Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SPEECH

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SPEECH.
Secretary Seward, in his late speech
in Auburn, displayed more talent for
special pleading than true statesman
ship and honest patriotism. He ar
gued, correctly, that the one thing
needed TO secure perfect Union, is
Cancellation; yet almost in the same
breath comes forth the spirit of the
partisan and tho disingenuousness of
the mere politician. We adducc the
following remarks in proof of the
fairness of our inference:
"The Presidents position is absolutely Ia.
ken, well defined and universally understood.
II Is this, namely: That Sd far and 80 fast as
unquestionably loyal, they are entitled TO
representation in Cong ress equally with all
other States and just as well as If there had
been no rebellion.
"The representatives of the Notional Uuion
party in Congress do not yet agree with TIE
President, but | think they differ only in re-
gard TO the non-sssentials Some are under.
stood to insist that the people of no State
ought to reserve the right Of secession or dis
union.
".'he President says the same thing. A
State that should claim to reserve right of
secession could not be loyal. Others contend
that State ought not 10 be accepted which
insists upon or re-admits the validity of the
debts of the rebellion. The President says
exactly the same thing: "A State that insists
upon the validity Of such debts cannot be
loyal"
From the foregoing, it is clear
that, whilst Mr.. Seward processes an
earnest support of the President, he
is the no less earnest apologist of the
Radical Congress, and in smoothing
over the differences between the two
departments Of the Government, he
instances only points about which
there is no controversy, and leaves
out Of sight the living issues upon
which hang the preservation Of the
Union and the principles of free gov
eminent. The President and Con-
gress, he admits, do not agree about
the admission of loyal Representa-
tives Of the South; but, he thinks
they differ about non essentials. And
then come the points Of agreement
to-wit: They agree that no State
ought to reserve the right of seces-
sion, that no State can be loyal
which insists upon the validity of the
rebel debt. The reader has only to
remember that the Southern States
have surrendered, in their Constitu-
tons, the right of secession and the
validity of the rebel debts, in order to
understand, more clearly, Mr.. Sew
ards effort to whitewash the Radical
majority at the expense of the Presi.
dent. Nor can any one, after read
ing the above extract, avoid the con-
clusion, that there is a studied at.
tempt to create the impression that
there is perfect agreement between
Congress and the President on all
questions save the ones mentioned
Had he been a true friend to the
country and its Executive, he would
have proclaimed that the latter af-
firms that the Southern States are in
the Union, and that the former de.
MES it. lie would have told his au.
dience that the President opposes any
farther tampcring with the Constitu-
ton, whilst Congress is insisting up.
on many amendments; that the Pres
ident has declared the unconstitution
ality of the Civil Rights bill, whilst
Congress has twice affirmed the con,
trary.
We might follow up these instan,
ces of disagreement with many 9th
ers,-none of them non essentials, -
but these will suffice to prove the
charge, that Mr.. Seward is not an
honest statesman, and that, nOtwith
standing his professions, he is les,
the friend of the President than o
the Radicals. He was once leading
Northern Wing, and carried with hin
the great body of that party into thu
abolition ranks; and his object, now
is not so much the preservation o
tho Union as the resurrection of tn,
long buried Wing party, under an
other name, with himself az its leader
The National Union party, of which
Mr.. Seward so often speaks, in hi
Auburn address, is made up, largely
of Wing recruits-hence the afiinit,
between himself and the Radicals
and hence the hatred for the Demo
Gratis, which underlies many of hi
remarks.
We have 40 wish to do Mr.. Sew
ard injustice,-on the contrary, tn
service he is doing the cause of tn