tions may be drawn in the new Era upon which our country is just entering.
Perhaps the criticism that in some quarters greeted the earlier volumes may salute this that herein is Mr. Seward proven to be an Agitator. But History vindicates the agitator, from Paul to Luther and from Luther to the century of Romilly, Wilberforce and Jefferson. That Mr. Seward has been an Agitator to no purpose will hardly, now, be contended, if the to-day at Washington be contrasted with the morning when the Atherton resolutions were introduced into the House, or with the hour when Mr. Seward, almost alone, confronted an unbroken column of pro-slavery senators.
Nevertheless, as Mr. Seward himself has said, the verdict is not to be looked for in the passing hour. "There is Yet in that word Hereafter."
Neither, is this the place for vindication or eulogy, if any were needed. The four volumes speak for themselves.
In those before published, appear Mr. Seward's Orations and Discourses; his Occasional Addresses and Speeches; his Notes on New York and Executive Messages; his Forensic Arguments and Political Writings; his Correspondence with the Virginia and Georgia Governors, and his Letters from Europe in 1833; his Speeches in the Senate of New York, and in the Senate of the United States.
The friendly zeal which has prepared these volumes, may have given place or prominence to some sentiments and speeches which a timid policy would have suppressed. In similar collections an Index Expurgatorius, it is charged, has been allowed to swallow up the living issues of the day.
But the Works of William H. Seward could not escape an injunction writ from their primary author, unless the boldness and frankness of his thoughts had faithfully manipulated the types.
Mr. Seward's sentences are all so full of the inspiration of Liberty and Justice, and so like aphorisms, that it is difficult to abbreviate
or to suppress a page without loss to the public or injustice to the author's fame. Therefore, what at first may appear to be an editor's purpose to swell the size of the volume, will, on a closer view, be found a necessity.'
In the State Library at Albany, within the past year, has been erected the marble bust of the Ex-Governor and Senator of New York. It is midway between the alcove of History and Philosophy, and its gaze is directed at that immense compilation of brain laborthe Edinburgh Review. A lady visitor, who was stranger to the place and face, pausing before it said, "Here beams in expression, thought, benevolence, earnestness and devotion to principle.'
When the partisan rancor and political schisms of to-day shall have subsided, when prejudice shall have given place to candor, the Muse of History, we believe, will say the same of these volumes, and of those which time may add.
Another volume like the present will be required for the speeches yet remaining in the editor's hands, unpublished. Several important speeches intended for this volume, and to which references are made in the Memoir, are unavoidably crowded out. AN APPENDIX to the present volume contains the eloquent speeches made at the Chicago Convention; the Platform; and also the addresses of welcome presented to Mr. Seward on his visit to the Western States.
A Retrospect, 13-The Struggle for Freedom in 1850, 15-Mr. Seward's Course,
16-Death of President Taylor, 19-The Compromisers Triumphant, 20-Nomina.
tions of General Scott and Frank Pierce, 21-Defeat of the Whigs and Supposed
Overthrow of Mr. Seward, 22-Oration at Columbus, and Address before the
American Institute, 23-The Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 24-Mr. Seward's
Speeches, 27-The New England Clergymen, 29-The Pacific Railroad and the
Homestead Law, 31-The Fugitive Slave Act, 32-Mr. Seward's Reëlection, 33-
The Plymouth Oration, 36-Aggressive Acts of Slavery, 36-Kansas Affairs, 37-
The Assault on Charles Sumner, 40—Organization of the Republican Party, 41—
Presidential Election of 1856, 43-Fulfillment of Mr. Seward's Prophecy, 44-The
Atlantic Telegraph, 45-The Tariff Assailed, 46-The Dred Scott Decision, 47—
Reconstruction of the Supreme Court, 49-Duties on Railroad Iron, 50-The
Lecompton Matter, 50-The English Bill, 53-Oregon and Minnesota, 54-Mormons
and Fillibusters, 55-The Elections of 1858, 56-Mr. Seward's Irrepressible Conflict
Speech, 56-Cuba, Kansas and the Pacific Railroad, 57-The Homestead Bill, 58—
The Indiana Senators, 60-Acquisition of Cuba, 61-Overland Mails, 61-Mr.
Seward Visits Europe and the Holy Land-Departure and Return, 63—Captain
John Brown takes Harper's Ferry, 68-The Elections of 1859, 69-Death of
Broderick, 70-Election of Speaker-The Impending Crisis, 70-Mr. Seward's
Great Speech in the Senate, February 29, 1860, 71-The Spring Elections of 1860,
favorable, 73-Presidental Nominations and Platforms, 74-The Republican Con-
vention at Chicago, 76-The Ballot, 77-Mr. Seward's Cordial Approval of the
Candidates and Platform, 78-His Visit to New England, Reception Speeches, 81-
Enters the Canvass for Mr. Lincoln, 84-Remarkable Tour and Speeches through
the West-DETROIT, 84-LANSING, 85-KALAMAZOO, 89-MADISON, 90-LA
CROSSE, 93-St. Paul, 94—DUBUQUE, 96—In Missouri-CHIllicothe, 97-ST.
