The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-01-22
NO. 743.
SPEECH OF MIR. SEWARD.

abstract OF MIR. Stewards speech in the Sen
ate to-day:
Mr.. Seward said Congress re-assombled
this winter ip the presence Of dera,gemsut of
business and the disturbances Of public, as
Mas private credit, and in the face Of Sc.
diti6us combinations 10 overthrow the Union.
The alarm is appalling, for the Union is no
more the bcCy than liberty Is The soul Of Tire
nation. He avowed his adherence "to the
Union and lis integrity in all its parts, with
my friends, with my party, with my STATE,
with my country, or without either, rs they
may determine, in every event, whether Of
peace or war, with every consequences Of hon.
or dishonor, Of life or DEATH" After stating
that tie Union cannot be saved by mutual
recriminations or continuance Of debate on the
Constitutional power Of Congress over the
subject Of slavery in territory, or discussing
the right of the Federal government to coerce
seeding States into obedience, he says il this
Union is TO 90, the latter question will give
way to more practicable one, whether many
seccjng States have tho right TO coerce tho
remaining members to acquiesce in dissolu.
tiou. He abhorred civil war, did not know
what the Union would lie worth if saved by
the sword yet he did not agree with those
who in the desire to avert the calamity, ad.
wise Conventional or unopposed separation,
with a view to what they call re construc.
ton Of tho Union.
The Union can b. dissolved, not 10y see:ss-
ion, bat by the voluntary consent Of the people
Of the U. S. Congress ought not TO remain
impassive. 1t ought, if it can. redress any
real grievances TO the offended States. and
then ought to supply the President with all
means necessary TO maintsin the Union 10 its
full exhibition and discreet exercise Of its au
lhority. Beyond this proper activity on the
part Of the Executive, the responsibility Of
saving the Union belongs to tn, people, and
tboy arc abundantly competent TO discharge
it.
Mr.. Seward argued at length on tho ad.
vantages Of the Union and the effects of dis
union from all points Of view, and proceeded.
What is the ground Of disoontent! 1t is, that
the disunionists did not accept as conclusive
the arguments urged in behalf Of the success.
full candidate in the late canvass. He said
the Constitution didH't require the arguments
Of one party to he satisfactory to another, aud
said tho constilutO la remedy for this inevi.
table dissatisfaction is in renewed debate and
ultimate rehearing in subsequent election.
He denied that the Republicans perverted
power for the purpose of oppression, for they
never held power.
After further remarks, he argued that as
concerns the bondsman, the laws Of the state
within wi. ich man is property are supreme,
and that on his escape 10 another state, the
Constitution regards him as b. bcndsmen who
sha be delivered on claim to tho party to
whom his service is due. While thinking acts
Of Congress on this subject should lie modi.
fled TO protec. frcemen from being carried in
to Slavery, he agrees that all the laws OF
states, free or slave, relating to this class Of
persons, conuavening the constitution Of tho
Z. s., ought to be repealed, and was willing
- ~ for m euuouuIIGuL ~ tuv IOuetitutiUh
that Congress should never have the power to
abolish or interfere with Slavery within the
states. If Kansas wera admitted under the
Wyandotte Constitution, and the organic laws
Of other Territories could be repealed, he could
vote 10 authorize the admission OF two new
States which should include them, reserving
the right TO offer the subdivision whenever
necessary into several convenient States, but
be did not find that such reservations could
be consti utionally m.dc. Without them,
all the immediate advantages likely to be de-
rived from such a measure. Iprefer when
the angny excitement Of the House shall havo
subsidod, one tw, VI three years hence, a con-
vention of the people to decide whether and
what amendments OF the organic National law
ought TO be made.
He was ready to vote for any properly
guaranteed laws to prevent mutual iuvasions
of the States by citizens Of other Safes, and
punish those who shall al or alet thom.
Lastly, h, was in Eayor Of the Pacific Rail
road.
Mr.. Seward concluded by saying: Il shall
cheerfully support the Government in what
ever prudent, yet energetic efforts it shall
make TO preserve public peace and maintain
the Union, advising only moderation, forbear.
ance and Cancellation, and by expressing tho
conviction that the hour WAS not yet come for
this great nation to fall He said, "Woe,
woe to the man that madly lifts his hand
against it. 1t shall continue to endure, and
men in after times shall declare that this gen.
Grafton, whic'l saved the Union from sudden
and unlocked for dangers, surpassed in mag
nfcrnce that which we laid at its foundation
in the etcrnal principles Of libe tv, justice and
1,