The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-01-19
SPEECH OF
HON. WIN. II. SEWARD,
OF NEW YORK.
HOW TO SAVE THE UNION.


tional abundance, eontentment, tranquil,
and happiness. /. was assembled this viii
ter in the presence of arrangement of bus
ness and disturbance of public ms well q
private credit, and in the face Of sedtiou
combinations to overthrow the Union. Til
alarm is appalling; for Union is not NOR
the body than liberty IL the soul Of the na
ton. The American citizen has been accus
toned to believe the republic immortal. II
shrinks from the sight of commissions indica
tive Of it's sudden death. The report Of GU
condition has gone over the seas, and we VIII
have long and with much compacenc
studied the endless agitatons Of society il
the old world, believing ourselves exemp
| from such disturbances, now, in our turn
seem to be falling into momcntous an,
| disastrous rev olution.
| know how difficult it is to decide, ami,
SO many and SO various counsels, what ourh
to be, and even what can be done. Certain
lv, however, it is time for every Senator K
declare himself. |, therefore, following tn,
example or the noble Senator from Tennes.
see, Mr.. Johnson,) ayow my adherence &c
the Union in it's integrity, and with all its
parts, with my friends. with my party, with
my state, with my country, or without cither,
er Of peace or of war. with every conse.
qnence Of honor or dishonor, Of life or death.
Although lament the occasion, hail with
cheerfulness the duty Of lifting up my voice
among distracted debates, for my whole
country and its inestimable Union.
Hitherto the exhibitions of spirit and res
oAution here, rs elsewhere, have been chiefly
made on the side of disunion. do not re-
or fs ~
unnatural that it must plainly reveal itself
before its presence can be realized like
best also the courage uhcn rises slowly un-
der the pressure Of severe provocation. If
it be n Christian duty to forgive to the stran-
ger even seventy times seven oifenses, it is
the highest patriotism to endure without
complaint the passionate waywardncss Of no.
litcal brethren 80 long as there is hone
that they may come t. better mind.
think II easy to pronounce what measure
or conduct will not save the Union. | agree
with the honorable Senator from North Car.
olina, Mr.. Clingmnn. thnt mere eulociums
will not save it. Yet think that as PRAYER
brings us nearer to Coz, though it cannot
move him toward us, so there is healing and
saving virtue in every word of devotion 10
the Lninn that is spoken. and cynrN ii IA thar
IL.
like virtue, it derives its strength from every
irreverent act that is committed, and eyery
phrase that is uttered against
it.
The Union cannot be saved BY mutual cri
minations concerning our respective share OF
responsibility for the present evils. He
whose conscience acquits him will naturally
be slow to accuse others whose ca-operation
n a
account.
A continuance Of the deba.c on the const;-
tutioual power OF Congress over the subject
OF slavery in the territories will not save the
Union. The opinions Of parties and sec
tlGns on that question have become doemati-
cal, and il is this circumstance that has pro.
duced the existing alienation. a truce, MT
least during tho debate on the Union. ia es
ertlal 10 reconciliation.
The Union cannot be saved by proving that
secession is illegal or unconstitutional. Per.
sons bent Oh that fearful stem will not stand
ong enough on forms of law To be disodeed.
md loyal men do not need such narrow
ground 10 stand upon.
fear that little more will be gained from
discussing the right Of the federal govern
nent 10 coerce seeding states into obedis |
nee. Ii disanion is 70 90 on, this question
siii give place to the more practical one. |
whether many seeding states have right
Q coeree the remaining members to acouicsce
II dissolution.
dread, US III my innernost soul abhor. |
,lyil war. ! do not know what the Union
would be worth if it was saved hy the use of
b. sword. Yeti do not agree with those who
Tith desire TO avert that great catamity.
ldvise u conventional or unorposed separa.
ion, with u view to what they call recon
truction. II is enough for ne, first, thnt-in
his plan destruction goes before reconstrue. |
ion {; and secondly, that the strength of the
'ase in which the hopes Of the nation are
ield consists chiefly in its remaining unbro-
ten.
Congressional compromises are not likely
. save the Union. know, indeed that, rn.
iition iayors this form of remed9 But il il
essential 10 its success, in any cnse. that
here be found preponderatn. muss OF cit.
Gems, 50 lar neutral on the issue which sen.
rates parties that they can intervene. strike
Town opposing weapons and compel an ne
Moderate cone ssions nra
lot cutomarily asked by a force with its
.nns m battery; nor are liberal concessions
NJ to be given by an opposing force not less
Of It's own right and its own
trength. ! think, also, that there il a pre
alilns conviction that legislative comprorni-
es which sacrifice honestly cherished nrin-
lpies, while they anticipate fu urc exieeu-
ies, even = they do not assume extra-con-
fitnttonal powers. are less sure to avert i'm
ninent evils than they are certain 10 produce
Ultimately even greater dangers.
Indeed, Mr.. President, ! think IL will Ia
use TO discard two Prevalent ideas or nra-
naices, namely; first, that the Union h IL
e saved by somebody i'll particular, and 80.
ondly, that i i to be aavea ~ so.nc ;us;n-
ere and cunning compact Of pacifcation.
! ! ! remember rightly, said something like
s5i. -
The present danger discloses itself n tb;s
orm. Disseminated citizens have obtained
olucal power ~ certain states. and they are
sing TINS authority 70 overthrow the federal
pyefhment. They delnde themselves win ]