of Mr.. Conkng remains
for me TO declare that earnestly and with my whole
heart desire the return Of Roscoe Conkng the House
Of Representatives First, because the choice is between
him, a true friend of freedom and another who. my
Judgment will be unfathful TO that do not
fleet upon the personal integrity OF the opposing cand
date but say he belongs to the democratic party Of the
State Of New York. which is fahless to that cause If
he should accept service in that cause he must be untrue
to the party by whose suirages he elected In the
choice between that cause and that party know
suppose that he would choose the distinction of
maryrdom for freedoms sake. Secondly, desire Mr..
Conkngs election because he will bring into the dis
charge of his high trust true devotion to the cause OF
Justice and humanity well confessed and superior
ability. Such will be wanted more IN the Congress
of 1859 and 1860 than ever before
entered Congress representative from this State
in lsi9 The state had then thirty -four members in the
House OF Representatives OF these. thirty three
returned by the same political organization which
erred the upon myself and all pledged the
policy, viz the exclusion OF slavery from the ter
ritory OF the United States by the extension Of the wimot
poyso over the territories just then acquired by the dis
memberment OF Mexico. The thirty fourth member
forced him association, that practically the
delegation from the State committed 10 that
policy seven or eight months elapsed gen TAYLOR the
chief Of the party, fell panic seized upon the party
and the country and at the expiration OF tina, short period
only fourteen Of the representatives Of New York
NAMED firm in the field. then said this decentralization
viii have time, but within the period Of ten years the
people New York viii overcome this dismay. Attire erp
yation Of that time they ciU again acknowledge the niger law
uhieh 4 only 70 say, hat there is God IN heaven; and
they pi then BE- ready 20 strike uop for freedom and hu
sIameissiy Ietraycd and lost That period has passed
| That Uop IS 70 be struck ia The Congress Of 1859
| and 60 In resuming that great battle, | con.
fess that desire the county Of Oneida send its abest
and strongest man, standing within the probabilities Of
election at the present uncure for he will be wanted
there. You have decided that Roscoe Conkng Is that
| man. let him, therefore pray you, be elected.
Fellow citizens the time Cor decisive acton at hand.
The season for argument has passed shah therefore
oonne myself to the duty Of pres ntng three Incidental
topics to consideration. The first will be to indcate
as understand it, the stage Of the contest with the slave
power at which have arrived second, the issues for
which We are oonending and thirdly, thcsway Of the
battle.
L IT,
rived. 1t commonly supposed tina, IN the not
icst part Of the battle, but this deem grave error
We have in fact only completed the organization OF
| our army in the free states. But this is aud i'm.
portan'-ail important advance IN the struggle,
w ba Sr e rose 1aa an ra a
ing through the land for more than thirty might say
forty years; not Of It's strength force pow.
cratic party Of the United States Even the democratic
party would have been unable however, TO have gwen
this successful ~ conquest II u had been op.
posed ana by any adequate anu well or
ganlzcd combination but all sec now, though
We did not perceive il then that necessary opposing poll
| teal combination wanting. There party in
the country that had the and the conscience
appeal TO the Just instincts o. the American people and
| defy the democratic hosts 81 slavery.
| houh,lcss many Of you wings, a. I an such
remember how earnestly, laboriousy AMI patiently
aborsd to bring that great patriotic and intelligent
combination 70 and become the champion % the
| cause &C human rights; how laborcd Of times with
apparent success and often hoping against hope,
until ne yrg 1852, % trng The irhq r-ty up % the rofu
of assuming that nJie championship; and h0W. AZ s lat
National Convention at Baltimore Ne pIry at lat placed
itself Hpon the tcacher-s platform n iSdrsry and instant,
" rcnt DOM. earring only wrecks and runs % feat for
VhiIe UPON me roiiticoi others of you were
| dcmocrats-mbucd with sentiments u Just hostility
10 slavery You remember low you went ~ 90 Buffalo.
and there In the presence Of approving and grateful
nation laid down the platform of free soil. free speech
aud free men how you repaired a. Albany the capital of
the Empire state and there laid new foundations Tor the
temple Of freedom, aud said " 10 Nc stone which the
builders rejected the s become the head ~ the
ncrn You need not he told how, in the disastrous
year n 1882 the platform aud foundation OF this
and enthusiastic free soil party disappeared leaving not
wreck a relic behind. From that time onward
until 1858 and 1886 the irreprcssbe hostility to slavery,
inherent IN the American people found no organization.
combination PARTY no association which dared 10 give
II utiefanoe. Then, however, seen at hast the
germs of the republican party. Wise, consdcrate, far
seeing discovered u those germs and their future
development, the organ zaton which required bv
the exge nccs Of the country and through IT, agency
speedy and complete recovery of ~ that had been lost