JOSEPH, 98-In Kansas-LEAVENWORTH, 100-LAWRENCE, 101-LEAVENWORTH,
102 ATCHISON, 103-In Missouri, again-ST. LOUIS, 106-In Illinois-SPRING-
field, Abraham Lincoln, 107-CHICAGO, 108-CLEVELAND, Ohio, 110-BUFFALO,
111-Auburn, 113-End of Campaign, 113-Result, 114-Celebration of Victory,
115—Admission of Kansas-Secretary of State-Speeches on Secession and the
State of the Union, 117.
Oration at Columbus, Ohio, September 14, 1853-The Destiny of America, 121.
Address before the American Institute, New York, October 20, 1853-The True
Basis of American Independence, 144.
Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale College, New Haven, July 26,
1854--The Physical, Moral and Intellectual Development of the American People, 160.
Oration on Forefathers' Day, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, December 21, 1855-The
Pilgrims and Liberty, 179-Speech at the Dinner, 203.
The Advent of the Republican Party: The Privileged Class, Albany, October 12,
1855, 225-The Contest and the Crisis, Buffalo, October 19, 1855, 241-The Domi-
nant Class in the Republic, Detroit, October 2, 1856, 253-The Political Parties of
the Day, Auburn, October 21, 1856, 276-The Irrepressible Conflict, Rochester,
October 25,1858, 289-The National Divergence and Return, Detroit, September 4,
1860, 303-Democracy the Chief Element of Government, Madison, September 12,
1860, 319-The Constitution Interpreted-an Extract-Madison, September 11, 1860,
329-Political Equality the National Idea, St. Paul, September, 1860, 330-The
National Idea; Its Perils and Triumphs, Chicago, October 3, 1860, 348-The Repub-
lican Policy and the one Idea, Dubuque, September 21, 1860, 368-Young Men and
the Future-an Extract-Cleveland, October 4, 1860, 384-Kansas the Savior of
Freedom, Lawrence, September 26, 1860, 385-The Policy of the Fathers of the
Republic, Seneca Falls, October 31, 1860, 397-Trade in Slaves-an Extract-La
Crosse. September 14, 1860, 409—The Republican Party and Secession, New York,
November 2, 1860, 410-Disunion and Secession-Extract-La Crosse, September
14, 1860, 421-The Night before the Election, Auburn, November 5, 1860, 422-
The Past and the Future-Extract-Cleveland, October 4, 1860, 430.
Nebraska and Kansas-Freedom and Public Faith-Repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise, February 17, 1854, 433. Second Speech, the night of the final passage of
the Nebraska-Kansas Bill, May 25, 1854, 464. The Immediate Admission of
Kansas-Emigrant Aid Societies-Elections and Laws-Impeachment of the Presi-
dent-Compromises and Disunion, April 9, 1856, 479. Kansas Usurpations-
Speech against Mr. Douglas's second Enabling Bill and in Favor of the Immediate
VOL. IV.
Admission of Kansas into the Union-Slavery and Compromises, July 2, 1856,
512. Kansas and the Army-The Spurious Laws-Barbarous Enactments-
Usurpations, August 7, 1856, 535. The same, at the Extraordinary Session-Com-
promises and Popular Sovereignty, August 27, 1856, 559. Lecompton and
Kansas-The Lecompton Constitution-The Dred Scott Decision and the Presi-
dent-The Kansas Governors-The Supreme Court, March 3, 1858, 574. The
same-The English Bill-The Conference Committee-Compromises and Peace-
Closing Speech, April 30, 1858, 604. The State of the Country-Speech on the
Bill to Admit Kansas into the Union under the Wyandotte Constitution-Labor
States and Capital States, February, 1860, 619. Secession-Speech at the New
England Dinner in New York City, December 21, 1860-Secession and Disunion
Considered-General Views, 645. The State of the Union-Speech in the Senate-
A Review of the Great Controversy-Election of Lincoln, January 12, 1861, 651.
The same Remarks on Presenting a Mammoth Petition from the Merchants of
New York in Favor of Preserving the Union-Debate with Senator Mason, January
30, 1861, 670.
The Chicago Platform-Speeches at the Chicago Convention, Messrs. EVARTS,
ANDREW, SCHURZ, BLAIR, BROWNING, BALDWIN, &c.-Reception Speeches of Gov.
Banks, Messrs. Longyear, Abbott, Gov. Randall, Judge Goodrich, Messrs. North,
Allison, Boynton, Wilder, Mayor Deitzler, Gov. Robinson, Mayor Wentworth, &c.
Mr. Seward's Speech to New York Delegation at Washington, on Inauguration
Day March 4, 1861, on his retiring from office as Senator, 692.
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