Introduction
William Henry Seward delivered one of the most crucial speeches in American history. In particular, his “Freedom in the New Territories” speech, often known as the “Higher Law” speech, was given before the United States Senate on March 11, 1850 (U.S. Senate: Classic Senate Speeches). Furthermore, it was one of Seward’s most important speeches during his twelve-year legislative career (U.S. Senate: Classic Senate Speeches).
This address solidified his position as a key figure in the nation’s antislavery movement. The speech was initially addressed to the U.S. Senate before being widely published in newspapers and pamphlets across the nation. In his speech, Seward defended the principles of democracy, denounced slavery, and argued that the United States was responsible for promoting a better civilization.
Main Argument
In his speech, William Seward’s main point was his opposition to California’s admission to the Union, which was contingent on introducing slavery into any area of the United States, especially the new territory. He contended that the ideas of democracy and the unalienable rights of every man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were irreconcilable with slavery (Seward 330). Seward argued that slavery was a transient, incidental, fragmentary, and incongruous institution compared to freedom, a constant, organic, and universal institution, and that the Constitution did not recognize property in humans (Seward 280). Ultimately, Seward believed that the United States was responsible for establishing a more ideal civilization that would benefit the world.
Political and Social Messages
Both a political and a social message were conveyed in the speech. The primary political message was that Seward sought to prevent the creation of two rival nations, arguing that the agricultural interests and masses that would populate the continent’s interior would serve as the center of political power (Seward 20). As for the social message, he stated that the Constitution should not have acknowledged slavery and that reaching a compromise on the subject would be foolish (Seward 160). Essentially, he implied that the concepts of freedom and equality upheld by the Constitution are incompatible with the concept of slavery.
Historical Context
The speech is easily recognized as a product of its time and contains significant information that would be new for a modern reader. This is evident in Seward’s addresses on particular political topics debated in the United States during the mid-19th century. Specifically, the dispute over the admission of California as a state and the subject of slavery are closely related to their time period.
In addition, the speech depicted the stark contrasts between the free and enslaved persons in American culture over the subject of slavery. It demonstrated that slavery was a divisive topic that was producing profound political and social differences. Ultimately, the speech highlighted a pivotal period in the history of the United States, when the nation was still grappling with its identity and values.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by arguing for political unity and against slavery, Seward’s speech conveyed both a political and a social message. He prevented the creation of two rival nations or republics and discussed the rejection of slavery as acknowledged by the Constitution. For these reasons, the speech highlights the political and social differences between the free and enslaved persons in American culture during the mid-19th century.
Works Cited
Seward, William Henry. “Speech to the United States Senate.” National Humanities Center. United States of America.
U.S. Senate: Classic Senate Speeches. 2019.