The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-21

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We give below the main portion of
speech in Maryland by the Hon. Mont
gomery Blair, formerly member of Mr.
Lineoln's Cabinet, and one of the most
influential and prominent leaders of the
Abolition party. We ask our Democratic
readers toshow it to their Abolition neigh
bors. The Abolition organs Of Oregon
viii not print such speeches. They fear
the effects upon their party readers. Read
and preserve this speech. Mr.. Blair
said:
FELLow-C 1t cannot be said
that States or men loyal to the Union. that
remained steadfast to it until vanquished
by the superior force of victorious usur-
patton which reduced all the civil and
military authorities within the States TO
subserviency, became rebels By submis-
sion. Much less can it be said that such
States and individuals, entitled by their
allegiance to the General Government TO
Its protection, but which were surrendered
to that usurpation without blow struck
in their defense by it, became traitors by
ceasing to resist when effectual resistance
was no longer possible. Now, this was
exactly the case of the loyal people of.the
South, a majority of whom were unques-
tionably loyal before the fall of Fit. Sum-
ter, but who found themselves at that mo-
ment absolutely at the mercy of the con-
spiritors against the National Republic.
This State of things was the result of the
connivanee of the Government of the Uni
ted States with the traitors. who by the
aid of secret societies, had organized an
overwhelming military force, and secured
by political intrigue the executive, legis-
lative and judicial power in the slave States
But mark especially the part which the
Federal authority exerted In establishing
this usufping power in the South. The
President of the United States, Buchanan.
was their executive Every Cabinet off
Ger appointed by him was of their dicta-
ton. They had a controlling majority in
both branches of Congress. The Supreme
Court was at their devotion. The head of
the army, the venerable Lieutenant 6 en-
eral Scott, stood alone. of all Buchanan 5
controlling functionaries, true to his coun-
try. Every other head of administration.
with the exception of this time-worn pa
triot. contributed to betray the South into
the hands of its enemies The Senate
and House of Representatives in their de-
bates were converted into hot-beds of sedi-
ton to FIRE the Southern heart The Su-
prene Court Illuminated decision, meant
ike the papal bull which once consigned
the newly discovered continent to the yoke
of Spain, to reopen that part of it which
had been freed by State constitutions or
territorial compacts to slavery again.
The Prssidept declared that if the slave
States seeded, as it was proclaimed BY
the Representatives in Congress they
would, if baked in their designs, that
there was no power in the General Gov
ernment to coerce them to submit to the
Constitution and laws. and to defeat even
the attempt at coercion, the army was sent
under Gen Twiggs to the Indian border
of Texas. to be surrendered to the traitors
there, and the navy were dispersed in all
directions to the ends of the earth. This
was the situation at the opening of the
Congress which was to usher Mr.. Lincoln
into his severed government.
But in the interim between the meeting
/ of Congress and the accession of Mr.. Lin
coin, the influential men in the Cabinet
designated by him, and those playing
their last cards, in Buchanan's Cabinet,
we're buried in intrigues with conspirators,
who were setting up their power over the
slave States. Buchanan's Secretary of
War was doing all he could to confirm it,
1 by stripping the armories of the United
States, surrendering the army and its arms,
and handing over all the munitions of war
and forts in his power to the enemy Tou-
eey did the same with everything in his
power, by putting disafected or imbecile
officers In the navy yards and fortified
places in the South, to make the conquest
/ of them easy. Almost allwere lost before
Mr. Lincoln had time to organize his de-
partments and look about him.
Meantime Mr. Seward, as the desigaa-
ted premier of Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet, still
retaining his place in the Senate of the
United States, took his part in the game
played for and against the Union-the
contest, until war in the field broke out,
being confined to the halls of Congress-
Mr. Seward's policy, then and since, and
his motives are still mystery but the re-
suit of his devious course was manifestly
detrimental to the cause of the Union. In
response to the leaders of the rebellion on
the floor of the Senate, and who in effect
as the executive power directed the con-
spiracy from It's council chamber in eau
Gus in Washington, Mr. Seward answered,
g I have such faith In this republican sys-
tenn of ours that there is no political good
| which desire that am not content to
seek through its peaceful forms of admin
istfation without invoking revolutionary
action IF others shall invoke that form
of action to oppose and overthrow govern
ment, they shall not, 50 far as it depends
on me, have the excuse that obstinately
felt myself to be misunderstood. In such
case can afford to meet prejudice with
conciliation, exaction with concession,
which snrrenders no principle, and Yio-
lenee with the right hand of peace" This
declaration was justly construed to pledge
him to sustain President Buchanan's pro-
gramme, not to coerce a State" and
therefore, not to resist the dissolution of
| the Union, the proclaimed purposes of the
Senators and Representatives of the slave
States, who were about to leave their seats
lin the National Legislature, and call a