East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-11-12
SPEECH OF HON. HORATIO
SEYMOUR,
Delivered at Utica, N. NJ, October
2s, 1864.

At large and enthusiastic Demo
cratic Ratification Meeting, held at Utica
on the evening Of the 2Sth, Hon. Horatio
Seymour having been vehemently called
for by the audience, came forward and
spoke as follows:
Mn CHAIRMAN AND FELLow-CITIzEys:
The calamities which have been so
often foreshown as the resultsof sectional
strife have at length fallen upon our Ma
tion. The American people would not
heed the warnings of their fathers, they
have refused to live together in the spirit
of our Constitution. As they grew
great and prosperous, the admonitions OF
those whe pointed out the coming storms
were despised, and they were derided as
alarmists. If you wish to know why a
bloody and ferocious civil war now RACES
in our land, read again the Farewell Ad-
dress Of George Washington, and you
will find that his warnings have become
history. ....
As if to mock the national prosperity
which has made us so boastful and conf.
dent, our calamities come when unusual
wealth fills our treasures, aud when our
fertile soil feeds famishing nations, sus-
tains great armies, and still leaves our
granaries overflowing with golden stores.
The official returns of our population,
wealth and resources, have startled the
world. Yet the day of our material
prosperity is the day of our humiliation.
We have not yet felt the full force Of
the impending storm. The clouds of
war, in growing and blackening masses,
still hang about our Nations Capitol
We see at intervals flashes of its light
ming, we hear its meanings along the bor-
ders of rivers, the shores of oceans, and
big pattering drops of blood tell of the
tempest which is soon so carry mourning,
desolation and death, into the homes Of
the American people.
In this dark hour, what shall conserva-
tive aud patriotic men do, who have vainly
struggled in the past to avert these ca.
lamities? How shall we make this war,
which we have foreseen and foretold, min
lister to the good Of our country? 1t is
the inevitable result Of the evils against
which we have combatted. We must
must be heard by those who have closed
their cars to our arguments and en-
treaties.
In war as in peace, we must still toll
with patriotic purposes for our country's
honor and welfare. The wisdom and
patriotism of our foreiathers grew up
and was strengthened amid the trials of
the revolutionary struggle. 1t is our
duty SO to direct the frstricidal contest in
which we are engaged, that the waning
wisdom and decaying patriotism of this
day shall be renewed and reinvigorated
by the sufferings and miseries it will oc-
casion.
do not propose to renew the discus
sions Of the past. We leave the past to
TO the judgment of the future. In other
times, its records win be read, and the
just verdict be given upon the conduct
and motives OF all. We are content to
abide the result. Let US now confront
the duties of the present hour. What
shall our conduct be? We are to keep
on with our battle against disloyalty in
the North and South alike. Our path
ways still lead straight onward, against
the enemies Of our Union and against
those who make their preiudices and pas
sions higher laws than the laws of our
land.
First, and above all, we are to show
obedience to constituted authorities, and
devotion and respect for legal and consti-
tutional obligations. We are admonished
by Washington, "that respect for the au.
thority of government, compliance with
its laws, and scquiesccnce with its meas
ures, are duties enjoined by the funda.
mental maxims of true liberty" "The
very idea Of the power and right Of the
people to establish government, prc-sup-
poses the duty of every individual to obey
the established government" The pri.
neval sin of disobedience is not only the
immediate cause of this war, but its
spirit has also sapped and weakened the
foundations Of our municipal, State and
National authority in every part Of our
land. 1t is the great underlying cause
Of all our calamities. The spirit Of DISC
bedience permeates our social system; j,
renders law powerless, and strips men Of
their rights and of due protection to theil
persons and property. Obedience is th,
basis of all family, political and religion,
organizations. It is the principal cohe
sion that holds society together, without
which it crumbles into atoms. Yet W,
have seen disregard of this vital prin
ciple shown in scenes of violence in tn,
halls Of cur National Capitol; in the ex
posed corruptions Of our State legisla
ton; and in the abuses of municipal gov
ernment. We have heard disobedienc,
to laws taught in our pulpits and com
mended by the press. 1t breaks out lik,
plague spot all over our land, showing
that the disease pervades our politica
system. This war, tho terrible oontes
in which we are engaged, grows out o
the pervading mslady, We must no
only put down revolt, but we must ais
teach our people the duty Of obedience L
laws in all places and under all circum
stances. g
Among other reasons why wish t
stand before you as member of tn