Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-01-17
From Our washington Cores
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WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, /

WASHINGTON, Jan. H. 1851.
The NEST gloomy and depressing week Of
the crisis, taken as a whole is that which has
Just closed. But as tho darkest hour is said
10 lie that which preccdes the breaking morn
50 it would seem with reference to the Ma
tons night of darkness. Opening with events
which foreboded a speedy and fearful tcrmi-
nation, its close was frightened by rays of
sunshine and gladncss. Light has broken in
the East. The question which of all others
held in allegiance the issue of peace or w0r has
been solved in favor of white winged peace
The great alternative was suspended not SO
much upon the character of the propositions
to be submitted as that assent to some plan
should be sgnifed from the incoming Adj
ministraton. This disposition was manifest
in Mr.. Stewards speech Of Saturday.
Never perhaps, in the history of the Re-
public was such intense interest manifested
to hear the utterances ofany American States
man as was exhibited to hear the distinguish
ed Senator from New York on this occasion.
Ills well known requirements and his emf
nent position as the foremost man of his par
ty were of themselves quite sufficient, and
have never yet failed, to attract n thronged
and fashionable audience, but when to these
were superadded, as in this Instance, the per-
ilous condition Of the country himself regar-
ded as the founder ard exponent of that party
whose success is made the prc'ert for revolu-
| ton, the knowledge that he was to stand forth
as the Premier of tie Administration soon to
be installed and might justly be presumed to
speak for the President elect, all combined to
give his effort an interest and an Importance
which is, perhaps, without parallel in the
Parliamentary debates Of this or any other
people. 1t maynot be generally known that
the daily sessions of Congress are not opened
until II O'clock, NJ and that one hour there
after is usual y devoted to other than the reg
ula order Of business 50 that the delivery OF
tho speech could not reasonably have been
Anticipated before F. ", and yet, as early
AS s o'clock, spectators Of both sexes began to
fill up the spacious galleries Of the Senate
By 10 o'clock every available seat was oceu-
pied and even the cloak rooms and corridors
connecting with the chamber were packed
with human beings, whilst hundreds aud
thousands in vain sought admittance. Every
aisle, corridor and avenue leading thereto had
its living throng intent upon hearing him
upon whose utteranccs seemed to be suspen-
ded the fate Of the Union. All appeared to
feel that if it were opposed to any Congress
sional action looking to a settlement, or il it
counselled the exercise by Congress of any
disputed power, there was the Srord, tho only
arbiter-the only result, civil war.
lie spake as became the occasion and the
crisis. Seward is not an orator in the ordi-
nary acceptation of that term. The speech
itself, however, was all that any friend of the
Union dared hope for; kindly in its tone,
certain in its siyings out conciiatory, COM
promising and patriotic.
To make it such it was not to be expected
that it would prove satisfactory to either ex-
reme. 1t could neither meet the demands
of the Cotton States nor assent to the ultra
isms of the New England school. 1t was al!
that conservative and moderate men ought to
ask by way Of adjustment. Since its delivery