American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-12-05
kaf from HoratIo seymour's Record

eaf from HorafIo Seymour's Record
h. following extract is taken from a
sch made by this gentleman in 1861.
as Reproduced during the late can
by the New York Tribune, 10 show
Seymour meant to make peace with
{rebels:
|The condition Of orr affair. forces upon
he alternative of compromise or civil war.
us contemplate the latter alternative. We
advised nv the conservative States of
wiuia and kenfuck V. that IF force il to be
il must he exerted against the united
W. II vouid he an act Of folly and mad
in entering upun this contest 10 under
our opponents. and thus subject our
ss to the disgrace of defeat in an ingIo-
warfare Let also see If succe.sfuI
zion by the North ~ less revolutionary
successful secession bv the South
IN we prevent revelation bv being fore
in overthrowing the principles of our
srnment. and all that makes it valuable
pr people. and distinguishes it among the
ons of The earth Upon whom are we 10
war? Our own coHnfrvmen, whose
h. population is three fold that of the
kip country in the time of the Revolution
Dr. courage has never been questioned in
Il contest in which we have beer engaged
" batiled by our side wi n eqnal vaIor in
Revolutionary struggle. in The last war
Great Britain. and in the Mexican con-
Virginia sent her sons under the com
~ Of Washington, TO the relief Of beleag-
a Boston. Alone, the South defeated the
y and most desperate effort of British pow
b divide oar country at the battle of New
hans. From the DAYS of Washington till
: time they have furnished their full pro-
ion If soldiers for the field of statesmen
Il the cabinet, and of wise and patriotic
Safors for our Legislative halls
= IL il only bigoted ignorance that denies
= equality Of their public men to those of
~ North To assume that our brethren in
Ven States lack the capacity to understand.
j ;he ability to protect. their own interests,
q assume that our Government IL failure.
ought TO he overturned. 1t is to declare
b nearly one hail of our people are incapa-
w. Of self government.
- In what way is this warfare to be con-
ktedf None have been mad enough to
xpose to muster armies to occupy their
itory. Great Britain tried that in the
pollution. when the population of the South
less than 100000. She attempted in
kion again IN the late war wher their mum
y we're less than ,. 500 900. Nav, more
fle she armed Indian savag.s to carry
rder and rapine into the homes of the
tn. she attempted To excite servile insur-
hon in the south For this we cursed her
Stal inhumahity. Her own indignant
&tesmen expressed their abhorrence on the
br of Parliament aud yet. at this day,
,se who quote British journals to influence
perican opinions have intimated that there
#ght be a qualification of their hate i'm the
Ening of homes of murdered families oil
Dir own countrymen. or by cutting the EN-
nents of the Mississippi and submerging
kiI land.
Bet some have suggested, with compla-
bt air, that the South could be easily sub
ated by blockadihg their ports with a few
bps Of war. Let these gentlemen study the
bgraphy of our country. While the Allan.
( COAT line of the Northern States is 35l
Bes. that of the South. including the Gull
Mexico. is 1916. We have Is9 and they
be 239 harbors. Great Britain with her i'm
nse fleet attempted blockade, but failed
b. are to be the sufferers? Are we wagins
y upon the South, or upon the North
BON the Southern planter, or upon the
brthern merchant, manufacturer, aud me
baic
n But let us leave these pecuniary consid
6tions ter others more weIghty with every
<riot Upon what field shall this confess
&wagsd Upon what spot shall American
hi American blood Where, on this broad
htneat, shall We find the arena wber,
FRY association aud memory of the pas
tll not forbid this fratricidal contest Or
BEN unnatural war shall have brought upor
D peel pie its ruin, and upon our nation it.
t,me, to what ground shall we be brougbl
Hast"