Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-24
The Speech Of Mr.. Seward.

Mr.. Stewards late speech in the Senate was,
beyond all question, an exceedingly able pro-
ductlon, mastery in its statements, and clabo-
rately eloquent in its rhetoric But to US itI
was unsatisfactory. Wedo not say that it was
not the wisest, the best, the most statesman.
like utterance that could have been made ia
these perilous umes-t may have bcon-but
still it fell much short Of our hopes, infinitely
short Of our desires. 1t is but a few days since
it was authortatiyely announced that Mr.. Sc
ward was to be Secretary Of State under the
incoming Administration. The delivery of his
speech was doubtless deliberately postponed
till that fact was settled that it might be semi.
Official ia its character, and be looked upon as
shadowng forth the policy of Mr. Lincoln, and
the views that were to control the Government
under his Administration. twas breatbcssly
awaited, ia the expectation that it would, att
least, propose some remedy suggest some
course % treatment that, if it did not save the
Union, would rescue the honor Of the Rcpub.
lie IL Is Dot too much to say thas this speech
was regarded as likely to furnish clue by
which the National Government might honor
ably find its way out Of the complicated aby-
rlnth Of is present dangers, ready to pursue
its course Of glorious empire in Liberty and
Peace
The great party who have, for five years
past fought tine peaceful battle Of Freedom,
under the Constitution and the Laws, much Of
il under the leadership Of MIR. Seward as the
Chief Of the most advanced guard of Republi- /
cuuisru, expected, hefpei, to hear from him in
this day of darkness, brave words, bold words
energetic words, words that would ring through
all the land like the bugle notes of a trumpet
rallying patriots to the Union. the Constitution
and the enforcement of the Laws. They hoped
for such a speech as Webstes's, in reply to
Ilayne, which arrested the thunder of disunion
in md-volley drove back the threatening
storm OF notification and treason cowed the
traitors as they writhcd under the fire from his
great black eyes, and treasured, supported
strengthened and made brave the devoted
friends OF the Union and the Constitution. Ill
was, 10 doubt too much to expect, not only off
Mr. Seward but Of any man at Washington in /
tbs ago; aud while the Country is painfully
disappointed. its disappointment, perhaps.
should be charged 10 its own simnlieity. I
in expecting Too much, rather than to Mr. Sc
ward, Iu not answering an oxtrayagant hone
1t looked Iur bold, firm, decisive views, and il
finds inc c0uusels of moderation. coupled with
wgucaess and gcncrolitics. Il impaticntly de-
sired, expected, demanded, 10 hear the treason
that had madei,. home in the Senate, denounced
and r,bukcd in asuoug and vigorous Saxon
toaeu. hatptbis expectation the speech is
utterly dumb
Mr. Stewards diagnosis Of the disease Of
which tho Nation is sick, Of the general state
of deIalient is admirable and wonderful in
its precision # statement, condensed and lust
IS t4g 'crdIctoihis;ory, And when he express
the confident conviction that the Union will he
Preserved that the vase in which The hone,
OF the T3rldmc held . will not be broken. we
can bat Gel some hope from his appareatly
settled Judgment. But he proposes no way of
saving the Country, except by showing the reo-
PIE the unsuitable yalaa Of Union.
We do NOT Judge tins speech in its effect
upon Che Nation We only speak of our own
feelings as we carefully read its elegant sen.
tcoeos, i's philosophical wisdom. 1t is possible