The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-01-28
The Message of Gov, Horatio

The Message of Gov, Horatio
SEYMOUR, of New York, in Full, on
National Affairs-His Discussion OF
the Arbitrary Arrests-His View of the
Causes of the War-His Position in
Regard to Peace.
The following is that portion of Gov
lSEYMoUR's Message which relates to Ma
tional Affairs. 1t is taken from the New
York Eapress,, of the 7th inst:
j NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
4 The Constitution makes it my duty to
Communication to you the condition Of the
lState. I can not do this without speak
ing of our Union and of the war which
aff1icts our country, and which also affects
the extended commerce of New York;
taxes all it's pursuits, has taken more than
twenty thousand men from our workshops
and fields, and has carried mourning into
the houses of our citizens. The genius
of our Government, and the interests of
our people demand that the aspects Of this
war should be discussed with entire free
dom. Not only is the National life at
stake, but every personal, every family,
every sacred interest is involved. We
must grapple with the great questions of
the day; we must confront the dangers of
our position The truths of our financial
and military situation must not be kept
back. There must be no attempt to put
down the full expression of public opin-
1 ion. 1t must be known aud needed, to
enable the Government to manage public
affairs with success There is yearning
desire amoag our people to learn their ac-
tual condition They demand free dis
cussion. This should be conducted in an
earnest, thoughtful, patriotic spirit. The
solemnity of the occasion, and the suffer
ings of the war, should revive the virtue,
the intelligence and the patriotism of the
American people. The decay of these
have brought our calaniities upon-us.
There are now no causes for discord that
have not always existed in our country
and which were not felt by our fathers in
forming the Union. They had the great
ness, the magnanimity and virtue t. COM
promise and adjust them. The value OF
the Union they then formed has proved
to be greater than they hoped. Yet we
became Indifferent to it when we were in
the full enjoyment of its blessings. We
became ignorant Of the character and re-
sources of our own countrymen, while We
had the full benefit of an untrammeled
commerce with all sections of our land
/ 1t was when the world was astonished by
the power and wealth growing Out of Ma
itional Union, that sectional prejudices and
passions wege active in destroying irater
MAJ affections and generous love of our
country. While we boasted most of our
Intelligence, there were those persistently
and iaboriously engaged through the
/ press, and in Legislative halls, in teaching
| the people Of the North and the South to
undervalue and despise each other Hos
/ tile legislation and the division of our
churches impaired religions and social
I intercourse If the North and the South
had understood the power and purposes
of each other, our contentious would have
I been adjusted. This n.isapprehension, SO
dbioody and terrible in its effects, was sys-
ltematically and laboriously ipculcated.
t CAUSES OF TIE WAR.
4 Afrieh ed at the ruin they have wrought,
the authors OF our calamities ut the North
and South insist that this wal was caused
by an unavoidable contest about slavery.
This has been the subject, not the cause
Of controversy We are to box for the
causes of this. war in a perv5dng disre
gard of the obligations of laws and con-
stitutiops; in disrespect for constituted
!, authorities; and, above all, IN the local
preiudices which have grown up in two
portions of the Atlantic State, the two
3 extremes OF our country, whbse remote
positions have made them less we'll inform
ed!s.nd whose interests have made them
less econsiderate with regard to the condi-
ton and character. of our Wide people,
than those living in the great csntral and
western sections of our Union There is
no honest statement of our difficulties
which does not teach that orr pesple must
reform themselves, as we'll as the conduct
of the Government and the policy of our
3 rulers There is not a calamity we are
suffering which was not clearly ylforetold
by our fathers, as the result ofithe pas
sions and local prejudiees which have
grown up during the past fifteen years.
1t is not too late. to save our country il
we will enter upon the sacred dutF in the
fright spirit and in the right way. When
we do so, the effect will be seen and felt
throughout our land and by the civilized
world We shall then strengthen on,
. Government; we shall weaken the rebel
lion; VIC shall unite our people; and the
world will recognize our capacity fr self:
. government when we show that We are
Lcapable of self. reform
RESPECT FOR LAWS AND RULES.
In the first place we must emulate the
t conduct OF our forefathers, and show ohe
r dience to constituted authorities, aid re
g spect for legal and constitutional olliga
i tons ''The very idea Of the powe ane
n right Of the people to establish GoYern
!, ment, presupposes the duty Of eyeryindi
Q yidual to obey the established GoSern
ment" Yet spirit of .disobediene, ha,
n sapped the foundation of Municipal, Mat,
d and National authority in every pat o
our land. tits not only the underlyin,
and prevailing cause of the war; it isaIs,
III- :. n I.