The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-10-20
Speech of William H. Seward,
Delivered AT In ,cawo, 0ct. 2, asGO.

Delivered al Tn hsca r o, Oct. 2, 1850.
Gov Seward was greeted as he came fors
ward with enthusiastic and long continued
cheers. He snoke as follows:
Hail to the State OF Illinois whose iron
roads form rho spinal oolnrBns of that sys-
tenn Of internal continental trade which sur
passes all the foreign commerce OF the eoun-
try, and has no parallel or imitation in any
other country on the face Of the globe.
Hail Chicagot ths heart which supplies
life to this great system Of raiiroads-Chica-
20, the last and most wonderful OF ell the
marvellous creations Of civilization in North
America.
Hail to this council chamber OF the great
Republican party justly adapted by its vast
ness ahd its simrlioity to it's great purposes
the hall where the representatives of free
men passed that creed cf Repuhls can faith,
which carries healing for the relief OF dis
ordered nation. Wee woe be to him who
shaIf add TO or shall subtract one word from
that simple, sublime, truthful, benefeent
CT eed.
Hail to the representatives OF the Repub-
iicsu party! chosen here by the Republicans
Of the United States, and placed upon the
platform Of that creed, Happy shall be be
who shall give them his suffrage. III he be
az old man, he shall show the virtue OF wis
dom acquired by experience; If he be young
man, he shall in oil bis coming years tell bis
fellow men with pride, "I, TOO, voted for
Abraham L,nooln." [GreAt applauss.1
Feliox-cit,gsns, that Republican creed is
nevertheless no partisan creed. IL il a Ma
taonal faith, because il is the embod,meDt of
the one ife.sustaining, life. expanding idea
oil the American republic. What is the idea
more or less than simply this: That civiliza-
tlon 10 10 be m maintained and carried on upon
this continent BY Federal States, based upon
the principles of free soil, free labor, free
speech, equal rights and uhiversal suffrage !?
Loud applause.
Fellow citlx cps, this 10 no new idea. This
idea had its fret usterance, and the boldest
and clearest Of ell the utter ances il has ever
received, in the very FIRST words which were
spoken by this nation when Ii came before
the world, took its place upon tbs stage Of
human aclion, and asserted its Independence
in the fear of God, and it's confidence Of the
approval OF mankind declaring that hence
forth it held those 10 be its enemies who
should oppose il in war, and those TO be its
friends who should maiutain with them re
lations of peace. That uttsrsnee was ex !,
pressed in tAese simple words; "We hold
these truths to be self evident-that all men
are created equal, and have inalienable right
to life, liberty, and the pursuit OF happiness"
This great national idea has been working
out sas frnits ever since. Its work is seen in
the perfect acceptance OF il By eighteen OF
the thirty four States OF this Union or sew
cnteen OF the thirty three If Kansas 10 to be
considered ont. IL 10 asserting itself In the
establishment OF New Ststes throughout the
West, as il has revolutionized all Of Western
and Southern Europe. Why is this idea 90
effective? III is because it is the one chief,
living, burning, inoxsinguishable thought oil
human nature itself, entertained by man r
every CLINE.
Fellow citizens, this national idea work.
not unopposed- Every good and sirtuous ant
bensv oisnt pr inoipls in nature has It's antag
onist, and this great national idea works II
perpetual opposition-~i may bs allowed Il
say in iIrepresslble conflct, prolonged ap.
plauss,1 with an erroneous,a deceitlul, de-
Iusivs idea. DO you ask what that delusiv,
idea il It isthc idea that civilization ough
and can be effected on this continent, by thi
form of federal States, based os the prineipl
OF slave soil--of African slave labor, OF IN
equal rights and unequal representation, re
sultng in unequal suffrage.
lHere there wss much tumult and c0nfu
son, owing TO efforts Of those beyond tn
reach of his voice TO hear, drowning tn
speakers voice. E&
Fellow citizens Can it be that this grea
creed of ours needs exposition or defsnoe?
Ii seems TO me so evidently just and true tha
il requires no exposition and needs no do
fence. Certainly IN foreign countries il need
none. In Scotland, or France, or Germany
or Russia, on the shores OF the Mediterrane
an. in Eurone. or in Asia: or in Africa, ye
will never find one human being who denie
the truth and the justice Of this Dational ide
Of tho equality OF man.
Herr the tunnls became so great that th
speaker was compelled 10 pause. Mr.. Al
mold, coming forward, urged upon all to
as quiet as possible. Those who were q,
of reach Of Mr.. Stewards voice, and desire
TO hear other speakers, could do so at II
various stands ARD in the Wigvam. Il
thought ID muse be very painful to the dist,
guisbed speaker 10 witness such dlsturl
ance.]
Gov. SEwARD,--FelloH, citisans: DO u
suppose that this disturbances, which kno
is involuntary on your part, gives me al
pain whatever. Applause.l There 10 !
pressure here which M honest mind need I
gret. only regret that have not vol
enough 10 reach the whole VI this vast ssscl
bly, or even the twentisth part Of il. y
proceed, trusting that something may .
will reach the cara Of most 0f the assemblaJ
AZ necessarily must change my position
speak TO make you hear me, addressing 6
this sidc and then that, ne one will, ! fsl