The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-26
The VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Mr.. Stewards SPEECH.


Ac.. &C.. 60.
MR. SEwARD'S SPEECH.
WON THE SPECIAL REPORTER OF THE NEW YORK
HERALD.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept. 10, $780,
senator Seward spoke yesterday from the portico OF
ne Capitol this city TO audience Of some six thou
sind people He said
THE VALLEY THE MISSISSIPPI.
FuIow CTlzEs-one needs to have had something OF
the experience that 1t has been my fortune to have,
living in state early period OF its material deveope
snt and social Improvement, and growing up with Its
owng greatness in order to appreciate the feeling with
which oppressed this, my first entrance into the
capital OF the State Of Minnesota Every step Of my pro-
ress since reached the Northern Mississippi has been
stsnded by agreeable and great surprise. had early
read the works in which the geogapher had described
NE scenes on which was entering, and had studied
these scenes the finest production OF art. But sti
the grandeur, the luxuriance, the benefcence, the
Ssnsliiy Of this region entirely unconceived
when ] saw these sentinel walls that look down on the
Mississippi as beheld them in their autumnal
ure Just when the earliest tnges OF the fall give variety
70 the uxuriance OF the forest, thought how much OF
sase genius had been waited in celebrating the high
laads Of Scotland before civilized had reached the
hanks Of the Mississippi And then that beautiful Lake
Pepn at sunset when the autumna green Of the
hills was deep blue hue that initiates that Of the
heavens. The genial yellow atmosphere reflected the
rays the setting sum- and the skies above seemed 70
down to spread their gorgeous drapery this
socne. II piece Of upholstery such hand but
tha, OF nature could have made; and tho ves
bule 70 the capital Of the State OF Minnesota state
which have loved, which ever shall love- for
reasons than time would allow me 70 mention, bu.
fv herau n of three tate whir
own voice has been potenta in bringing the federal
uuon within the time that have been engaged In the
federal councils Every one Of the three q free
State, and believe, my SOUL that OF the whole three
Minnesota Ii the freest Of all. cloud applausc.) nnd
myself now for the FIRST time the high lands OF the
ceasre Of the continent Of North America, equdstant
rrou the Of Hadsons Bay and the Gulf Mexico,
fron the Atlantic Ocean 70 the ocean In wh,h the
ssss-here tho spot where spring up almost side by
s,dc 20 that they may kiss each other toe two great
rtvvrs-lne one Of which, pursuing It's strange, capri
vous. majestic, vivacious through cascade and
river and rapid. lake after lake, and river amer river
analiy Alter course Of twenty Ave hundred miles brings
war half way to the portsof Europe and the
sshcr while meanderipg through woodland and
prairic q distance OF twenty-five hundred miles,
taking tributary after tributary from the East and from
ths West nepg together the waters from the western
ACTIVITY Of the Aeghanes and those which icke down
Vie Eastern OF the Rocky Mountains, finds the Allan
10 ocean in the Gulf OF Mexico (Applause). Here 10
sAs central place where the agriculture Of the richest
x,cu Of North America must bear u tribute TO the sup
pl,ss Of the whole world. Appause) On the East all
along the Of Lake Superior and West stretch
- In one broad plain in belt quite the conti-
nat country where State after state s yet To rise,
aaa where productions for the support Of human soc
cav n, other crowded states brought forth This
n Than, commanding field; but 10 Is commanding In
rcsArd 70 the dcstines Of this continent As is In
Ard 70 It's commercial future, for power to re-
side permanently on the eastern slope OF
the Allegheny Mountains, nor in the seaports.
ecspors have always been and controlled by
people OF the Interior The people Of the inland and OF
The uplandthosc who inhabt the OF the mighty
vS.<rs-are they who supply them with wealth and
pover The power OF this government hereafter N not
70 be established either the Atlantic the Pacific
ooass me scaports viii be the mouths by which
snail communicate and correspond with Europe but the
sewer that shall speak and shall communicate and ex-
yrsss The vii Of this continent 70 be located In
shc Mississippi Valley, and at the Of the Misss
sixps ard the 81 Lawrence. (oud applausc) inothcr
days, studying what might, perhaps, have seemed 70
others trflpg visionary, have cast about for the
future ultimate, central scat Of power OF the North
A.srcan people had looked At Quebec and al New
Orleans n washington and Francisco q, csnoin-
" !
best that the scat q power for North America
would ye, be found valley OF Mexico that the gIo
rss Of the Aztec capital would be renewed and city
would become ultimately the capital Of the United States
Of America But have corrected that view, and now
becve that the ultimate last scat Of power this great
continent win be found somewhere within radius not
very far from the very spot where stand At the head Of
navigation the Mississippi river. loud applause.)
Fellow cit zens have often seen, but never with grea,
surprise that the occasion Of great revival Of re.
s,oa In community where happen 70 i've the Oldest,
the meet dcvoui the mos, religious preacher he whose
NE had seemed 10 and 10 the world be better or
dered, according 70 the laws Of Cod and In affection 10
the interests Of mankinc-that such AZ he discover.
-, 10 the heat q This religious excitement,
that be bad been entirely mistaken IN
his experience and that he now found out 10 nj,
great grief and ment that be had never before
been converted and that now for rss tlme he had
become a Christian. Uaughier) while stand here
alnost n into me notion that am In The ca,eeory Of
that preacher Aushter)and that, although cannot
charge myself with having been really seditlous. or
sven dhoyal citizen, or an unobservant public man.
have yet never exactly Understood the duties that ored
70 society and the spirit that belongs 10 American
Statesman This because had never, until now oocu.
pted that place whence could take In and grasp the
whole grand panorama q the continent for tia happiness
~ whose present people and Of whose future millions
= The duty Of an American statesman 70 labor. I have
cnes said, and indeed thought, that would ret
. very adequate, very high idea OF the greatness
Of this American republic Of ours n be stood
- have done The deck Of American ship Of war
she crossed The Mediterranean, and passing through
No Iona Islands, ucende the Adric bearing Al IN.
masthead the stripes and stars, that mandcd respect
ard @spired fear, equally among The semi barharsns OF
Aeta and the meet polite and powerful Of toe nations on
Eaopc-I have oien ,beasht that could ~ myself up
10 the coGcepton Of the greatness Of this republic os
nv tskipg my stand The terrace Of the Capitol Al
wash pgton and conemp atng The concentration u tn
political power Of the American people, through following
rt w ny imagination the Dispatches BY whoh that vi
aev bsins modified by the executive and legislative
s4ysrineris, wen, scrth 20 laws and edess, and oraI.