William Seward: “Columbia, great Republic, thou art blest, While Empires droop, and Monarchs sink to rest.”

By the blessing of the Author of those rights, they have prevailed over all opposition, and form the basis of thirteen independent States.

Let it be remembered, that it has ever been the pride and the boast of America, that the rights for which she contended were the rights of human nature.

That freedom and that security required that the nations of Europe should relax their grasp on the American Continent.

The perils of the enterprize are already passed--its difficulties have already been removed--when it shall have been accomplished it will be justly regarded as the last noble effort which rendered the Republic imperishable.