The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-28

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Mr.. Stewards Speech in the United states
ha Senate...February L, 1861. cd 3
In presenting to the Senate memo
rial from the citizens of New York
Mr.. Seward said ::
Mr.. PRESIDENT Excepting the
House of Representatives, this Senate
Chamber is the largest hall that is or
ever has been occupied by a Legisla-
tive Assembly since the world began.
The memorial which 1 am charged to
present, is of such length, that if ex-
tended, it would cross the Senate
Chamber in its EXTREMIST length, eight.
cen times. / have already presented
memorials from the city of New York,
signed by the citizens of that place, to
the number of twenty -fve thousand.
This memorial bears the signature OF
thirty-eight thousand more, making
in the whole, sixty-three thousand OF
the inhabitants Of that city, who have
signed this appeal to the Senate. The
committee who. have charge of this
memorial, are fair representation-I
might almost say, an embodiment-of
citizens, whe direct and yield the com
meree of the great emporium of our
countryside commerce of continent /;
and a commerce which this present
year, owing to the distractions of the
times, is but for the first time in the
condition of proving itself to be the
controlling commerce of the world.
The memorial which they present
may be regarded as a fair expression
of the interest which is felt by the
great commercial community, and prob
ably fair exponent of the interest in
the same great subject which is felt by
the whole commercial interest of the
United States. In any other part of
the world, such communication would
command obedience. In England,
France, Russia, Prussia, or Germiny, a
demonstration of the will of the COM
MERGE of the country decides questions
of war or peace. Happily, sir, that is
not the case in this great Republic.
The interest of commerce is but one.
The interest of agriculture, manufac-
lures and mining, each of them is an
other. Each is entitled to and each Sc
cures equal respect, and the considera-
ton which they obtain is due, not to
their number, not to their wealth, but
due to the circumstances under which
they lend their advice to the Govern
ment. But do not hesitate to say
that the character of these petitioners
entities them to the respect attention
and consideration of Congress.
They have asked me to support this
petition. / have not yet found, though
Il have anxiously waited for and hoped
for that manifestations of temper on
the part of the country and their Rep
resentatives, which would justify me
in saying that the seeding States or
those who sympathize with them, have
made propositions which the citizens of
the adhering States could accept, or,
as l desire to speak with impaftiality
upon this as upon all other occasions, to
put the proposition in another form, tn at
this or any other of the various PROPOSE
tons which have come from the citi-
zens of the adhering States, or those
who adhere to the Union, would not
be acceptable and satisfactory to the
other party. I
l have thought it my duty to hold
myself open and ready for the best adj
justment which could be practically
made, and l have, therefore, been
obliged to ask this Committee to be
content with the assurance that would
express to the public and to the Senate,
that the spirit in which they came is
perfectly commendable and satisfacto-
ry. 1t is gratifying to me to see that
the proper spirit-a spirit Of fraternal
kindness, Ct Cancellation and affection
lis adopted by SO large a portion of
my fellow citizens of the State to which
I belong.
Il, i have asked them, also, in return
for performing my duty on this occa-
sion, that, when they have arrived at
home, they will act in the same spirit,
and manifest their devotion to the I'M
ion, above all other interests and all
other sentiments, by speaking for the
TJnion nv voting for the Union and IF