Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-03-24
MISCELI a NY.
Secretary Stewards Speech.

At meeting held in New York to endorse
the Presidents Veto Message, Secretary ST.
WARD made the following speech:
Mr.. Seward said, after few words of intro
duction: What shall speak of or about !?
The call of your meeting specifies the subject; !;
but first let nc say am not here as an alarm
asst. / am not here to say that the nation is in
peril or dauger-in peril if you adopt the opin-
IONS, in peril if you reject them, in peril if
you adopt the views of the apparent or Teni
majority of Congress, or if you reject them !;
it is not in peril amy way, nor do think the
cause of liberty aud freedom, the causcof prog
ress, mclioraton or civilization, the cause Of
national aggrandizcmcnt, present or future,
material or moral, is in any danger of being
long arrested whether you adopt one set of po-
litical forms or another. The -Union-that is
to say the mtion-has been rescued from all
its perils. The noble ship has passed from
the tcmpcsts and pillows into the verge of a
safe harbor, and is ROW securely riding in the
ancient mooring without breaker, spar or a
leak starboard or larboard, fore or aft. There
are some small reefs yet to pass, as she ap-
proachcs those moorings. One pilot says that
she may safely enter directly through them.
The other'says that she must back, and lower
ing sail take time to 90 around them. That
is all the difference of opinion betwscn the pi-
lots. L should not practice my habitual char
ity if l did not admit that thnk,both sincere
and honest but the vessel will 90 in safely
one way or the other Tho worst that will
happen will be that by taking the wrong in
stead Of the right passage and avoiding the
wrong one, the vessel may roll little and
some honest capable and even deserving poll
ticians and statesmen, President or Congress
men, may get washed overheard. J. should
be syrry for this. but if it cannot be helped it
can be borne.
M If [ am ono of the unfortunatcs let no friend
be concerned ON that account. AS honest. as
good, as capable politicians statesmen, Con
grcsfn,cn and Presidents will make their ap.
pcarance hereafter, faster than needed, to com
inand the ship, rs we'll and as wisely as any
that have heretofore staiked their hour upon
deck in the altcrnations Of calu, and tempest
thnt always attend navigation. Nevertheless,
although. do not think that we are in u crisis,
the question today is worthy Of deliberate ex.
animation and consideration. The subject be-
fore us is difference of opinion that reveals
itself but too clearly between the President
and Congress. The President as we all see,
is q man of decided convictions The legsla-
tive leaders are trying not to coincide with
him in opinion They have appealed to us,
outsiders as we are, to pronounce between
them.
The speaker then went on to prove that
there was actually no difference Of Importance
between the President and Congress, however
much it tmight seem otherwise. Ilc said both
have. got tho Union restored as originally
planned. ltsbonld be without slavery, scccs-
sion or compromise. Not with freedmen and
refugees abandoned to suffering and persccu.
tions, but with freedmen employed in the pro-
duction Of sclf-sustnining industry with ref
ugccs under tho protection Of law and order.
The President secs that it,has come out right