Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-17
sPEEcHoF TIE
HON. WILLIAMH SEWARD.
Delivered In the Senate OF the UnIte5,
S&a4ea5 z-Z 5ls,I

Delivered tn the Senate OF the UnIted
States. SEQ sgV,T
SATURDAY, Jan. l2, 1861.
Ar. ScWRrd.-Mr. President, Congress
adjourned last summer amid auspices of
national abundance, contentneut. trtp-
guilty, and happiness. 1t was reassem-
hled this winterin the presence oF. derangc-
meht OF business and disturbance of public
0s well rs private credit and in the face
OF Observation-Disclosures to overthrow the
Union. The alarm is appalling, for Union
ls not more the body than liberty is the
soul of tue uatiOn. The American citizen
has been accustomed to believe the Re-
public immortal. He shrinks from the
sight of convulsious indicative of its sud
den death. The report of our condition
has gone over the seas, ana we who have
so long aud with much complucency
studied the endless agita:ions of society in
the Old World, believing ourselves exempt
from such disturbances, now, in our turn,
seem to be falling into n momentous and
disastrous revolution.
know how difficult it is to decide, amid
so many aud SO various counsels, what
ought to be and even what can be done
Certainly, however, it is time for every
Senator to declare himself. therefore,
following the example of the noble Senator
adherence to the Union in its integrity
and with all its parts, with my friends,
with my party, with my State, with my
country, or without either, as they may
determine, in every event, whether ofpeacc
or of war, with every consequence of honor
or dishonor, of life or death. Although
lament the occasion, hail with cheerful
ness the duty of lifting up my voice among
distracted debates, for my whole country
and its inesttm0ble Union.
Hitherto the exhibitions of spirit and
resolution here as elsewhere, have been
Chiefly on the side of disunion. lido not
regret this. Disunion is SO unexpected
and unnatural, that it must plainly reveal
itself before its presence eau be realized.
like best, also, the courage which rises
slowly under severe provocation, IfIt be
Christian duty TO forgive TO the stranger
even seventy times seven offences, it is tho
highest PATRIOTISM TO endure without
complaint the passionate waywardnes of
political brethcrn, so long as there is hope
that they may como to better mind,
think it is easy to prounce what mea-
sures or conduct will save the Union. L
agree with the honorable Senator from
North Caorolina AIr. Clingman1 that mere
eulogiums will not save it. Bet yet /
think that as prayers bring us nearer to
us, so thereis healing and saving virtue
in every word of devotion to tho Union
that is spoken, and in every sigh that dan
ger draws forth l know, at least, that,
like virtue, it derives strength from every
irrcVerent act that is committed; and every
blaSphemOus phrase thaLis uttered against
it, s.,l.ss,----
The Union cannot be saved by mutual
examinations concerning our respective
shnre of responsibility for the present
He whose conscience acquits him will be
naturally slow to accuse others whose CO.,
operation he needs. History can only
adjust the greataccount.
A continuance of the debate on the con-
stitutioual power of Congress over the
subject of slavery in the Territories, will
not save the Union. The opinions of,
parties and sections on that question have
become dOgm0ticNl, and it is this cirCum-
stance that has produced the existing ali-
enation. A truce, at least during the de-
bate on the Union, is essential to recon
ciliHtiOn.
The Union cannot be saved by proving
that secession is illegal or unconstitution-
al. Persons bent uthnt fearful step will
not stand long enough on forms of laws to
be dislodged, aid loyal men do not need
such narrow grounds to stand upon.
fear THAT little moro will be gained
from discussing the rights of the Federal
Government to coerce seeding States iEto
obedience. If disunion Is to go on, this
question will give place to the more prac-
ticHl ono, whether many seeding States
have right to coerce tho remaining mem-
bers to acquiesce in n dissolution.
dread, ms in my Utmost soul abhor,
civil war. L do not know what the Union
would be worth if saved by the use of the
sword. Yet, for 0ll this; do not agree
with those who, with desire to avert the
great calamity, advise conventional OF
unopposed separation, with view to
what they call reconstruction. It is
enough for me that in the plan destruction
goes before construction. And Sec
Ondly, that the strength of the vase in.
which the hopes of the nation are held
consists chiefly in its remaining unbro-
ken.
Congressional compromises arc not like
ly to save the Union. l know, indeed,
that tradition favors this form of remedy.
But it is essential to its success, in any
case, that there be fonnd a pFeponderatiug
mass of citizens, so far neutral on the is
sues that separate parties, that they
can intervene, strike down clashiug Weap-
ons, aud compel an accommodation. Mod
crate concessions are not customarily ask
ed by force with its guns inbattery;
nor are liberal concessions apt to be given
by nn opposing force not less confident of
its own right aud its own strength. I
think also, that legislative compromises
which sacrifice honestly cherished prinei-
Piles, while they anticipate future exigen-
.cies, even if they do not assume extra-con-
stitutionnl powers, arc less sure to avert
imminent evils than they are certain to
produce ultimately even greater dangers.
Indeed, Mr.. President, think it will be
wise to discard two prevalent ideas or
preiudices, namely: FIRST, that the Union
is to be saved by anybody in particular !;
aud secondly, that tits to be saved by some
cunning and insinCere compact of paeiti-
cation. If remember rightly, said
something like this here so long ago as