The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-02-13
Mr.. Stewards Last Speech +!

On Thursday last, in the Senate, Mr.
Seward presented memorial signed by
$4,000 citizens of New York, petitioning
Congress for an adjustment of existing
difficulties, and took the occasion to de-
liver more moderate, sensible, and con-
ciiatory speech, than we have ever hoped
no would make.
While he declares himself ready TO ac-
cept the best adjustment that could be
practically made, yet he thinks no propo-
sition has yet been advocated which he
had any assurance would be acceptable to
all parties 10 the issue. He declares for
the Union, under every contingency, even
if IL is necessary to resort TO battle.
His views of the controversy, we quote
at length, and commend them to the at
tentive consideration of our Republican
friends: Enquirer and Herald, eth.
For, although the great controversy
has not been already settled, do not,
therefore any the less calculate upon and
expect that it will be peacefully settled,
and settled for the Union. | have not
been so rash as to expect that in sixty
days which have been allowed to us since
the meeting of Congress--and l will be
frank, Sir, in saying that have not ex-
pected that in ninety days, which are the
allotted term of Congress-this great
would certainly be adjusted,
peace restored and the Union firmly re-
established. l knew, Sir, that sixty or
ninety days was the term that was fixed,
with definite objects and purposes, by that
portion of my fellow-citizens who have
thought that it could consult the in
terests of the States 10 which they
belonged, 10 dissever the Union. l
have not expected that reason and judg-
ment would come back to the people, and
become so pervading and so universal as
that they would appreciate the danger,
and be able to agree upon the remedies.
Still, i have been willing that should be
tried, though unsuccessfully; but my con-
fidence has remained sound for this sim
pie reason-that as l have not believed
that the passion and frenzy of the hour
could overturn this great fabric of consti-
tutional liberty and empire in ninety days,
so / have felt sure that there would be
time, even after the expiration of ninety
days, for restoration of all that had been
lost, and for the re-establishment of all
that was in danger. A great many and
various interests and elements are bro't
into conflict in this sudden crisis-a great
many personal ambitions, and great
many sectional interests-and it would
be strange if they would all be accorhmo-
dated, arranged and harmonized so as to
admit and give full effect to the one pro-
foundest and most enduring sentiment or
passion of the United States, that of de-
votion to the Union. These, whether
you call them secession or revolution on
the one side, or coercion or defiance on
the other, are all TO subside and pass
away before the Union, which is TO be-
come the grand absorbing object of inter
est, affection and duty upon the part of
the citizens of the United States. A
great many partisan interests are to be
and suppressed to give place
TO the partizan interests expressed by
the Charleston platform, the Chicago
platform, by the Popular Sovereignty
platform, If indeed the Union is IN dan
ger and IS 10 be saped. With these an
terests and these platforms, everybody
standing upon them or connected s0ih
them, as TO pass away If the Union IS an
danger and IS to be saved. But IL OiH
require a very short time if this Union
as an danger, and does require to be saved
for all these interests, aHthese platforms,
and all these men to disappear. You,
everybody, aOho shall oppose, resist or
stand an the nay Of the preservation of
h's Union, 'oM appear as moths on
summers eve, when the whirlwind of
popular Indignation arises that shall be
ercited at the .fuH discovery that this
Union as endangered through faction
and even inapracticaJility on the one part.
/ have hope and confidence that this is
to come round just as l have said, and
quite soon enough, because l perceive, al
though wo may shut our eyes to it, that
the country and mankind can not shut
their eyes to the true nature Of this crisis.