The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-12-09
speech of Secretary seward.

Speech of Secretary Seward.
On the evening of Oct. 81, Secretary Sew
ard addressed one of the largest audiences
He was introduced to the audience by the
Rev. DR.. Hawley, and received with unbound
ed applause. When order was restored, be
delivered an address, of which the following
is the most important portion:
After lengthy review of the situation
down to the assassination Of President Lin
coin, he spoke of President johnson as hav-
ing adopted his predecessors plan of recon-
ciliation, which seemed to him, as II seemed
then to the whole country, TO be practicable
and easy, because ii wss simple and natural.
The people of the South were invited 10 es-
tablish such necessary State Governments
upon basis of loyalty and fidelity, of which
practical tests were promised. First, the ac-
ceptance of the new amendment Of the Con-
stitution which abolished slavery; second,
the reputation of the rebel debt; third, the
abrogation of all rebel laws; and fourth, the
acceptance of the so-called ''iron-clad" oath.
All other questions were passed over for
further and future action. Loyal State Gov
ernments were promptly formed, and loyal
Senators and Representatives appeared at the
doors of Congress knocking for admission.
Then, and not till then, was peace proclaim
ed. 1t was not correct that President John
son made these State Governments, or caused
them'to be made by force or intimidation.
The Union arms fingered indeed in the rebel
States, to keep the peace during the transit
ton from civil war, but the popular action
there was spontaneous, and the Executives
confined themselves to the forms of sugges-
tion and advice, of which President Lincoln
had already set an example. The new con-
stitutions were the best obtainable at the
time, without direct application of force.
They were adequate to the emergency, and
open like all similar constitutions to further
revision and improvement with the lapse of
time, and increase of popular knowledge and
virtue in the several States. Congress hesi-
tated and debated and postponed. The rebel
States were no longer in the rebellion. They
were not recalled into the Union. The peo-
pie, North as well as South, were excited.
New schemes were proposed. There was no
longer the Union party, which had conduc-
ted the country through the fiercest civil war
ever known, but that party was seen resolv-
ing itself in an untimely hour into the divis-
ions of the Republican and Democratic par
ties An advanced section of one party de-
manded new and further guarantees, and en-
tertained propositions of confiscation, dis
franchisement and other penalties of recon
struetion. A reactionary section of the 9TH
er insisted that all the delays were not only
hazardous, but that all conditions whatever
were unnecessary, unreasonable and uneon-
stitutional. One party insisted that there
could be no safe peace without Immediately
extending suffrage to the freedmen, by means
no matter how rash, unconstitutional or vio-
lent What did all this indicate but con
troyersy about the constitutions to be form
ed in the South American States? What did
imperial Intervention In ST. Domingo or
Mexico mean, but demand for such con-
stitution there as should be acceptable to
France. The other insisted that proceed
ing SO abrupt, SO violent, so inconsistent
with the provisions OF the Constitution of
the United States in regard to the conserya-
tism of State rights and Individual freedom,
would inevitably inaugurate war of races
1t is not my purpose TO review, or even
trace, that long and angry debate. We all
see how it has resulted. Thus far all the
Representatives sent to Congress by the re-
bellious States in 1865, have been rejected,
without regard to their qualifications or 10y
atty. All the loyal State Governments form
ed in 1865 have been abrogated without re-
gard to their loyalty. With the exercise of
the military force, subatern officers have
been placed by Congress in charge of the
several States. Congress has enfranchised
and DISTINGUISHED in those States just as
seemed best calculated to insure the accept
anee OF the constitutions prescribed by ITSELF
The President, with tenacity that has
provoked the scrutiny of the nation, and
challenged the judgment of mankind, has
held last to two things, viz, the wise and
humane plan of his predecessor, and what is
Infinitely more important, the Constitution
OF the United States, just as he found both.
For this adherence, he has been brought up
for impeachment in the constitutional form
for pretended high crimes and misdemean-
ors, and duly acquitted.
The nation has thus been called to sustain
the new shock of a political assassination of
its chosen aud beloved head and encounter
aiterward the wild and reckless proceeding
OF inconsiderate leaders, such as kept Mexico
in condition of anarchy through a period
of forty years, and which has left hardly any
stable, or even peaceful republic remaining
in South America. The last of the States
organized in this constitutional manner, sent
representatives to Congress, and they have
been admitted, while all the State Govern
ments, through whose machinery those rep
resentatlyes were sent, or nearly all, are in
Voking the Congress Of the United States to
suspend the hdbeds corpus to establish mar
tlal law, to assume and to confide 10 the mil
itary agents the entire business of the Gov
eminent growing out of all the alarms and
fears of renewed insurrection and rebellion,
and the restoration of slavery.
1t is not my purpose to vindicate or ex-
plain the part | myself have had In these
transactions and debates, instructive as they
WlAA PiCfC " AhtdiC dSCo. oltHPil edlt US L
stood by the wise and maguanimous policy
of President Lincoln, / have adhered to the
same policy since his mortal remains were
committed to an unfimely grave; and have
adhered with equal fidelity to his Constitu-
tional successor. So much, my friends, for
the past. What now to the present situa-
tionl We have heard for three years alarms
of premature reconciliation, the advantages
of procrastination, the dangers of reaction
and armed rebellion. At last the cry is fran
tically uttered by all parties, Peace peacel
let US have peace" cloud applause) when
there is no peace in the sense implied, but
only forebodings of renewed war. What
does the country need in view of the painful
situation? l answer my own question. It
needs just what 1t needed in 1865, the ad-
mission of loyal representatives from the late
rebel States into the Congress of the United
States, and it needs at this time, and at our
hands, no more. When you have given to
the Southern States the places in Congress,
where they will bave Constitutional hear
ing, the people then will acquiesce in what
Congress may require, and their mouths will
be closed on all constitutional topics that
have produced agitation and excitement.
The States which send these representatives
must have loyal representative Governments
to determine who and what party, what in
terest or what faction shall enjoy the uoWer