The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-09-30

i At this point Gov. Seymour was discov
cred entering the hall, accompanied by tn
Invitation committee, and he WAS welcome,
with storms of applau e, which were con
tlnued for several minutes after he ha,
ascnded the stage. When quiet was re
stored, he said.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:-Three years hav
passed away since YOU and others, whom
| see before me tonight. assembled in thi
hall for the purpose of trying to avert tia
War which now atfiicts the land. Wesa
the storm, and we then invoked that party
which had j1st achieved a triumph IN tht
nation, to unite with US in an endeavor t.
prevent the calamity. Our fears were
derided, our prayers were Knocked, and WI
were told that we were not true to the
Union. How sad has been the intervening
period! How many of the young men o
the country have been carried to bloody
igraves-how much mourning is spre az
lover the land-what agony and distress
| We. met again, when the war had been
brought to another of its stages, and once
more We applied to our Repu bican i'riends
to join US in an effort to save the country,
I[Applause. Then, too, our appeals were
in vain. But will not dwell upon the
darker side of the picture. Sad as has
been our history, some good has resulted
from 1t, for we have learned to value our
rights and to appreciate the inestimable
worth of our Institutions, and those who
| stigmati2ed us as Union Savers" are
aow glad to talk of maintaining the Union
and the supremacy Of the Constitution.
For this am grateful, although our pc
tetions might have been recsived more
graciously At Syracuse, the other day,
they resolved to uphold the Union. TINS
| accept as a good omen, although coupled
| with words harsh and unjust toward myself.
Most heartily do I welcome this promise
on their part. | am not without hope rs
to the future, The war has taught all men
the high duty Of maintaining, the Consti-
tutou, for that, and that only, will result
in establishing the Union upon frlner
basis and the rights Of the States upon q
| settled foundation | knJw that the
of the last Congress, originating in error,
and banefulin their influences, as many OF
them have been, have alarmed the land.
They have sought tpe GENERALIZATION OF
power, but, | have never doubted the re-
suit, for those yery measures are to over
throw their theories of Government. 1t
will be found that the measures adopted
to enlarge and centralize the powers OF the
General Government cannot, M the cad,
restrain the rights of the States. The
States are the natural sources OF the pow
ers of the general government, and 5althoI
put down they wjll rise again. Our faith
- 4
the exercise of powers other aud greater
| than those secured to it under the Consti1
tuition, itwould impsril and destroy itself.
Let Us sec if. they we're right. A few
months ago. the government adopted meas
ures relative TO currency, to Indemnity and
coeiscation, and also the conscription act
--if [ may be allowed 50 to term it. Ap-
plause | have had no views, no secrets.
no correspondence which l have not sub
mitted, most cheerfully submitted to pub
fic scrutiny Ithen expressed tue opinion
that when the Conscription act should be
lput in ope :atio on---thata act W iich threatens
1.-THE integrity Of the States N, trenches
upon personal right, opposed as it is to the
fgenius OF free goverI ment-I then said
that when they entered upon its enforce
ment they would be baffled, because it wa.
inconsistent with the nature of our gov
.ternment One year ago the people had
voluntarily given one million of men and
had poured forth their treasure in unex
ampled prefns;en for the prosecution ot
the war. Every school district, every
Township and city, contributed men and
jmoney without stint. Why /? Because
oalled unoo hv tbn rovo,nroo,t Q ID ~ :,
1 because prompted by the VIII of the peo
bple. Government was armed with a mill
gary power unequalled by any other ma
ton; but forgetting that its strength de
! pehds upont the popular will they pursueC
q course Inconsistent with the nature O
our Institutions. We made it the issue
with them at that very time, when the,
had at their command the largest military
! force on tne face of the globe, and we bea
ltheig. Cheers. In tho acts, which
they sup posed Observation-Disclosures to strength
en- them, and perhaps, weaken localities
j they failed. Ono year ago our State CAV,
one hundred and twenty Thousand men u
the war, and York city contribute,
most literally in men md money, at tha
time How is it now? Do men go a
cheerfuliy now, as then? No. Thatgoy
ernment around which one million mel
SO cheerfally rallied, now. finds it neccssa
lrary to use its utmost power to drag fey
1ihodsands intothe field Is this strength
\ or weakness success or failure?f TIL
II State Of New Y erk, since the firstof Jan
Euary, has raised upwards of twelve thou
J sand volunteers, which isJmore than twic
the number that will ever be carried on
of the State by conscription., I don't sa
Il how many may go eas substitutes, for a
! that is equivalent to volunteering, but
! venture to predict that they will ne YER ge
d six Thousand menito ge becaase they hav
h been drafted UNDER the provisions or thu
!, tlaw lam full Of hope for the. futart
Il because Z believe thatitlte governmental tina
TEpasses beyond the Legitimate bounds L
Il lIitsspewef,F SO far from ends sngering, per
lnanehtly. the etigIfts of the States, simpl
!, endangers the rights aud strength ofitsel
aud this lesson once learned by all, wi