Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-08
FIR. SEWARD,S LAST SPEECH.


Hardly any other public man of the day
needs more to have his speeches fully ant
accurately reported, in order to clear appre
hension Of his positions, than Senator Seward
The reports of his speech on the 3lst, on the
presentation of the New York Memorial
make it to deserve in some degree the charge
OF Senator Mason of Virginia viz that il
was nisty. As given there are some things in il
that 40 not please us-considerable which
reminds us of some things in Webster's 18th
OF March Speech. The talk Of ho,o fe,U slaves
there are no,g in q vast territory, all claimed
ne says, by the present administra-
ton (though not by himsel0 to be
as much slave territory as South Carolina Isl;
as If 1t would not be Of much consequence to
guard against its being made into slave states;
sounds little too much like Mr.. Webster g
indisposition to''re-enact the laws ofGod" as
to climate and latitude, &c. His remarks
were altogether of 4 conclliatory sort, which
was proper enough, and he recommended
resort to all constitutional modes of settling
the great difficulties of the hour before re-
sort to arms was had-though he certainly
implied that the laws of the nation must be
enforced, at all events, and that we will fqAt
for The Union before we will allow it to be
broken up.
The reply of Senator Mason implies that
Mr.. Stewards doctrine was much more def
mite and pointed, than his language
was. lie charged that Mr.. Seward was
for war and coercion-noth-ing less;
What DO we hear from that Senator who
occupies the position before the country
which he now does, acknowledged to be the
head Of the politica com mbination which is to
bring into power the incoming Administra-
tion, said by the newspaper press to be the
probable right hand of that Administration,
what do we hear from that Senator? Any
suggestions from quarter of such weight as
what he would recommend to a majority of
the States, IN order 10 meet the demands,
just or unjust, Of the Slave States? None.
Any remark approving Or disapproving the
the propositions before the country. to amend
the Constitution in this regard? None. We
know what his opinions are in regard to
the propositions offered by the venerable
Senator from Kentucky, (Mr Crittenden).
by declaration and by votes uniform and
continued. We know what his views are in
the negative and what are his views in the
affirmative. His affirmative vote was given
in this chamber to substitute the resolutions
of the Senator from New Hampshire (Mr.
Clark. What are they? Propositions de-
claring, in substance, that the Constitu ton
needed no amendment that the demands of
the Southern States are unreasonable; and
that the only remedy for this condition of
things in the country was to enforce the
Constitution and the laws"
Mr.. Mason said Mr.. Seward called for four
things-that all should speak for the Union
should rote for it-should girc money for it
should fight for it.
''MR. SEWARD am sure the honorable
Senator does not intend to misrepresent me-
L contemplated, after the expiration Of all
compromises, Convention of the people of
the United States, called in the constitution
al form and after that Convention shall be
held, or refused to be held when it is i'm
possible anything can be done but that by
force Of arms this Union is TO stand or fall,
l have advised my people to do what l shall
be ready to do myself-to stand by the Mon
to stand or perish with it.
After some more discussion, in which Mr..
Mason spoke OF the seeding States as already
completely out of the Union-all federal au-
thoIity in them being wholly at an nd,-and
Mr.. Seward reiterated his willingness to have
all considerations fairly examined and acted
on, before a resort to the sword, Mr. Mason
said that he "was speaking for Virginia. She
would never remain in the Confederation
unless guarantees be efec;ually made for the
preservation Of her rights lie said that she
was not willing to submit the question to
the mass of the American people, but the
Constitution recognizes the people as people
Of the States"