The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-15
IMPORTANT DEBATE.

tion by Mr.. Seward Of the petition Of tb"
city OF New York, with $4,000 signatur~
attached to 1t, tavoring the Border State
plan of settlement;
Mr.. Seward, In the course Of his remarks,
said he had not been asked TO support this
petition. He had not yet found, though no
had anxiously waited Tor, and hoped for Il,
that manifestation OF ttmpcr on the part Of
the people and their representatives, which
would justify him In saying that the secsd-
ing States, or those who sympathife with
them have mado propositions which the cit
irens Of adhcring States could accept, or that
this or any other Of the various propositions
from citizens Of adhering States or those dc.
string to adhere to the Union, would DO ac-
ceptable to the other party.
lie said he had Thoughtful 1t his duty to hold
himself open and ready for the best adjust
ment that could practically be made, and hc
had therefore been obliged TO ask this CON-
mitteo to be content with the assurance
that he would express TO tho public and TO
the Senate that the spirit in which they
came is perfectly cosimcndable and perfect
ly satisfactory. II was gratifying TO him to
sec that a proper spirit offraternal kindness
-of conciliation and aficction-is adopted
by large portion Of the citizens OF the
State to which he belonged. lilo had asked
them also in return for performing his duty
on this occasion, that when they arrive home
they will act in the same spirit, and mani.
lest their devotion 10 the Union above oil
other interests and sentiments, by speaking
for the Union. by voting for the Union, and
II II should be demanded, by lending or Civ
Ing their money for the Union, and fighting
in the last resort for the Union taking care
always to remember that speaking goes be-
fore voting. and voting goes before giving
money, and all go before battle, which he
regarded as hazardous and dangerous and
therefore last, MS it would be the most pain
ful measure 10 DO resorted TO for the saliva
ton of the Union.
This was the spirit in which hc had deter
mined for himself to cJme up TO this great
question and pass through IL for although
this controversy had not already been settled
he did not therefore any the less calculate
upon and expect that 1t would be peacefully
settled, and settled in the Union. lie did
not expect the Union would be rc-est,blished
In ninety DAYS, but his confidence remained,
that as he did not believe the passion and
frenzy of an hour could overthrow this great
fabric of constitutional liberty in ninety
DAYS, 30 he felt sure that there would bc timo
even after the expiration Of ninety days, for
restoration. Secession or revolution on tho
ono hand, and coercion or defiance on tho
other, are all TO pass away before the Union
is to become the grand absorbing object OF
interest, affection and duty upon the part OF
the citizens of tho United States. A great
many partizan interests are to be suppressed.
great many party platforms are to be swept
away before the Union, u in danger, Is to DO
saved but II will require very short time
only, II the Union does not require 10 be saw
ed, for all these interests and platforms, and
all these men to disappear. Everybody who
shall resist or stand in tho way of the pres
eryation Of the Union will appear as mother
moths in summer evening, when the whirl-
wind of popular indignation arises, that
shall be excited when the full discovery is
made that the Union is in danger through
error or impractcability on their part.
Abiding to the question ofslayery in tho
territories. which had been vital one for
ut least twelve years, he said tho admission
of Kansas settled all that was vital and im-
portant, leaving behind the passions which
the contest had engendered. Kansas Is in
the Union, and California and Oregon are in
the Union, and now the same contest disturbs
the Union as before. Tho extent OF the ter
ritories. alter the admission Of Kansas. WAS
one million sixty.tbree thousand five hun.
dred square mllcs-an area twcnty-four times
M great as the State of New York-twenty-
four such States as New York may yet bo
organized. Under what has been accepted
by the administration rs q judicial decree,
every inch OF that territory Is slave territory;
he spoke of the decree not as he accepted it,
but as enforced by the existing administra-
ton. Over q considerable portion Of IL,
tho slave code made by northumberland
cd By Congress-is enforced. How many
slaves are there in IL ? only IL African
slaves. lie had followed this thing In good
faith, with, zeal and energy, but must con-
icss that he had no fears Of slavery when un-
der the peculicr condition OF things which
had existed slavery has only succeeded in
planting one slave on every 1900 square
miles OF territory.
This. then ceases to be q practical qucs-
ton. But inlicu Of It comes up the great
and vital and fearful question Of Union or
disunion-country or no country the ques-
ton whether we shall sink forever under tho
contempt ofmankind. Why then should ho.
despair that q great people Of 3O,O0O,O00
would be unable to meet the crisis; he had
no fears: this Is a confedcracy not an imper-
ial government-a government of single
State 1t isa confederacy dependant upon
the continuous assent Of all its members
subject TO dissolution by their action, but
that assent Is always taken for granted by
virtue Of the original assent, and held until
In the form prescribed by the Constitution
itsclf, and in the time and manner. and with
all the conditions prescribed, those who con-
stitutc the Union, shall declare that IL exists
no longer.
Mr. Mason said, after all else, the recon.
mendation OF the Senator Is battle; blood Ii
then 10 save the Union. The Union is sbrok.
en-; there is no Union in the country.
Mr.. Seward aid he was not surprised
that he and the Senator from Virginia should
differ the Senator secs different country,
he (Seward) saw returning reason, judge
ment oud harmoney: bc was In the union
and the union is here he had contenpia'ca
fighting because he saw that treason: norm
and south, might arm against the union.
Mr.. Mason said he wanted to place before
the American people the fact that tne senar
tor proposes, ss remedy, war ana mao pres-
ented the argument Of tyrint ioree ana COM
pulsion ~ the only resort ne @kes no no.
lice Of compupities claiming to have assum-
ed sovereignty. and which are now COM
pletely out OF the union hc wanted that
they should not be hoodwinked by the cry
Of rcacc when there was no peace he trust
ed the good sense OF the people, north and
routh, would repudiaie tho counsels Of tho
Senator.
Mr.. Seward said he wns amazed at tho do
lusion oi tho Senator from Virginia; DO
made aspcech pacific and fraternal, and tho
Senator makes II a declaration OF war no
(Slaron) could sec nothing bat war ma