New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-30
LECTURE BY THE HON. GEORGE S.
BOUTWELL,.

sLAvrcY AND COTrOE-Mg. STANTON AND THE
WAR FOR THE UNION-REsULTs or THE
STRUGGLE NORTH AND sOUTH-Do WE SEEK
TERRITORIAL EXTENSION 9-THE FUTURE or
COMMERCE.
BoSrON, Dec 29.-The Hon. George S. Bout
We'll Secretary Of the Treasury, lectured before the
Mercantile Library Association in Music Hall this eve
Ming on the Transition Period Of the United States"
fair audience was present, comprising DaDy Of tho
principal business particularly those Interested n
finance The lecturer stated at the outset that he had
without preparation to fulhll an engagement In
cautiously made long ago, ard proceeded In general
way review the and the results OF the late war;
with particular regard to the future OF the country He
said that II the years OF our national life were divided
into periods OF ten years. the decade now closing ~OuG
undoubtedly prove the most important Inc ~ years
previous to 1860 had been constant struggle between
two hostile powers OF civilization IN the nation lie hau
reason believe that had there been OF emnence
to defend slavery before the adoption OF th9
Constitution the system would have been destroyed
Everybody believed that it would die out, that
II had been local In its character ana destitute power
The trainers Of the Constitution recognizing IT, gave
political power in the Government The introduction OF
the staple OF the slave section soon gave IL
Importance Slavery was not denounced bat tOer,
aed At that period Subsequently 10 was attacked ana
defended when 10 presented aspect IL was newt
able that IN free country an OF the system
for the mastery each In its way succeeded
the South by ITS wealth centeTed IN rev. aided by me
Constitution IN gaining control OF the Government; the
North by It's industry and enterprise in developing l
vast commercial mercantile and industrial resources,
Thus when the came, the North was rich ii material
and had the South been compelled TO rely on lts own
resources the contest would not have lasted more
than two and half years When the representatives
South renquished their seats In Congress they
the destruction Of Slavery the adoption OF the XIIh
Constitutional Amendment and the subsequent TatihGa
ton Of the XVIII to secure the advantages gained ny
the XIIIth. The ratification OF the XVIII Amendment
viii secure to ali the equal Ilgn 10 cl.SI anu t %
10 Ohce; not social equality mere out INC equdHy WIN
abOlshes the distinction between tho clzen ana inc
serf, exempfyinQ tho great truth thai all men are
created equal Mr. Boutwell, said there was a msundcr
standing in the public mind rs TO the sgnlncatlon OF inc
was simply that by law citizen was not excluded
The right existed IN the people to eject MN
There were men who threw themselves upon the
people FOR their suhrages by popularity, openly OF
Indirectly sought in cOutradtnctOn 20 those who were
sought for by the people 10 meet great public emergcn
ces. Popularity gained as In the first instance was
disgrace to its possessor latter category the lee
classed the late Mr. stanton Who he claimed ana
as much the Union victory as did any soldier
who fought Gettysburg, and whose character should
be held mp for the imitation OF the coming men Inc
great events Of the decade have furnished 20 the people
North and South white and black, equality OF oppor
tunity The south had been opened TO system punc
instruction, the advantage OF Whlch cou'o hot nc d
quaely estimated. The public sentiment OF the NORTH
aided by the municence OF te lsto george ~ G
masses will prove IN after years the sustaining prop
their Children II viii not prejudice the system The labor
question had been agitaed recently 10 great extent I'D
the South, rich In its agricultural mining ana ryer re-
already revealed or Their use made possDe ny
the events OF the war. IL impossible that there
should be- equality OF condition, though something ad
been accomplished toward IT, Ihe heIoiudOn ~ t ~
sn6iect class The last revolution elevated all 1t
true the Secretary remarked that the events or the past
ten wears had left their difficulties in the loss OF com
MERGE the creation OF vast pubic national ueDt ana
system Of taxation that was deemed OuIuen
upon these difficulties even the largest amount
there is still upon the ledger large balance 10 the
credit Of the II the country renamed az peace
land there no indication 70 the contrary he pubhT
debt would be soon considerably Ieduceu' ana is nna
lGudatiOn would not be very remote IL Lad been as
serted Mr. Boutwell, said that the Americans as Ia
ton were graspinE-anNlOus Tor extension OF ttIIl
tory. This assertion he desired 70 emphaueaIS Sonta
djcI for within the past twenty-five years ie bONtI
uont has repeatedly rejected prohercu territory. lo
iDsfauCed Mexico which once IN possession OF the
Tircd states trOOps but Government accepted only
a few outlying States, aud paid for them Literally lhe
Sandwich Islands, he had reason 10 Know had been zen
10 time been offered and rejected. We take
nothing by oppression. OJher nations take 10y
force Of arms by force OF ideas II by such force
Others desire Join VIII consider Their proposals
There shOud be nothing public deOt 70 prevent
such an extension by peaceful means We should 50 re-
duce a during peace that IN the event OF another war
should be reduced quickly possible; but there are
greater evils With Us Is meant the reduction ot dcDt
with European nations the support OF standing armies
the destruction OF American
bv the war Mr. Boutwell, said that doubted what
the remedial should bethOugh no platform could
be devised to accomplish iJs TeslOIdtOh-nc union VI
Government aud people.
lea that could be better cOmprehended hereafter tha IN
1862 Eugauds American colonies are yet 10 accept the
American idea which has spannCd the Continent bring
ING fbe Pacific under commercial cOntrOlWlch las con
que red the worst and up the better The dleDaHu
meut OF her armies when the war ended was an mpOi
faut proOf her stability, their assembling when
IL FIRST begun and the world VIII soon learn That GOV
eminent Dy the people for the people j. far preferable
than government OF the people against their wishes
Mr. boutwell, was frequently app.audcd, though some
disanpoIUtuent was apparent at MS avoidance of the
special financial topics now generally discussed.
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