The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-09

Governor Seymour's Mcssa ge-viudica
tien OF Our system OF Government.
The message Of Governor Seymour not only
marks q new era in the history of the war, but
it may prove the turning point in the destiny
OF the nation. 1t embraces clear, logical and
irrefutable exposition Of the nature of our
government, an accurate statement of the wide
departures of the present administration from
the landmarks of the constitution, and the OK.
preston OF an mistaken determination on the
part Of tho people and the Executive Of the
speedy return to the pure fountain Of all pc.
litical authority in the United States. Mr.,
Seymour's arguments are not new; but they are
placed in clear and lucid point of view, and
they grasp the whole subject. The bitter hos.
tility TO the message expressed by the most
rabid and revolutionary section of the negro
worshipping press is the highest testimony in
Its favor.
The cardinal position maintained by Mr.
Seymour ia that the constitution of the United
States is the fundamental law of the land
that none can dispute it, paramount authority,
and that the federal government and State
governments are subject alike to its control.
1t IL the compass by which we must steer or be
lost in wild and -tumultuous sea Of anarchy.
Hence the State government is as supreme in
its own sphere as the federal government is in
its distinctive and peculiar jurisdiction The au-
thority Of both is co-equal and coordinate, the
one not clashing with the other, but both being
Independent and yet harmonious parts Of
one system. Our government is highly
complex and artificial. 1t is like . beautiful
chronometer, in which wheel, or spring. or
cog cannot be displaced without destruction
to the working of the instrument. Our govern
ment il the offspring Of great intellect and pro-
found craftsmanship, comprising machinery
of checks and balances, by which alone 80 vast
= country could retain its liberty and prevent
the usurpation of despotic powers by any
branch of the government To render this re-
suit the more secure, there is one great prin-
ciple which underlies the whole system and
that is that the military is subordinate to the
civil authority; and to compel that subordina-
ton is one Of the functions Of the State govern
When the Romans overthrow their regal 60
vernmsnt and established republic, they
placed at the head of it two Independent Con-
suls, each being a check upon the other. This
system worked we'll. The founders of the
system virtually adopted the same
principle. The President of the United States
Is one Consul, the Governor Of State is an
other. Each is supreme in his own sphere. The
Chief Magistrate of the federal government has
the entire executive control of foreign affairs.
The Chief Magistrate of State has the entire
executive control of the domestic affairs within
his own jurisdiction. II the supreme federal
officer or his Cabinet pursue policy injurious
and dangerous to the nation in time Of war or
great public danger, it il in the power Of the
supreme State officer to put veto on the
proceedings, and check them, if necessary, by
the whole power Of the State. Especially is this
the case whore powers are usurped which have
not been given in the constitution, and an At
tempt is made to subvert the form Of the
government by destroying the balance. Co
vernon Seymour does not yet say what he will
do. He merely announces general principles
which will regulate his action and he will de-
eide lpon each case as it arises according to it's
merits.
The defect in cur system is that when great
wrongs ore committed by the party in posses
sion Of the federal government the people must
submit to the misrule for four years. In Eng
land the Cabinet in power are oustcd by the
popular voice and vote Of the House Of Com
mons. In France the government is over
thrown by a bloody revolution or by coup
d'etat. The Americans are abiding peo-
pie, and they prefer to wait for the operation Of
the ballot box, which they know will make all
things right without violence or the shedding Of
blood. This is the genius Of our system; but it is
not safe to presume too far upon the patience and
forbearance Of the people. There is limit to
all human endurance. But an organized State
government and its chief ruler can offer con
stltutional opposition to the federal government
whenever it transcends its Legitimate authority
or attempts to trespass upon the jurisdiction
and sovereignty of State, or to trample under
foot the liberties and immunities secured to
every citizen by the great charter Of American
rights. We have every confidence in Governor
Seymour that he will see that the constitution
OF the United States and the constitution Of the
State Of New York will be carried out in the
letter and spirit thereof; and let every Governor
follow his example. Thus will the country be
saved equally from anarchy and from despot-
ism; the priceless blessings Of our free insti-
tutions will be preserved intact, and the good
ship Of the Union, now buffeted Ivy the waves
Of faction, fanaticsm and rebellion, will wea-
Their the storm, and continue to be for the future
what she has been in the past, "the envy OF
surrounding nations aud the admiration Of the
world
DISPATCHES FROM 0uR GENERALS MUrnArEp
BY THE WAR DEPARTxESr.-On the 4th Of Janu.
airy General ..Rosecrans addressed to General
Hallsck despatch or report from Murfrees.
boro, portion only Of which was given to the