Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-01-25
THE CRISIS OF TIE UNION
SPEECH OF HON. WM. II. SEWARD

In the 5. SeuAte-Satur!ay, Jan. l., lsol.
Mr. President. Congress adjouroed last
sunmer amid auspices Of national abnnd-
snee, contentmeut, tranquility, aud haPpl-
nes. Ii was reassem bIed tins winter Iu
The presence of arrangement OF business
sud dis drbsuce Of puollc as well as pri-
,,,e credit. aud 10 the face Of sedItlous
c,mbinstous to overthrow the UnlOu.
The alarm is appalling, for Union Is not
more the body than liberty Is the soul OF
toe nation. The American citizen bss
been accustomed to believe tue Republic
immortal He shrinks from the sight OF
ronyu.ious indicative # its sudden death
The report Of our condition has gone over
the ssa,, and We, who have so loug aud
With much complaceucy studied the end
LEES sgitatiOns of society IN the d Word,
believing ourselves exempt t!om such dis
;1rbsuces, now in cur turn seem to be
f.Ihng iuto a momeutous and disastrous
rsTplutlOn.
Declares FIR the Union
know how difficult 1t Is 10 decide,
.md so many aud 50 various eounsei-,
wat ought to be, aud even what eau be
done. Certainly, however, It Is time for
every Senator to declare himself. |,
therefore, following the example Of the no
Vie Senator from Tennessee, avow my sd-
Ssrence to the Union in lis Integrity and
SIN ell its parts, wI'l my friends, VITA
ny party, with my State, gIth my couu-
lry, or without either, a, they may deter
nice, III every event, whether Of peace or
0. var, With every consequence Of GOuOr
or dishonor, of lite or death
Hitherto, the eXnIuIIiUus OF epiri, and
resolution, here, as elsewhere, have been
chiefly made on the side of Disunlon. L
DO not regret this. Disunion is SO unex-
tsciel aud unnatural, that 1t must PLAINLY
reveal itself before its preseuce can be re-
,z.i | ike best, also, the courage that
r.es slowly under the pressure Of severe
prOvocatiou. II it be d christian duty to
forgive to the stranger even seventy TIMES
seven Offences, It is the highest patriotism
to endure without compliant the passion
ate .syssrdness OF political brethren 50
.olg a. there is hope that they may come
us better mind
What srW not s1ue tie tntOn.
think it easy to pronounce what meas
ures or conduct viii not save the Union.
l,gree with the honorable Senator from
North Carolina that mere euiosIsms Will
bot save 1t. Yet think rnat as praye
brlugs Us nearer to God, though It can not
move him towards Us, so, there Is healing
aud sH5lug virtue in every word OF devo-
fion TO The Union that is spoken, and III
every sigh that its danger draws forth.
Ihe UuiOu can not be saved BY mutual
erinnatlous cQlcerniDg our respective
share possibility for the present evils.
he whose conscience acquits him, will
riarally be slow to accuse others whose CO.
operation he needs. History only can ad.
just the great account.
A continuance of the debate on the
constitutional power of Congress over the
''elsct Of slavery in the Territories, viii
noi save the Union. The opinions of par
lies aod sections on that question have be
cone dogmatical.
The Union can not be saved BY proving
h'i Secession is illegal or uuconstitu;iOn
a. Persons bent on that fearfu! step, will
Dot stand long enough on forms of law tt
De dis.Odged; and loyal men do not need
.a'a harrow ground to stand upon. fesr
'oAt little more will be gained from dis.
eusslns the right of the Federal Govern
Deu' 10 coeree seeding States into obedi.
.u'e' II 1isGD!ln Is to go on, this ques
"Ou viii give place to abe more practical
vns whether many seeding States have a
"sa' to coerce the remaining members tc
.Nl'lesce IN a dissolution. dread, as
% my Innermost soul | abhnr, civil war.
~ u'' koow what the Union would be
urn II saved By the use of the sword
'H' ior '!l this, DO no. agree with those
.uo' With desire TO avert that great cal
'u's' advlse conventional or unopposed
''fNa'ion, with view to what they cal
seohsiruction. /, is enough for me
- mat 10 this plan, destruction goc:
II. .''e re-eonstruc;ion aud, secondly, tina
s t strength Of the vase in which tn,
! pes OF the nation are held, cou.isf,
>',,ly 10 Its remaining upbroken.
congressional compromises are not like
7" save the Union. | know, indeed
D." p tradition favors this form of remedy
:" II Is essential to its success, in sul
, 'eat there be found preponieratin;
-" oi citizens, so far neutral on the is
Aniea separates parties, that they ca,
,,s s''eoe' strike down clashing weapons
compel an accumulation. Mcdera.
tsions are not eustomarlly asked by
Will LIS gus 10 battery; nor ar