The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-03-15

We occupy our columns this week
nearly entire with the clear and COM
pfehensive speech of Senator Seward,
delivered in the United States Senate
on the 29th of February last, upon his
bill for the admission of Kansas. It is
perhaps superAuous for rs to fdd any
word of commentator to an effort 90
complete in itself, and which speaks 80
nearly and fully the sentiments Of the
Republican party upon the great prin-
ciples at issue in the nation. All that
we ask is fair, candid and honest Pc
rusal of the speech, and we are sure no
one can dissent from single truth ut
tered, or overthrow an argument urged
or introduced in it.
AS a cotemporary justly remarks.
the speech is in temper most extraor-
binary one under the circumstances.
Senator Seward has been assailed as
has been no other living man he has
been charged with treason, conspiracy,
with winking at and encouraging SER
vile instruction, with seeking to create
a hostile feeling between the North and
South, which shall eliminate in the dis
solution of the Union; his motives
have been impugned, his acts mis-con-
strued, his sentiments prevented, his
speeches incorrectly quoted, and every
thing but his private life assailed with
a vigor, a venom that has rarely been
witnessed in the worlds history; and
this, too, while he was absent from the
country, unable to defend himself from
the foul calumnies, should he feel dis
posed SO to do, not knowing word of
them till months after the most heinous
of the charges were preferred. Under
these circumstances it would not be
surprising if he wished to make pub
lie defence. And yet not word did
he say in defence of himself He felt
that he needed no defence, that he was
so high above calumny that its shafts
could not reach him; the charges Of
treason passed by him as the idle wind
which he needed not The silent con-
tempt with which he looked down upon
his assailants shows his immense supe-
riority over them, shows the stature of
the man, the true statesman.
TheSpeech is an open and frank decla-
alton of views and principles, and will
have greater amount of influence upon
the popular mind and upon the result of
the approaching Presidential contest,
than anything that has been or is likely
to be laid before the public. 1t will
clear away the smoke with which UNI
scrupulous demogogues have contrived
to involve Gov. Stewards position.
While it retracts nothing that he has
ever uttered, and does not narrow the
Republican platform one inch, it is yet
SO temperate in tone, so conservative
in spirit, SO Astounding in patriotic SEN
timents, so sound in principle, so firm
in language, and SO in accordance with
the feelings of all trre Americans,
that if it do not disarm opposition, it
will neutr;.lize the pusilanimous assaults
of his maligners. No Republican can
hereafter be misled by their misrepre-
sensations. If it be possible, it will
go far to advance the already high po-
sition he occupies as statesman and
a patriot, and to give him still strong
err hold upon the confidence and afec-
ton of every friend offreedom through
out the land.
The Republicans of the Union will
accept it as the briefest, the most COM
plete and the best exposition of Repub-
lican principles that can be made, and
with it they are ready to enlist under
tie banner of the orator and fights the
great political battle that is to result in
a glorious triumph of our principles by
putting William H. Seward in the Pres
idential chair of the nation.