Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-16
SPEECH OF SENATOR SEWARD.

ed its present dmensions.-N. y. Tribune.
|
| SPEECH OF SENATOR SEWARD.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Senator SEWARD de-
| livered his speech in the Senate to-day on the
state of the Union. The galleries were crowd
ed to over1owing, and the distinguished gen.
tleman was listened to with the utmost inter-
est and attention by Senators and spectators.
He commences his speech by avowing his
adherence to the Union in its integrity with
his country, his State, or without either, as
| they may determine in every event, whether
| of peace or war; with every consequence,
| whether of honor or dishonor, life or death.
| After rchearsing what courses will not save
| the Union, he desires truce, at least, during
| the debate on the Union. 1t cannot be saved
| by proving secession Illegal unconstitution-
al nor can anything be gained by discussing
| the right of the Federal Government to coerce
States. If disunion is to 60 on, this question
will give place to the more practical one,
whether the many seeding States shall coerce
| the remaining members to acquiesce in dis
| olution. He argues against the folly of sepa-
ration, its effect upon the standing of the u
nited States among the nations of the world.
the difficulties a new Southern Confederacy
would encounter in forming treaties, and liable
at any time to become the prey Of stronger
| powers. In summing up his arguments, he
states
|
would combine in persuading you to modify
| the acts of Congress not to compel pr-
vate persons to assist in the execution of the
| Fugitive Slave law, and to prevent freemen
| from being, by abuse of the law, carried into
slavery, l agree that all State laws controven-
| ing the Constitution or any law OF Congress,
| ought to be repealed.
| Secondly-Domestic slavery existing in any
State is wisely left by the Constitution excln-
| siyey to the care, management and disposition
| of that State. | would not alter the Constitu-
tion in that respect, if in my power. l am
/ willing to vote for an amendment of the Con-
stitution declaring that 1t shall not, by any
| future amendment, be altered to confer
on Congress power to abolish or interfere
! with slavery in any State.
| Thndiy-W hile I think Congress has exclu-
sive authority TO legislate for the Territories,
and while certainly shall never directly or
indirectly give my vote to establish, or sane
tion slavery in the territories, yet the question
with regard to what constitutional laws shall
be passed in regard to the Territories, to be
determined on practical ground. IT Kansas
| were admitted under the Wyandotte Contitu-
tion, could vote to organize the organization
and admission of the remaining States, resery-
ing the right to effect subdivisions of them
| whenever necessary into several convenient
/ States, if such reservation could be conStitu-
/ tionally made but if the measure were prac-
/ ticabe, / should prefer a different course,
namely: that when the eccentric movements
/ of secession ard disunion shall have ended
and the angry exctements of the hour subsid-
ed then, say one, two or three years hence,
/ would cheerfully advise convention of the
people to decide whether any and what amend
ments of the organic national law shall be
| made.
| Fomrth-I am ready now, as heretofore, to
/ vote for laws to prevent mutual invasionS OF
States.
| Fiffh-I remain constant in favor of two Pa
/ cific Raiiways-one to connect the ports around
the mouths of the Mississippi, and the other
! the towns on the Missouri and the Lakes with
/ the harbors on our western cost. He conclud-
/ ed with the expression of an unshaken faith
in the Constitution and the Union. He feels
/ sure that the hour has not come for this nation
/ to fall. Its people are not preverse or wicked
| enough to deserve SO dreadful and severe q
/ punishment as dissolution. This Union has
not yet accomplished what good for mankind
! was manifestly designed by Him who appoints
Z. the seasons and prescribes the duties of States
and empires. No. sir if cast down to-day by
| faction, it would riae again and re-appear in
all it's majestic proportions tomorrow. Woe
/ woe |! to the man that meanly lifts his hand a
| gainst it,. 1t shall continue and endure, and
men in after times shall declare that this gen.
Grafton which saved the Union from such sud-
| den and unlocked for damages surpassed in
/ magnanimity even that one which laid its
foundations in the eternal principles of liberty
Justice and humanity.
| The guns of Fort Moultrie will be of little
| service TO the seceSsionists. IL is known that
| Major Anderson, before he left the fort, had
| given orders to tar the guns, inside and outside,
! and then set fire to the whole. Those few
persons who remained behind had further or
ders to pour on the guns, as soon as red hot,
cold waiter. This order was also strictly car
| red out and the guns are now full of cracks
some of them imperceptible, and cannot be
| fired off without danger of bursting. The
South Carolinians probably are aware of that
| fact. and, therefore, you may depend that they
will let Major Anderson's forsaken guns alone
Many beautiful women, while walking in
the street. seem very angry if they are gazed