The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-21

MR SEwARD's "HIGnER Law SPEECH
His speech produced profound sensa-
tion in Congress and throughout the
country. 1t aroused strong feeling Of
resentment and indignation among the
Southern Wings, and menaced the unity
Of the party. was at that time assist
ing A. G. Bullitt in the editorial depart.
ment of the Republic, the organ of Gen.
eral Taylors administration Bulitt was
Il favorte of General Taylor, having
written the famous Alison letter, which
smoothcd the way for the Wings TO sup.
port his nomination. lie had discussed
with me the speech Of Mr.. Seward, and,
at my instance, had concluded to pass it
over in silence, as delicate thing to
handle, under all the circumstances of the
case. The day after its delivery we met
Senator Maneum on the Avenue. lie
was overflowing with wrath at what he
denounced as the moustrous declarations
Of Mr.. Seward. II have just had con.
versation with General Taylor" said he
"and | told him, in the plaincSt language,
that if such were the doctrines Of the
administration, | was its decided oppon.
eDt hencciorth, and if those were Whig
doctrines, | was a Loco.foco.' A few
moments aiterward we encountered Gen.
eral Taylor, quite excited by tho out.
break Of the North Carolina Senator. He
had slight stammer when speaking un-
der the influence Of stroug emotion.
"A-aleck," said he-this was his usual
mode of addressing Bullitt-"Aleck, this
is nice mess Governor Seward has got
US into. Mangum swears he'll turn
Democrat if Seward is the mouth piece
of my administration. The speech must
be disclamed at once, authoritatively aud
decidedly. Don't be msaly.mouthed
about it, but use no harsh language. We
can't stand for a moment on such priuci-
pies. The Constitution is not worth one
straw it every man is to be his own inter.
prefer, disregarding the exposition Of the
Supreme Court"
/ Under this inspiration Bulltt wrote an
elaborate and very powerful criticism
upon the speech, commencing in these
words 4: "When a Senator rises in his
place, and proclaims that he holds his
credentials from Almighty God, author.
izng him to reject all human enactments'
and .his was the keynote to the whole
article. The effect was tremendous
Mr.. Seward and his friends were filled
with CONSERVATION, while feeling Of ex
ultaton equal in strength pervaded th'
minds Of the Siver-Grays, or Snufita
kers, as the conservative Wings were
termed by their radical brethren.
But mark the sequel. Such Was ih(
tact and address of Mr.. Seward, aud hi
skill in imprcssing himself upon those by
whom he was surrounded, that he sooi
regained his influence with General Tay
lor, and in few short months the latte
permitted the cabinet, cooperating will
Seward. to drive Bullitt out Of the Re
public for writing the article which hc
had inspired and ordered to be written.
was at Niagara Falls with Bullitt il
the following July when the news of th'
death of General Taylor reached US, ant
this was his exclamation 81 mourn 70
the kind hearted old man as | would 70
a father He never acted wrong on hi
own motion. The fiibustering knave
who practiccd upon his credulity and goo,
nature will now get their deserts, an'
justice will be done TO all parties.
y