Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-11-13
Speech of Hon. W. Il. Seward.

On the eve of the late election in Ne
] York, the Hon. w. Fl. Seward made speec
J at Auburn, New York, chiefly addressed I
? the people, in regard to the question TO be d.
cided the following day at the polls Th
closing portion of his speech, which relates t
the prevailing war. We give in full:
The abettors of the rebellion are trouble,
for fear we shall not leave to the rebels, whel
they have submitted, enough of Slavery ant
slaves. They want TO know what we propOs'
about that. Ny answer is, if they had sub
mitted to Abraham Lincoln, at the beginning
they would have retained the whole. They
have lost by resistance, on an average of 10
/ 900 slaves month. Each month of prolong-
ed resistance increases the loss, and they are
verging upon the time when submission, com
iHg too late, will leave neither Slavery nor
slaves in the land. The question of Slavery
Is their business not mine. So long as they
propose no surrender, they are entitled to ask
20 terms. What has happened to Slavery
thus far, has been the legitimate fruit of their
own crimes but it was fruit ordained not by
man, but Of God. Without seeking to divine
bis ways, think that the future will be like
unto the past. The insurrection will perish
under military power, necessarily and there
fore lawfully exercised, and Slavery will per-
ish with it. Nevertheless, am willing that
the prodigal son shall return. The doors, so
far as am concerned, shall always be open to
him. The longer be is content to feed upon
husks, the sooner he will hunger. The longer
he is content in his daIliance with the harlot OF
rebellion, the greater will be bis ultimate dis
mil baro Hl,o hVI,,-
ger and disgust, the deeper will be his repent
ance and the more lasting his refOrmation.--
/ shall send no invitations after him and yet
speaking not for myself. but for you and the
Thole American people, express the convic
tion that neither man nor angles can prevent
the fatted calf being slain for his welcome,
when he does come back, saying penitently,
" Brothers l have offended and desire recon-
Citation"
The sympathizers with the Contederacy tell
US of debt, taxes and blo3d. Was ever SOW
ereigLiy and freedom saved without the expen- |
diture of money and of life :? It is the lot
appointed to nations to endure war with its |
evils, as well as to enjoy at inter walls peace |
and prosperity. Who caused the debts, the |
taxes and the shedding of blood? The cannon
ade of Sumter answers the whole question al
once.
In a conflict like this the question is not one
of abstract suff.ring, but which ofthe conten-
ding parties suffer most. Viewed in this light !
the whole Of the suffering which the war has
produced has fallen upon the insurgents, and |
The loyal part of the United States is exempt
Ln the insurgent States there is not one citizen
who is not the poorer and the more unhappy
for the war. In the loyal regions their is not
a State which is not stronger, nor citizen
who is not the richer for the same cause. The
HcFease of wealth which arises from the new
national discipline of industry which the war
mas obliged US to adopt, has enabled US to
pay all increased debts and taxes as easily as
We paid the debts and taxes existing when the
war begun. Nor must we forget that it is
'nIy question of whose debts and whose tax
. we shall pay-not whether we shall pay any
We pay either the debts and taxes of Abra-
nam Lincoln and his administration, or the
lebts and taxes of JEFF. Davis and Robt III
Tombs. In the one case we have an equiva-
ent of dollar for dollar for what we pay and
he greater equivalent of national safety and
lonor. In the other case, we pay twelve dol
ars in gold far one dollar in Confederate mon
y, with additional loss of eternal disgrace
md ruin.