Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-02-26

II. Seward are the words addressed TO one |
of the fallen spirits in Milton's Pdrsdise
LOST
off thou besst he; but OH how failsnl how changed
From him who in the happy realms Of light,
Clothed with trAnscsndent brightness, ddst outshine
MyradB though brightp
Though never an avowed Abolitionist,
nor disposed to deny, disturb, or evade any
of the pro-slavery compromises of the Con-
stitution, Mr.. Seward, during the main por-
tion of his public career, up to 1850, 80 en-
couraged the Abolitionists by his timely |
acts and stirring words, so explicitly an
nounced the conflict between slavery and
freedom to be irrepressible, aud so impress |
sively appealed to "the higher law" " as
against all unjust human enactments, that, |
of all our public men, it was his honorable |
distinction to be the most hated and feared |
by the Southern slave oligarchy. On alloc-
casions, in Congress and out of it, he was the |
target at which they hurled their most dead |
ly missiles Every Southern journal repre- |
sented him as nothing less than monstra11
hsrrendan1, saforme, ingerls, cuilunlen adeTp-
tun. In all that section of country he was
an ogre more dreaded than tan army with
banners" Though highly appreciating and
always warmly applauding whatever fell
from his lips or inhered in his acts fayora-
BILE to the Anti-Slavery cause, we never
could fully understand why he 80 exces-
sively affrigAted the South; for no man
| spoke with more calmness, or more care
fully elaborated his speeches, or kept him
self more scrupulously within the bounds of
simple and exact truth. Perhaps it was
partly because he was seen to be ''the
bright particular starr at the North, stead
lily rising to the zenith of political power, in
whose elimination (by his election to the
Presidency of the United States, as then
seemed an almost sure event) disastrous in
fuences might be shed upon their imperilled
"peculiar institution" Or, possibly, it was
owing to a terror excited by those words Of
doom, "the higher law" "the irrepressible
conflict, " laundering in their ears, and start
ling their guilty consciences. At sight of
him they exclaimed, as did Macbeth in
presence of Banquo's ghost,
aApproach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
Tate any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never trsmble Hence, horrible shadowl"
All.this trepidation was vastly dispropor-
tionate to the object and the occasion; ex-
plainable only by that state of guilty in.
security which makes 1.-THE thief to fear each
/ bush an officer"
Mr.. Seward expected, beyond a perad
!, venture, to be the Republican nominee tol
= the Presidency at the Chicago Convention
in June, 1860. Never were any politician
prospects Of success fairer; never were the.
more suddenly blasted. Though at first re
|, ceiving powerful support in the conven
> ton, Mr.. Seward had to stand aside, an
the election fell on Abraham Lincoln. Fror
re that time he became sadly altered mar
2 began to court Southern favor, was reticer
o. on the subject of slavery, openly denied hi
70 doctrine of the irrepressible conflict,
lg failed any longer to discern ''the highe
l. law" and, as the result of his apostasy, wa
to borrow strong figure
at "Hurled hssdlong flaming from the ethereal sky,
lie With hdeous ruin and combustion, down
ia To botomiess perdition."
ed In other words, he has ever since been fal
ing, falling, falling, till he has reached aby
he NAL depths His old malignant foes ha'
ch ceased to assail him; his multitudino'
" friends and admirers, in days of yore, star
ng alienated from him, lamenting his degens
IT acy, and regarding his recovery as hopeleE
ne Whatever corruption, perfdy, or usurpati'
he has marked the course Of Andrew Johns
es, since his ill-starred elevation to the Pre-
Il dency, Mr.. Seward has endorsed 1t to t
IT, letter, BE is by far the more guilty of 4
Ow two; he has sinned against light nev
II, youchsafed to the halfcivilized Tennt
9 q seean; he has become recreant to principl
which the former never professed, In
Dr. the loyal ranks there is now ''none so pc
his as to do him reverence"
'ed The latest exhibition of Mr. Sewar'
An' abasement is to be found in his recent let
rs to Mr.. Motley, minister plenipotentiary
'au Vienna, in which he officially calls D
OF Motley to account, on the authority OF
epistle received from "a citizen Of
United States, ~ for having, in the privacy
his home-circle, first, Expressed his
gust at the Presidents whole conduc
second, exhibited his contempt for Ami
an can Democracy, and cloudy proclaim
Had that an English gentleman is the mode
ess. human perfection;" and, third, bran
ked Mr.. Seward as 'hopelessly degraded"
ipee reioinder of Mr.. Motley is model of
nified composition, becoming his chara'
who and station, and meets the pro6ered
,be peachment without circumlocution or {
was sion, He admits that in his views
said feelings he goes with Congress, and
an with the President, in the matter of re'
by struction; and in this he proves himself
be faithful representative of the An
ance can people abroad. AS to the allega
here that he despises American Democracy,
are considers an English gentleman as the m
ng q of human perfection % he bushes Will
,lied, denounces $50 pitiful fabrication"
appeals to all his writings in proof u
Lord more fervent believer in American De-
per- racy than himself does not exist. Fin
,laret prouounces the charge of having called
/, and Seward hopelessly degraded ''wild ca
wine nv" Evidently stung to the quick by
scandalous arraignment and peremptor,
wbsr to plead guilty or not guilty, Mr.. M
rnf;n, concludes his letter by begging respect
made to resign MS poss as oni'ou e'"soe .1i'n.s
Vienna. 1t is to be regretted that h
n compelled to tender his resignation
a., ,,s proper self-respect, inasmuch as It di
a ,ha logically follow as duty from the ten