Litchfield enquirer., 1858-08-19
REMARKS OF GOV. SEWARD

At large meeting of the citizens of Auburn on bration of the success of the Atlantic Telegraph ad dresses were made by Gov. King and Senator Sew ard. From the speech of the latter gentleman, we copy the following extracts which will be read with interest:
 "I know not which ore of the aspects of this great subject of the establishment of telegraph ic communication between America and Flu ropc to seize upon to occupy the few moments that can prol erly claim. will venture how ever to say, that, although with Gov King rejoice in this great consummation, as q guar anty of peace, enduring and eternal peace be- tween the United States and Great Britain, which is so essential alike to the interests of each, and to the cause of civilization througout least important of the relations which the sub- ject susta;ns. Others have equally exaggerated the power of Great Britain, and underyalued the National forces of the United States. In my view, these two great powers now are, and for thirty years past have been, equals, having no real cause for jealousies, and each dependent for its prosperity upon the friendship and com- merce of the other. feel assured that even without the Atlantic Telegraph the two na- tions, so constituted and so situated, would keep the peace throughout my life time and yours and that there could be, on the part of either, NO such ambition of statesmen, and no such popular passion as could ever again bring them
 into conflict.
 Let me derive from this great subject hum- be instruction. Tne two great countries of which have spoken, presume may say all countries, arc ringing with the praises of Cyrus w. Field, who chiefly has brought this great enterprise to it's glorious and bencfceut con- summation. You have never heard his story let me give you few prominent points in it as lesson that there is no condition in life in which man endowed with native genius, q be- nevolcnt spirit, and courageous patience, may not become a bcncfactor of nations and of mai- kind. Cyrus w. Field, few years ago, was a merchants clerk ill Broadway and after time became, as every merchants clerk may become, a retail ard then wholesale dealer. Tele- graph communications were already perfected in all directions across and throughout this broad land and the nations of westcrn Europe
 The practicnbty of submarine cables was suc- cessfulIy established by telegraphic lines across the Irish Channel and the German Ocean, All CudO ISludllcV tO uO tU tIIItc StNcIdI CUHLIIcutS and bring together diSiointed portions of the world, was to stretch cable on the bottom of the sea, from the Bay of Valcntia, in Ireland to Trinity Bay, on the coast of Newfoundland.
 This unknown and closure merchant voun- teerrd and appointed himself to the mission of effccting that great ard difficult enterprisc- Without elcqucnce, such as graccs the speech of our excellent and distinguished friend, Gov. king-without any of that faculty of making political combinations such as he and all other statesmen tre understood to rossess-only the qualifications of faith, energy and patience, ,-I this obscure merchant brought into being an as- sociation of Americans and Engshmen, which contributed from surplus wealth the small capi- tai necessary as basis for the enterprise. It remained to engage the consent aud the activ- tv of the Governments of Great Britain and the United States. That was all that remain cd. Such consent and activity on the part of some one great nation of Europe was all that remained needful for Columbus when he stood ready to bring new continent forward as theater of the worlds civilization. But in each case that effort was the most difficult of all- Cyrus w. Field, ly assiduity and patience, first secured consent and conditional engagement on the part of Great Britain, and then, less than two yesrs ago, he repaired to Washington The President and Secretary of State individ- ually favored his proposition but the jealous ies of parties and sections in Congress forbade them to lend it their official sanction and pat ronage. He appealed to me. drew the ne- cessary bill. With the generous aid of others, Northern Representatives and the indspcnsa- ble aid of the late Thomas J. Rusk, Senator from Texas, that bill, after severe contest and long delay, was carried through the Senate of tie United States by the majority, if remen- Der rightly, of one vote, and escaped defeat in the House of Representatives with eqnal diff- culty. l have said the aid of Mir. Rusk was indispensable. If any one has wondered why I, an extreme Northern man, loved and lamen- ted Thomas J. Rusk, an equally extreme South cru man, they have here an explanation. There was no good thing which, as it seemed to me- I could not do in Congress with his aid When he died, it seemed to me that no good thing could be done by any one. But go vehement were the rrejudices entertained against Mr. Field himself, for what was then regarded as presumption and of6ciousness on his part, al- though he is the most modest of all men, that the great bill was only saved by his withdraw ing, at the request of Mir. Rusk and myself, from the Senate chamber, from its passages and Hobbies, and even from the capitol grounds, and remaining unobtrusive and unseen in his own lodgings. Such was the position of Cyrus Field at that stage of the great enterprise. But Cyrus w. Field, thus at last fortified with capital derived from Ntw York and London, and with the uavies of Great Britain and the United States at his command. has, after trials that would have discouraged any other than true dscoverer, brought the great work to a felicitous consummation. And now the Queen of Great Britain and the President of the Uni ted States stand waiting his permission to speak, and ready to speak at his bidding and the people of these two great countries await only the signal from him to rush into fraternal embrace that will prove the oblivion of suspi- cion, of jealousies, and of anger.