SPEECH OF MR. SEWARD. IN SENATE, AUGUST 7,18M. Mr. President: This is a bill appropriating about twelve millions of dollars, to defray the expenses Of the military establishment of the United States, for the ensuing fiscal year. Its form and effect ure those which distinguish a general appropriation bill for the support of the army, such as is annually passed by Congress. Only one exception to it, aS it came to the Senate from the House of Representatives, has been taken here. It contains what is practically an inhibition of the employment of the army of the United States, by the President, to enforce the so-called laws of the alleged Legislature of the Territory of Kansas. The Senate regards that inhibition as an obnoxious feature, and has, by what is called an amendment, proposed to strike it from the bill, overruling therein my vote; and the Senate now proposes to pass the bill thus altered here, and to remit it to the House of Representatives, for concurrence in the alteration. In the hope that that House will insist on the prohibition which has been disapproved here, and that the Senate will, in case of conflict, ultimately recede, I shall vote against the passage of the bill in its present shape. In submitting my reasons for this course, I have little need to tread in the several courses of argument which have been opened by distinguished Senators, who have gone before me in this debate. Certainly, however, ! shall attempt to emulate the examples of the honorable Senators from Virginia and South Carolina, [Mr. Hunter and Mr. Butler,] by avoiding remarks in any degree personal, because, on an occasion of such grave importance, although I may not be able to act with wisdom, I am sure I can so far practice self-control as to debate with decency, and deport myself with dignity. I shall neither defend nor arraign any political party, because I should vote on this occasion just as I am now going to vote, if not merely one of the parties, but all of the parties in the country, stood arrayed against me. I shall not reply to any of the criticisms which have been bestowed upon the inhibition proposed by the House of Representatives, nor shall I attempt to reconcile that inhibition with other bills, which have been passed by the House of Representatives, and sent to this House for concurrence. I shall not even stop to vindicate my own consistency of action, in regard to the Territory of Kansas; because, first, I ..am not to assume that what now seems an opening disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives, will ripen into a case of decided conflict; and because, secondly, if it shall so ripen, then there will be time for argument at every stage of the disagreement; while its entire progress and consummation will necessarily be searchingly reviewed, throughout the length and brea,dth of the country, and the conflict itself will thereafter stand a landmark for all time in the history of the Republic. I shall endeavor io confine myself closely to the questions which are immediately involved, at this hour, in a debate which, in the event which has been apprehended, will survive all existing interests and all living statesmen. The prohibition Of the employment of the army, to enforce alleged statutes in Kansas, which the
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