Newbern weekly progress., 1861-01-22
VOLUME III.
sDeech of senator seward.

So far as the abstract question whether, Dy the
| Constitution of the United States, the bondsman
who is made such by the laws of State, is still a
| man or only property, answer that, within that
| State its laws on that subject supreme; that
| when he has escaped from that State into another
| the Constitution regards him as a bOndsman who
| may not by any law or regulation of that State
! be DISCHARGED from his service, but shall be de-
lvered up. claim, to the party to whom his SER
| vice due.
persuading you to modify the acts of Congress on
that subject so as not obige private persons to
assist i'm their execution. and to protect freemen
from being, by abuse of the laws, carried into
slavery agree that all laws of the States. which
Gently coming from or resident in other States,
and which laws contravene the Constitution of
the United States or any law of Congress passed
in conformity thereto, ougth to be repealed.
Secondly. Experience IN public affairs has con-
firmed my opinion that domestic slavery, exist
ing in any State, is wisely left by the United
States exclusively to the care, management and
disposition of that State; and if it were in my
power would not alter the Constitution in that
respect. If fmisapprehensiono OF my position needs
so strong a remedy. am willing to vote for an
amendment of the Constitution, declaring that it
shall not by any future amendment be so al
tered as to confer on Congress power to abolish
or intefere with slavery in any State.
Thirdly. While think that Congress has ex-
elusive and sovereign authority to legislate on
all subjects whatever, in the common Territories
of the United States; and while [ certainly shall
never directly or indirectly, give my vote to
establish sanction slavery in such Territories,
or anywhere else in the world. yet the question
what constitutional laws shall at any time be
passed in regard to tie Territories is, like every
other question. to be determined on practical
grounds | voted for enabling acts in the
of Oregon, Minnesota and Kansas without being
able to secure in them such provisions would
have preferred yet voted wisely.
So now, l am well satisfied that. under exist
ing circumstances, happy and satisfactory solu
ton of the difficulties in the remaining territories
would be obtained by similar laws, providing for
their organization if such organization were
otherwise practicable. If, therefore. Kansas
admitted as State, under the Wyandotte Con
stitution. think she ought to be, and if the
organic laws of all the other territories could be
re ealed ! could vote to authorize the organiza-
ton and admission of two new States which
should include them, reserving the right to effect
subdivisions of them whenever necessary into
several convenient States; but do not find that
such res ,rvations could be constitutonally
made.
Without them the ulteriOr embarrassments
which would result from the hasty incorporation
of States of such vast extent and various inter
ests and character, would outweigh all the i'm
mediate advantages of such measure. But if
the measure practicable, l should prefer
different course, namely: when the eccentric
movements of secession and diSunon shall have
ended in whatever form that end may come. and
the angry excitementS of the hour shall have sub
sided. and calmneSs shall have once more re-
Imed its accustomed sway the public mind,
then, and not until then--one two or three years
htncc-I should cheerful!y aivise a Convention
.ftle people, to he assembled in pursuance of the
Constitution, to consider aud decide whether any
and What amendments of the organic national
law ought To be made.
Republicans uow-;iS have heretofore been
member of other parties existing in my dav-l
nevertheless ht,ld and cherrlSh. as | have always
Inlte the lri'.rpe that this Government exists i'll
present form "mly by the consent nf the gov
trnrd, and that II Is necessary it Is wise, To
resort to the people tor rrriaI"nS of the organic
law hen the troubles and dangers OF the Stale
certainly transcend the powers delegated by 1t To
the public aut tinrlieS. Nor "ug ght tue suggest ion
to excite surprise. Guverument in any frrm is
machine; this Is the most com t,leX tnat the
mind OF man has ever invented or the hand of
man ha, ever framed. Perfect it Is, it ought
tie expected that it Will, at least often
i'll Il century, require some modification to adapt
it to the changes of society and alteruatlons of
empire
Fourthly. l hold myself ready now, as always
heretofore TO vote for any properly guarded laws
which shall be deemed necessary to prevent m,:
tual invasonS Of States by citizens of other States
and punish those who shall aid and abet them.
Fifthy. Notwithstanding the arguments of
the gallant Senator from Oregon, (Gen Lane,)
remain of the opinion that physical bonds. such
highways, railroads, rivers and canals, are
vastly more powerful for holding civil commnni-
ties together than any mere covenants, though
written parchment or engraved upon iron. L
remain, therefore constant to my purpose to Sc
cure if possible the construction of two Pacific
railways, one of which shall connect the ports
around the mouth of the Mississippi, and the
others the towns on the Missouri and the lakes,
with the harbors Western coast.
If, on the expression of these views. l have not
proposed what is desired expected by many
Others they will do the justice to believe that
l am far from having suggested what in many
respects would have been in harmony with cher
ished convictions of my own. L learned early
from Jefferson. that in political affairs cannot
always do what seems to us absolutely best.
Those with whom must necessarily act, en-
tertaning different views, have the power and
right of carrying them into practice. We must
be content to lead when can, and to follow when
cannot lead and If we cannot at any time do for
our country all the good that we would wish, we
must be satisfied with doing for her all the good
that
Having submitted my own opinions this
great crisis, it remains only to say that | shall
cheerfully lend to the government my best sun
port in whatever prudent yet energetic efforts it
shall make to preserve the Uniou advising, only,
that it practice far possible. the utmost mod
Grafton, forbearance and conciliation.
And, now, Mr.. President, what are the auspices
of the country? l know that we are in the midst
of alarms, and somewhat exposed to accidents
avodabe in seasons of tempestuons passions.
We already have disorder, and violence has be-
gun. L know not TO Wnaf extent ii may go. Still
my faith in the Constitution and in the Union
abides, because my faith in the wisdom and vir-
tue of the American people remains unshaken.
Goodness, calmness, and resolution, elemeuts
of their character They have been temporarily
displaced but they are reappearing.
Soon enough, [ trust, for safety, it will be seen
that sedition and violence only local and tenn
porary, and thatloyaty and affection to the Union
are the natural sentiments of the whole country.
Whatever dangers there shall be, there will be
the determination TO meet them whatever sacri-
fee, private public, shall be needful for the
Union, they will be made. feel sure that the time
has not come for this great nation to fall. This
people, which has been studying to become wiser
and better as it has grown older, is not perverse
wicked enough to deserve dreadful and Sc
punishment dissolution.
This Unien has not yet accomplished what
good for mankind was manfestly designed by
Him who appoints the seasons and prescribes the
duties of States and empires. No, sir if it were
cast down by factions to- day, it would rise again
and reappear, in all its majestic proportions to.
morrow. It is the only government that
stand here. Woe Woe! to the man that madly
lifts his hand against it. It shall continue and
endure; and men, in after times, shall declare that
this generation, which saved the Union from
such sudden and unlocked for dangers, surpassed