The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-15
SPEECH OF
EX.GOV. THOMAS H. SEYMOUR,
Aide City Hal, Hartford, Conn, Tuesday
EDeninq, February 10, 1863.
SPEECH OF
Ma. CHAIRHAx AND FELLOW CITIZENS:

thank you for this kind reception, and
cheerfulyrespond to your call for some remarkt
from me. The time has come when we should
all Of us, speak out plainly, and discuss the
questions which these unhappy days have
given birth TO. Neglect to do this may be q
source of future regret. lido not mean to IN
cur the penalty Of any such regretif can hell
it, and therefore purpose speaking at yodI
meeting whenever il may be proper for me tC
do SO. believe we have reached crisis II
public affairs when the bodest language will
prove to be the best for the occasi3n, and best
for our country. We have got to deal with
principaIites and powers which need to be
rebuked and we have got TO deal with men in
power who should be told that there ia a point
beyond which forbearance C Ges to be vir.
tue. For the last eighteen months the people
of the free States, so called, have suffered
great abuses at the hands Of their rulers. Il
has now como the turn of the people TO be
heard. II has come their turn, not to render
evil for evil, but to yindicate their rights under
the Constitution, and by so doing overwhelm
the men in authority who wohId abrogate
those rights. That is their mission, and il a
mission which expect 10 see successfully
accomplished.
You have come together, gentlemen, under
somewhat better auspices than We have had
to boast of in long while. You have to-day
the restoration of that freedom of speech
which was denied to you year ago This is
due, in great measure, to the late elections.
Aud This privilege is not only restored to you.
bnt tit can't be taken away again / would
make 9th 10 thai. Henceforth, my country
men, never let orders from Headquarters, come
in what shape they may never let such orders
prevent you from asserting your right to dis
cuss fully and freely; as you please, the affaira
of Government. Never! And another thing.
1 had hoped the day of Illegal arrests was
over; but the regent exhibition of the mailed
hand at the city of. Philadelphia proves that
tie will is not wanting to restore the reign OF
error. That exhibition of despotic power
should be the last. Or, if the day ofilIegal ar.
rests should como again, with its bolts, and
bars, and shackles for freemen, let freemen
solemnly protest against such high handed
measures and take their protests to the ballot.
boxes. Aud if the ballot should fail TO correct
such enormities and preserve their liberties
they may be driven to look for some other
remedy. 1,+ JR 3 e4~..sl-
Gentlemen, the bitter experiences Of the
past year have solved a new problem in ouF
institutions. They have proved that the mosi
dangerous of allexperimehs. under form oil
government like ours, is that which aims to
still theovoice OF q free people. Such an ex.
pertinent may be successful for awhile, but il
can not last. Forbidden to speak their free
thoughts, they are driyeo to reflect more deep,
lS than bt fore on the value of their liberties
Their rights un|er the Constitution are studi
ed over aud over again; the audacous inso.
lence Ofthe bad men in power, who would de.
prive tlerh of those rights, sternly set be.
fore theireyes the. heroic example OF their
Revolutionary Fathers comes up before them,
admonishing them that the price of liberty is
eternal $IgIlance---and all at once the storm
bursts forth, the soul asseFts its INDEPENDENCE.
and the wronged, abused, insulted citizen, is
free dgain and powerful to assert, maintain
andsdefend his rights against the powers that
be though backed by a million Of bayonets
Sucliis the problem which has just nov been
solved in our very midst aud such the lesson
which IL Furnishes 10 present aud future gene.
rations. Reflect on the Ubiquitous proceedings
Of The Government which ,suppressed free
speethapd a GO press, and sought to punish
men for suggesting peaceful measures as a.
means of saving the Union which we all had
80 much at heart, the result OF their ,medita.
tion on these things, is clear, convincing, un.
powerful and perfectly crushing
against the present Admhistratonl
There are Gg,ny things that might DO dis
cussed on this occasion If timo you'd permit
AS you have called me out, gentlemen, let inc
notice some few OF them which 70 10 strengthen
.he ARGUMENT 10 which have Just referred.
You all know how often It il remarked d-this
war might have been prevented, and tho rea
IONS usually given for such remark. Let us
ook into this very brieiiy,i IniSy do 30 with.
,ut firing you, and see how the case stands.
begin with tho secession of South Carolina,
md the States which Immediately followed
ler ...ei -a '' .a "l. Wy .l..,
When this occurred, Ii became serious
llattor for the entire country. You had the
Army and Navy in your hands, which some
upposed shOHld bo launched at once againstI
be South. More. consideraie men insisted onl
aking different course, They chose 70 treatl
he act OF disunion as a political rather thanl
ia o military one, and deal with II accordingly, |
)f this number was MIR. Crittenden, of Ken
ucky, whose resolutions for saving the Union |
Ind preventing bloodsled lateJhmiliar toyouI
H. . These fesom ions we're acceptable 10 our
eitizens generally and iffheylhad |
,eeh accepted, as they should have been, there
would have been no war; the State would have
,een unitod, aud wo should have. gond on
gain inn career OF peace prosperity and hap.
'lness, The assertion OF Northern 0pp0ikntsl
VI these resolutions that tho South wouldlpotl
ccePt of them, is disproven by Goyornor
ligler, Of Pennsylvania, in his a6Ie Iottef onI
his subject. He has shown us thatithe lead.
w Southern men in Cougre6s ut thattm6I
whose names ore most obpoxious to fho Nbth. /
gers willing to accept of The comprou,ise Bnll'
. a 6nality They didipaeod claim that they
we're ontllsd 70 the benc6ts OF the decision cII
he supremc Court 10 the Dred Scott case
living them qp egqal gshpre in the Terri /
Ories. 49, si,.,,. Il
Nevertheless, for tho sake Of pcace thew
you'd accept OF the Crittendon Bill, with the i
that Il should be fnal adjust y
ient Of tho dinlnliies between 90 slave and