National Republican., 1880-03-11
SCR1PS OF HISTORY.
The Nurses OF Secession and Rebellion.
WASHINGTON, March 8.

extract from Tilden's speech Mt Twcudlo Hail
February 1, 1861. / have not Tilden's speech,
but presume that pink of tho Democratic
party was none behind his follow. Democrats
IN their sentiments, and, therefore, the burden
Of his remarks may DO fairly inferred from tho
following extracts from the speeches made on
the occasion, which was that of the Demo
cratic State Convention held at Twoddle Hall,
Albany, N. Y, January 81, 1861. Ex-Gover.
nor Soymour's speech WAS enthusiastically APP
plaudcd, and was ropubllshed by the State
committee MS n campaign document in 1862,
whom ho was again eand date for Governor.
He spoke as follows:
"The condition of our affairs forces upon us
| the alternative of compromise or civil war.
Let u5 contemplate the latter alternative. We
| are advised by tho conservative States of Vir-
glnia and Kentucky tha. if force is to be used
it must be oxerted against united South. It
would be an act OF folly and madness In enter
| ing upon this contest to underrate our op-
poncnts, and thus subject ourselves to the dis
grace of dcfea. in an inglorious warfare. Let
us, also, see If successful coercion by the North
| Is less revolutionary than successful secession
by tho South. Shall we prevent revolution by
| being foremost In ovcrthrowing tho principles
of our Government, and all that makes it vau.
able to our people, and distinguishes II among
the nations Of the oarth2 Upon whom arc we
TO wage war? Our own countrynen whose
white population is tlree-fold that of the
| WHOIc COunlTy hb tnC Jllne Ol un6 lSbVOluUlOn.
Their courage has novor boen questioned in
any contest in which we have been engaged.
They battled by our side with equal vaor in
tho revolutionary struggle, in the last war
with Great Britain and in the Mexican con-
6lct. Virginia sent her sons under the com.
mand of Washington to the relief of the be.
lcagucred Boston. Alone, the South defeated
the last and most desperate effort OF British
power to divide our country at tho battle of
New Orleans. From tho days of Washington
till this timo they have furnished tho full pro-
portion of soldiers for tho 6eld, of statesmen
for the Cabinet, and Of wise and patriotic Sena-
tors for our legislative halls.
at is only bigoted Ignorance that denies
tho equality of their public men to those of
the North. To assume that our brethren in
the fifteen States lack the capacity 10 under
stand and tho ability TO protect their own in
forests, is to assume that our Government is a
failure and ought to DO overturned. 1t is to
declare that nearly one-half OF our people are
incapable of s0lf.Boverumcnt.
"In what way is this warfare 10 be con-
lductodf None have boen mad enough to pro-
pose TO muster armies to occupy their terri.
tory. Great Britain tried that In tho Revou-
tion, when tho population of the South was
less than 100000. She attempted invasion
again in the late war. when their numbers
were less than S,500,000. =
But somo have suggested with complacent
air that the South could easily be subjngated
by blockading their ports with few ships oi
war. But assuming tho success oil
this measure, who nre to be the sufferers
Are We waging war upon the South, or upon
tho North? Upon tho Southern planter, o,
upon tho Northern merchant, manufacturer
and mechanic ?
"But let us leave these pecuniary considera
tions for others more wcighty with every
patriot. Upon what fold shall this contest BE-
waged2 Upon what spot shall American;
+ shed American blood Where on this broad
, continent shall we find tho arena where every
association and memory of tho past will moi
forbid this fratricidal contcst2 Or, when un'
natural war shall have brought upon oui
people Its ruin and upon our Nation its shame
to what ground shall we be brought at last
, To that VIC should have accepted at the outset
Now, Dir. Editor, can you point out any
essential difference botwocn these paragraphs
and tho secession speeches of Davis Benjamin
Iverson, Wigfall and Breckenridge in the
United States Senate when they were taking
leave of that body2 True, Seymour did moi
D he did not dare-to openly advocate The
right of secession, but tho language Is purely
Southern, and the speech would find an ap
. propriato place among tho reported speeche:
, of these scccssionsis in Congress.
) Another popular Democratic speaker, James
3. Thayor, in the same convention, amid gen
eral applause, spoke as follows:
I'VE can, at least by discussion, enlishteu
settle and concentrate the public sentiment IN
tho State of Now York upon this question, and
save 1t from that fearful current that circuit
ously, but certainly, sweeps madly on through
the narrow gorge OF the enforcement Of tho
laws TO the shoreOss ocean of civil war
Against this. under all circumstances, in every
place and form, we must now, and at all times
oppose a resolute and unfaltering resistance
= The public mind will boar the aVowal and lot
v us mako 1t, that if revolution of force is II
), begin, 1t shall be inaugumtod at homo. And
! fthe incoming Administration shall attempt /,
= carry out tie line of policy that has been fore
shadowod, we announce that when the hand
Of black Republcanism turns to blood.red anC
seeks from the fragments OF the Constitution
to construct scatioding for coeTGion-an0thel
y name for cSecution--wo will reverse the order
: of tho French revolution, and save the blood
of tho people by making those who would in
augurate reign Of terror tho FIRST victims OF
1 n National guillotne. Enthusiastic ap
: plause
"rhe Democratic party at the North made
tho issue at the last election With tho Repub,
lican party, that in the event OF their success
. and the establishment Of their policy, the
= Southern States not only would 10 ont of thu
: Union but would have adequate cause for do
ing so.
: This is tho position ] took in tho State o.
New York on the 9th OF November last.
shall not rccedo from 1t, having admitted that
would have adequate cause for separation
Now that tho contingency has happened,
= shall not withdraw that admission because
. they have been unwise or unreasonable in the
/, time, mode aud measure OF redress Zap
, plause
what person, what right of property, wha
: domestic right or privilege, what franchise
what security to life or liberty is inlrnged by
tho rupture of tho Federal relation between
tho States2 [Applauscl
, "But It is announced that the Republican
< Administration will enforce the laws against
a and in all tho seeding states, A nice dis
/ elimination must be made in the perform
!. anco of this duty. not hairs breadth outside
a of the mark. You remember tho story o.
i William Tell, who, whom the condition wa:
n imposed upon him to shoot an apple from the
bead Of his own child, after ne had performed
the task, let fall an arrow. 'For what Is that2
said Gcsler. To kill thee. tyrant, had slain
n my boy [Cheers.l Let but one arrow
J. winged by the Federal bow strike the heart o
Il au American citizen, and who can number the
5 avenging darts that will cloud tho heavens III
n the conflict that will ensue2 Prolonged ap
a plausc. What, then, Is tho duty Of the State
i of New York? What shall wo say to the pGo
J. plo when We come to meet this state of facts
y That the Union must be preserved, but as thi,
G can not be, what then2 Peaceable separation