The weekly Butte record., 1862-12-20
0deeklp Suite RetorO
Speech Of Horatio Seymour.

meeting Of tle cltlIru1 OF 0lOIgA3A anu Olcl
da. at the city hall IL Utica, on the 9th inst
They viii be found interesting, as foreshadow-
ing the policy Of eiaeom.ng administration oi
New YorF.
Men Of 0aouiaga tie county Of my birth
and men Of Oneida the county in which I live
Il thank you for the home verdict you hare
given upon those who bore false witness against
my character and my patriotism. While l
was battling for the cause Of cur country in
other parts Of New York, Iefl the defence Of
my character in your hands, who know ne
best. In 10 counties ia the State have our
political opponents lost 50 much as in yours.
The victory We have gained Is not a partisan
triumph. Il is won by conservative men here
tofore belonging to different organizations. 1t
is a triumph for the country. Il embraces 10
its generous purposes those who have battled
against ns. The first great cause OF our sue
cess, that which made tie deep under-swell
that bore Us on to victory. were the letters
written by cur soldiers from the battle field
imploriag their fathers and brothers to put
down a wild and bloody fanatcism. More
clearly thaa others they see the errors which
brought the present caamities upon our eoun-
try. The joy which our success will give to
Unlon-l0ving and patriotic hearts throughout
our land, win be most strongly felt among
those who are lighting fer our flag. We have
not only given them new vigor, but We have
weakened the rebellion against which they are
combating. They now fight for the definite
purpose Of restoring our Union as it was and
uphoding the Constitution as it is. They are
now relieved from depressing uncertainties as
to the object Of the contest and Of the feeling
that they were engaged in vague, blind aud
indefinite struggle to carry out the theories Of
visionary fanatics, OF Of being made the iustru-
ments to excite serglle Instructions. or Of being
dragged into a revolving war against the lives
y OF women and OF children.
The calmHess and quiet Of this great poti-
cal revolution viii impress the world. The
enemies Of our country charged that we were
becoming a brutal and bloodthirsty people.
We now show them that in the midst Of
great civil war, against the enormous power
and patronage which this war gives to those in
Office, the citizens OF this country, at an cleo
ton marked by unusual order, have rebuked
those who have controlled the policy of gov
ernmeut, because their language has been fero-
cioas and sanguihary. and their conduct not in
keeping with the genius of our Constitution.
While the action Of our people has been calm,
it has been prompt and decided. One year ago
bNi pIfiihHNALr 81 Itt ttt Nth-ttt Win OF FGt-
whelming mai0rities. Now, in every election,
from Maine to Minnesota. they are either beat
en- or their strength SO broken down that
everywhere they are defeated party
1t is a source of pride to Us that the victory
T which We haze won viii prove a blessing to all
parties ana to our whole country. We shall
not retalate upon those who threatened our
persons or invaded cur rights. We shall for
get words and acts Of passion and prejudice
long before their authors win forget their own
follies or forgive themselves Of their assaults
on constitutional liberty. We shall not submit
to acts of tyranny or wrong. Neither Will
we consent that our political opponents shall
lose their rights because they sought to violate
ours.
One year aco, spoke TO you my townsmen,
upon the condition Of public affairs. When |
came home from the far West, | found the Jour
nas who claimed 10 speak for the Republican
party using terms of contempt and repyoach to-
wards tie President of the United States l
had opposed his election. bat | denounced such
language as ipjarious to the dignity and honor
Of our people What then said in the day
Of our defeat, now repeat in the hour Of tri-
umph:
First and above ali we are to show obedi-
ence to constituted authorities and devotion
and respect for LEGAL and constitutional obga-
tions. We are almouished by Washington
The very idea OF the power and right Of the
people 10 establish government, pre- supposes
the duty oi every individual to obey The eslab-
lshed government The primal sin Of disoba-
diencc is not only The immediate cause Of this
war, bat its spirit has also saPped and weaken
ed the foundations Of our municipal State and
national authority in every part Of our laad-
1t is the great underlying cause OF all our ca
lamilics The spirit OF dIsobedjence permaateS
our saclal system; it renders law powerless.
ana strips men Of their rights Of due protection
to their persons and property. Obedience is
the basis Of all family, political and religions
organizations. 1t Is the principle of cohesion
that holds society together, without which it
crumbles into atoms.
Those radical men who brought this war
upon eur country by their passions aud follies,
have now oyertArowu by their violence the
party which gave them Influence. Having
shaped the policy of The gove'umeut by such
legislative aud executive measures as they de-
manded. they now turn with angry reproacbes
upeu the President whose more moderate
counses they sparuad, and seek to make him
responsible for their political disasters. We
shall not take advantage Of this factious spirit
10 embarsass the administration We warn
these infuriatel men that such language. at all
times demoraiizine is dangerous in times of
civil war. Although We are politically opposed
TO Mir Iiaeola, We insist that lie shall be
treated with courtesy due to his position and
to the dignity O.! the American people
While l thus adm7aish car people with re
gard to the duties Of disobedieuce, at the same
time pointed oat the admo1itiou Of the Fa-
ih5r OF cur country 10 those IN power. I re-
peat his selcun warnings:
1t is important. likewise that the habits Of
thinking 10 a free country should inspire can
zion 30 those interested with lis administration.
% conGne themselves withia their respective
constitutional spheres; avoiding. in the exer-
else of the powers Of one department. TO en-
csoaca upoa tie other. The spirit Of encroach-
meat tends to consolidate the powers O, all the
departments in one. ana thuS 10 create. what .
ever the form Of government "a real despotiSm
\ Just estimate Of that love Of power. ard
proueacSs to abuse T. which predamjua;es ia
- 81 - go.