SPEECH OF VIM. H. SEWARD.
little Mass Meeting Of The Wigs Of Cayugo


and Cortland Counties Feb % 1944
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depository INTO which no other man can look
depository of pleasures and pains, Joys and sor-
rows precious to the owner, because they are al!
his own. These rise unbidden whenever the mind
is excited, and with them come up from the heart
fears, hopes and affections. peculiar as the
character and fortunes of the individual to whom
they belong. After an interval Of almost seven
years, am again IN general gathering of my
old political and personal friends. A thousand
well remembered voices call me to resume long
suspended duties thousand faces beam upon
me with all that ancient kindness which always
cheered me, when, if unsustaned, should have
fallen by the way, and the memory Of which, IN
all my wanderings, never failed to bring me home
at last. Thanks to you, Wings OF Cayuga sue
cess and triumph crown your labors for our coun-
try's welfare: peace and happiness, reverence and
honor, attend you IN your families and homes
such homes as none but enlightened American
frecmen ever had. but such, if Wing principles
continue to flourish, as shall be enjoyed through
ont our whole country and the world.


Our Wing family has had an accession during
my absence. meet here, for the first time the
Wings of Cortland Their homes are among the
green hills and valleys whose streams irrigate and
fertil2e our own too level plains. In the darkest
hours of our political fortunes. they were faithful


faithful when fidelity cost sacrifices. Though
temporarily overcome by the dlscontents which
strength always brings, they will be victorious
again. Welcome, then, to the Wings of Cort-
land Long may the Wings of Cortland and
Cayuga remain united, and their voice be heard
and respected in the public councils.


4 return to the field of popular political labor
is not altogether without embarrassmcnts. Wa
ren Hastings rose from Clerks desk in count


ng.room, to be Governor General of British In
da The native tribes combined against him ;
his own government not on y withheld supplies,
but increased their exactions; and sediton In his
councils enfeebled his Administration and
strengthened the public enemy. But he tn
umpbed, though sometimes employing means
which virtue and humanity could not approve
He extended the British Empire further toward
the rising sun than even British Ambition had
dreamed. He established lasting peace, andln-
troduccd the arts in British India, and returned
to England covered with the praises ol his coun-
trvmeD, and revered and beloved even by the ma
ton he had subjected Yet he was mpcached by
the British Commons, and not until after seven
years trial, acquitted And this happened, be-
cause the Merchants Clerk, who had welded
more than Oriental power, could not learn the pol
tics of his native land have welded no such
power-had no such struggles-attalned no such
honors. have had your principles for my chart
and trust have lost none of the symPathles OF
citizenship. To those sympathles, and TO the
feelings Of gratitude which now constitute the
chief pleasure of life trust for my guidance IN
the performance of such duties, now and hence
forth, as you shall command.


The two great political parties occupy equal
vantage ground. Neither has announced its
Leader and vet the Leader of each is known, and
awaits only the ceremony of announcement to en-
ter the field. 1t is as certain as any human
event, that MARTIN VAN BuREN and HENRY CLAY
will be the candidates for the Presidency. But
how different in spirit and in action are the two
popular masses who ere so soon to engage in the
conflict on the result of which are suspended their
best hopes for the welfare Of the country and the
prosperity of its Institutions Our adversarles
are distracted and dismayed. They move not
at ALL or move Irregular y and discordanty The
Wings come up this day to their Council Cham
bers in every Election District throughout the
Union as one man, with one heart and one pur-
pose; dividing their increasing hosts INTO assocla-
tions, societies, clubs INTO battallons and rcgl-
mcnts and combining in PROFESSIONS, with en-
thusiasm that breaks forth in eloquence, IN mar
tial airs, and in patriotic songs an enthusiasm
which none but triumphlng parties can 1eei, and
which, when felt, is q sure sign OF triumph.


WHY this difference? Each patty has referred
the designation Of its Representative to General
Council: and in each case the selection is only
the anticipated decision OF that Council. Our ad-
versaries have been circumyented by their agents.
They have constituted Convention without the
principle of equal representation; a convention
which collects only the voices OF leaders, ana ex-


L l. Ix,
cludes the suffrages of Mmorltles, which must De
reconciled TO secure their suttrages and whose
spffraoes are indispensable. Thus the caucus
system. always powerful and irresistible when 1t
derives It's impulse from the mind OF mass, mas
been perverted TO control the common mlnd, ana
is therefore powerless. The Wings on the other
hand, have opened their Convention to mlnortieS
as well as to maiorites; and have invited repre-
sentat!yes of every interest and OF every PfinclPe
the land. Discussion has been Tree ana
amicable, because every member OF tHe party
knew that the decision would be fairly made !;
and thus in the result the party are unanimous.
Throughout the length and breadth OF the Unon'
not q Delegate has been chosen who VIII not give
his voice to HENRY CLAY, nor is there wing
North or South, or East or West, who will not by
his vote affirm, with heart and soul, this unahl-
NOUS choice.


Nor is the condition of the parties affected
less by the character of their leaders The peo-
pie four years ago. elected the one from his career
of public service at the stage which none but
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and
Jackson were allowed to pass. 1t was career
signalized by no act which left an impression on
the spirit OF the age or on the institutions or the
laws, or even the condition of the country OF Oh
the hearts of his couutrymen or on the affections
of any portion of his countrymen. de is a
statesman overpaid, yet he comes complaining
that he has not been adequately rewarded


OF the whole life of Martin Van Buren It can c;
only be remembered, that as Governor OF TINS
State he patronised Banking scheme whlch
signally failed, when tried, and as President OF
,be U,,;+ed States. financial system SO iearful