Litchfield enquirer., 1861-01-17
Senator Stewards Speech.

Mfr sevard,s sneech of which we give full abstract in another column, both from the lmPor- ,ance of the speech itself and from the interest ,.;,, .,,.-,,rbere excite, will be considered in ,r..,,v varied lights by different classes of read ers. It is plain, patriotic, conciliatory and even hsseecbing in its manifold arguments and utter ances for the preservation and perpetuity of the Union.
 It rises at once above party lines, and discard ing party names its whole force is thrown for the ennobling purpose of breaking the tide of disun- ionism and secession and is fortified and perva- ded with the strongest wishes of the speaker for upholding and strengthening the government which is rightly styled the grandest in the history of nations.
 It gives Inc distinct impression that the distin- guished Senator and the future Secretary of State is willing to concede every right which the sover- eign States can possess under the general consti- tuition, and even goes so far as to declare his will ingness hereafter, some two or three years hence shall have died away-to unite with a convention of the people "to consider and decide whether any, and what amendments of the organic na- tional law ought to be made.''
 plicitly that he believes in the absolute power of Congress to legislate for the common territories of the country, and that never by @ vote of his, shall SLAVERY be extended in any of those terri tories or oayachere in Me arorld.
 Finally, the Union can and will be saved JyMe people, he says-and, as we think, says wisely and rightly.
 It will thus be seen that MT. Seward has taken course, which as we said at the outset, is plain, direct and patriotic. He adheres to the fugitive slave law, and in his opinion, all state laws n op position to the fugitive slave clause and laws, ought to be repealed. He believes slavery should be left to the state laws where it exists and he is willing to vote for laws preventing and punishing the invasion of states by citizens ofother states thus discountenancing very broadly all "John Brown raids''-and finally he advocates the building of two Pacific railroads, one northern ond one southern, which shall more firmly ce. ment the Union by material bonds, (which shall be Grmer than written ones.'
 By this speech, direct contradiction is given to the malignng spirit and lying assertions fthe Southern and Northern Pro-Slavery democracy for these twenty years, that Seward is an arch demagogue-a rabid abolitionist and an ultra anti-slayery man. It is, by far, the most conser- yative speech yet uttered by northern represen- tative, but without trace of doughfacism or Douglas demagoguism and yet, we imagine, that the sentiment of the great republican North is even in advance of these opnions-and although heartily concurring in them all-would ever up- hold that other sentiment of Senator Seward, ex- pressed ten years since, and especially applicable in the present threatening time of treason and treachery to the general government which per vades and aninates section of the States " ,,er CT Co take q step Jackwdrd.'
 The fundamental principles of the Republican party, here, in this speech, nowhere else more candidly and eloquently expressed, will never be given up by the people of the North-and espec ially not now in the first flash of triumph and in the van of victory.
 We believe these principles righteous and enduring as the principles of sefgovernment held and strengthened by liberty undefIed and intending. We believe that the government ad- nlinistered under these principles will be the wisest, and safest, and frmest that can be weild- ed in this republic.
 We believe in making every concession to the opinions and feelings of the minority in this re- public, consistent with the honor and conscience of the majority ;-of "meetng predjudice with conciiation" of administering the affairs of this government, as Senator Seward promises to lend his aid to do, "with moderation, forbearance and conciliation" but further than this-the North will not yield
 It IS useless to temporise and compromise with traitors. Traitors and disunionists must De put dorn-and then, on the broad ground of a free and undertaking RIGHr-surrounded by the bull warks of liberty-covered with the canopy of our undivided fag-this Union shall fulfill its mission and be the grandest and most enduring govern ment in the world, because it is thus founded and grounded on the eternal principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.