The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-02
Secretary Seward on Restoration.

Secretary Seward on Restoration.
The following is-a brief report Of
Mr. Stewards speech at the mass
meeting held at the Cooper Institute,
New York. The report, though brief,
contains the most important passage.
After some Introductory remarks.
Mr.. Seward said
'What shall I speak of or about!
The call of your meeting specifies
the subject. But first let me say I
am not here as an alarmist. am
not here to say that the nation is in
peril or in danger; in peril if you
adopt the opinions, or in peril if you
reject them; in peril if You adopt the
views of the apparent or real ma iority
of Congress, or if you reject them; it
is not in peril any way; nor do I think
the cause of liberty and human free
dom, the Cause of progress and ame-
lioration or civilization, the cause Of
national aggrandizement, present or
future, material or moral, is in danger
of being long arrested, whether you
adopt one set of political opinions or
another.
''The Union, that is to say, the
nation, has been rescued from all its
perils. The noble ship has passed
from tempest and pillows into the
verge of safe harbor, and is now Sc
curely riding into her ancient moor
ings without broken spar or leak,
starboard and larboard, fore and aft
There are some small reefs yet to pass
as she approaches these moorings.
One pilot says she may safely enter
directly through them; the other says
that she must back. and by lowering
sail take time to go around them. 1t
&c merely a difference of opinion be-
tween the pilots. I think them both
sincere and honest, but the vessel
will go in safely one way or the other
''The worst that can happen will be
that by taking the wrong instead Of
the right passage, Or even taking the
right passage and avoiding the wrong
one, the vessel may roll little, and
some honest, capable and even de-
serving political statesmen, President,
or even Congressman, may get wash
ed overheard. If this cannot be help
ed, it can be borne. If I am one Of
the unfortunates, let no friend be
concerned on that account. AS ho-
nest, as good or capable politicians,
statesmen, or President, will make
their appearance hereafter faster than
will be needed to command the ship,
as well and as wisely as any that have
heretofore stalked their hour on deck
Although I do not think we are in a
crisis, the question to-day is worthy
of deiber.te examination and consi-
deration."
Mr.. Seward then went on to specify
the issue between the President and
Congress, and supported the veto OF
the Freedmen's Bureau bill. He MS
much as announced that a proclama-
ton would soon come forth, announc-
ing the Union restored, when he
thought the Freedmen's Bureau
should cease its operations. He fully
supported the Presidents policy.
Mr.. Seward drew q happy ilustra.
ton from the farce of the s'Nervous
Man and Man of Nerve" and re-
marked that "this, I think, is the
difference between the President, who
is man of nerve, in the Executive
chair at Washington, and the nervous
men who are in the House Of Repre-
sentatives. The President is in har-
mony with all the States that were in
rebellion. Every executive depart
ment and judicial department are in
operation, or are rapidly resumine
the exercises of their functions. Loyal
representatives, more or less from
these States, men whose loyalty may
be tried by any constitutional OF
| Legislative test, are now standing at
the doors of Congress, and have been
standing there for three months past,
asking to be admitted to seats which
disloyal representatives, in violence
of the rights and duties Of the States,
as well as of the sovereignty of the
Union, had recklessly abandoned.
These representatives, after lapse
OF three months, yet remain outside
the chamber, while Congress passes
law after law, imposing burden after
burden, and duty after duty, upon
the States which, thus, against their
earnestly expressed desires, are left
without representation. So far as I
can Judge of human probabilities,
feel sure that loyal men from the now
loyal States will sooner or later, at
this session, or at some other, by this
Congress, or some other, be received
into the legislature of the nation.
When this shall have been done. the