Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-25
tFrcm tie New York Nsdou.l
a LEADER WITHOUT a PARTY.


1t has been sufficiently humiliating TO
every American, having any sense and pa
triotism, TO read the daily reilerations Of Mr..
Johnson's single speech, and to reflect that
this coarse, egOtlstic, Incorporate orator Is
the President of the United States. But
there is some consolation in the thought that
his elevation was in every respect acciden-
tai. He was nominated for Vice President
not on account Of his personal qualifications,
not because he was the kind of man that the
electors wished for tho place, but simply for
the reason that he was the only man occupy
ing position Of any prominence who was
at once Southeuer, Democrat up 1861,
and loyalist in 1854 and that there was
widespread desire in the Union party 10 pay
signal honor to some man who should com
bine these three characters Mr.. Lincoln
was an old Wing and Northern man. and
1t was appropriate that his associate on the
ticket should be OF opposite antecedents, so
that together they might be fairly emblematie
of their party How unexpected was the
elevation OF Mr.. johnson to the Presidency,
all men know.
This accidental President, moreover, was
well known TO be 'r 'f~oorth and uneducat-
ed man. No one expected from him any
graces of manner or polish Of speech. But
Tor his intolerable snobbshness, we could
bear his rough speeches and undignifed ways
with moro patience, although they go far
beyond the license allowed even to a back
woodsmun under the responsibility of office.
But there has been for some time past a
more melancholy spectacle, and one for
which indulgence can furnish no such ex-
cuses William H. Seward is no accident,
no backwOodsman, no village tailor, no un-
educated man. He is gentleman by birth
and by training, and by private manners.
He is a scholar of full academic qualifica.
tons. lie is man long versed in politics,
with the highest presumptive claims to the
name of statesman. lie was for years the
acknowledged and freely chosen leader of a
great party, and only failed to become Presi.
dent because he was supposed TO represent
his party too faithfully TO command the suf-
irages of certain doubtful States, holding the
balance of power. The world is justified in
holding such man TO be fair example o.
American craftsmanship, sagacity and dig
nifty.
Yet what has been the history of this emf
nent statesman for the last six years, and in
what attitude does he stand to day? After
series of speeches which, considering the
state Of public feeling in 1860, were violently
radical the first serious manifestation o.
warlike tendencies at the South cooled all
Mr.. Stewards zeal for liberty. Taking into
: view his close utilization with Mr.. Weed, anC
and his subsequent course, there can be NJ
reasonable doubt that Mr. Weeds endorse
ment of the Crittenden "Compromise, " al
that scheme was ludicrously misnamed, wa
really ieeler put forward on behalf of hi
chieli and that Mr.. Seward would have &C
ceded to any scheme for the joint preserva
tion of the Union and slavery to which Ii,
could have secured the assent of a cOnsidera
BILE portion of his party. But if there is any
doubt upon this point, which there certainly
Is not in our mind, there can Ie no doubt a
TO the miserable small talk, the absurd pre-
dictions, the vain atfectatiOn of cheerlulness
the untimey and insincere friyolity, of Mr.
Stewards public speeches during the momen
tous winter of lsG0-61. 1t is painful to lool
back to that time, and to think of a repute,
statesman descending 10 such pitilu expedi
ents to tide over difficulties.
The official career OF NIr. Seward wa
carly distinguished by two ugly incidents
neither OF which has been fully cleared, or
we suspect, ever can be. His temporizin)
policy, if not positive duplicity, in dealinj
with the rebel commissioners and his co
operation with James L, Harvey in betray
ing 10 the Charlestonlans the destination o
| the relieving tleet, are facts which indicat
the great tortuousuess OF his mind.
On the outbreak OF the war, Mr.. Sewar,
} devoted himself with uncommon energy Il
repelling all sympathy from abroad and Il
, demonstrating that no sympathy was il
f place. This he did in strain pompous Il
; absurdity and illogical TO a degree almost in
} credible, lie carefully instructed our envoy
, toreject all manifestations OF sympathy upoi
grounds relating 10 the anti-slayery conflict
He threatened some nations before they hal
! done an untriendly act, and cringed belor
| despolic governments whose instincts wer
1 all uniIiendly. We have said that he refus
| cd all sympathy; but We mistake One ex
cepiion he did make; he appealed to Austri
. for favor, on the ground that she had alway
opposed insurrections His demonstration
Q that the greatest civil war of centuries ha
s neither cause, preteXt nor object, are sue
magnificent climaxes of absurdity that the
deserve to be used in every school as model
Q oil their kind. The idea that millions of me-
r would rush to arms without pretext, o
Q cary On war without an object, is onl