, 1861-02-06
MR.. SEWARD'S SPEECH
IN TIE
5taEG95 Senate.


Tn nrezpnt,nn IN the senate n nemor;,, fron,
-. ~ 49, VAL
citlzens oi ne" 1orK, I'LL: seward salo:
Mn. president: Exec ting the House Of
Representatives, this Senate Chamber Is the
l1rsest hull that Is or eyer lias been occupied
by Legislative Assembly since the world be
gan. Tic memorial which an charged to
present, il Of such length, that IL extended, 1t
would cross the Senate Chamber in it's ex-
tremest length, eighteen times. l have al
ready presented memorials from the city OF
New York, signed by the citizens oil that place,
to the numbSr of t"enty. thousand. This
memorial bears the signatures Of thirty-cight
thousand more, making in the whole, sixty
three thousand OF the Inhabitants Of tEat city,
who have signed this appeal to the Senate.
The committee who have charge Of this memo.
rial, are i fur rcpre6entation-l might almost
say, an embodinent-of citizens, who direct
aud wield the commerce OF The great empori.
Inn Of our country-thc commerce Of con-
tinent; and 4 commerce which this present
Year, owing to the distractions OF the times, is
but for tue first time in the condition Of prov
ing itself to be the controlling commerce Of
the world.
The memorial which they present may be
regarded as fair expression Of the interest
which Is telt by that great commercial COM
munity, aud probably d lair exponent Of the
interest in the same great subject which Ia felt
ted States. In any other part Of the world,
such communication would command obedi-
cree In England. FrAncc, Russin, Prussia,
Or Germany, demonstration Of the will Of the
commerce of the country decides questions OF
war OF peoce Happily, Sir, tliat is not the case
merce Is but one.
The interests of agriculture, manufactures
and mining, each Of them Is another, Each is
entitled to and each secures equal respect. and
the consideration which they obtain il due, not
to their number, not to their weallh, but due
to the circumstances under which they lend
their advice to Government. But do not
tiiioners entities them to the respectful atttn-
ton and consideration of Congress.
They bayc asked nc to support this petition.
have not yet found, though have anxiously
waited for and hoped for that manifestation Of
temper on the part Of the people Of the coun-
try and their Representatives which would
justify me in saying that,the seeding States,
Of those who sympathize with them, have
made PROPOSITIONS which the citizens Of the
adhering States could accept, or. us deeire to
speak with impartiality upon this Us upon all
other occasions, to put the proposition tu an.
other form, TINT this or any other Of the w.
rious propositions which have come from the
citizens Of the adhering States, OF those who
adhere to the Union, would not be acceptable
and satisfactory to the other party.
I have thought 1t my duty to hold uyself
open. and ready for the best adjustment which
could be practically made, aud have there
fore been obliged to aek this Committee to be
content with the assurance that would ex-
press to the public and to the Senate, that the
Spirit in.whicb they cpme is perfectly com
mendable and perfectly satisfactory. Il is
gratifying to me- to see that the proper spirit
d spirit Of fraeernal kindness, Of conciiiatfon
and Affections adopted by SO large portion
Of MT fellow citizens Of the State to which 1
belong,
Ihave asked them. also, In return for per
forming my duty on this occasion, tl1st, when
thew Laye srTiyed at home, thew Win act in The
same spirit, and manifest their devotion to the
Union, above all Other interests and ali other
sentiments, BY speaking for the Urfon. hy
voting for the Union, aud, il It shall be de-.
nanded, by lending and even giving their
money for The Union. and dghtinr in fhe 1sst
reeort for the Union-takiny cars alyyavs tj,at
speaking goes before yotinr. voting roes he.
fore giving money, and all 90 before hattie
which 1 Should regard n hazartous and d,n'
gerous, aud thereiorc the last. IS il Tontd he
The most painful, measure to be rcsortsd to for
the ealyation Of the Union.
This is the spirit in which bayo determined
uyseIf to conae nm n this arcat orestion n a,,d
psss throuoh if. n si7ceTsIy heleve W. shall iI
pass through it-for, ulthouTh IRIS great con.
trorcrsy has not heen afrendy aeftlcI a. nnt
therefore, any the less ca]cnlste upon ona hone ,
and expcct tint it viii hs neacsf,jlv pt. sett,sd
and gcftlel for ti,a IIn;on hsre not has1''
SO ,ash as to ernect that in the s;vtr dars
which have been allowed ns since the ,neetine tn,
Of fConrress-and viii he ft.nk' sIr. in sas;n!,
that 6aye not rrnected that In tha niJatS 6
davs which are n1tnrsts ~ th;e tom, ~ ~
vrsss-this srsot 'cootro.sr.1 TonI5 csr+sini,,
H. rdfnsteG 1e.cs rss+o..j anJ ths TIn;n5
firm]v estah1isfed 4''soe'' "DN 'A'0 o"to1
+ Eno1 str thst tbo.. .;-.. doxs ~ NV o.,,
a,ra 1vsra f31,ad e., a1S. tae eAf =. ~ aus.5