The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-07-17
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR SEYMOUR
Before the Democratic Union Association
of New York city, on the 4th
day of July, 1863

| Fellow citizens When I accepted the
Invitation to speak with others at this
meeting we were promised the downfall
of Vicksburg. the opening of the Mississ-
ippi, the probable capture of the confeaer
ate capital. and the exhaustion Of the re-
beIion. BY common consent all parties
had fixed upon this day when the results
of the campaign should be known, to mark
out that line Of policy which they felt that
our country should pursue. But in the
momen. of expected victory there came
the midnight cry for help from Pennsyl-
vania to save its despoied fecs from the
invading foe, and. almost within sight Of
this great commercial metropolis, the ships
Of YOUR merchants were burned TO the Wa
ter's edge Since that time have occn-
pied every hour, to the point of physical
exhaustion, to rally our troops to the res
cue of an adjoining sister state (tremend-
Gus applause): 70 organize the militia OF
our own state for our defense, and to place
New York in that condition of dignity and
mower which a great state should ever
hold, that truly respects It's own rights -
(Greas applause) | have concerned my,
self with those measures that | tho't were
calculated TO protect he commerce Of this
great city | stand before you, then, en-
| this occasion. not As one animated by ey
pec,ed victories, but feeling as all feel who
are now within the sound Of my voice, the
dread uncertainties Of the conflicts which
rage around us. not alone in Pennsylva-
mia, bat along the line Of the Mississippi
-contests that are carrying down to
bloody graves 50 many of our feilow-coun-
| trymen, so many Of our friends-that are
spreading renewed mourning throughout
this great broad lard of ours. Under cir
cumstances like these, | shall allow TO go
unnotced many topics upon which | meant
to speak on this occasion. They might
seem to lar with the solemnitv of the ccca-
sion. They might not be in keen;;aag with
the feelings which now press on each
breast Of ours. But there is one subject
to which even now feel it my duty to
call your attention. There is one appeal
that | want now to make to this whole
community, irrespective of party, and |
pray that YOU may hear that appeal. A
few years ago we stood before this com
munity to warn them of the dangers of
sectional strife, but our fears were laughed
at. At later iav; when lie clouds Of
war overhung our country, we lmpiored
those in authority to compromise that diff
ficultv. for We had been told by u great
orator and statesman, Burke, that there
never We! was a revolution that might not
have been prevented by a compromise
made in timely and graceful manner
(Great app'ause) Our prayers were un-
needed. Again, when the contest was
opened, we invoked those who had the
conduct of affairs not to unaerrate the
power Of the advefsary-not to rnderrate
the courage, and resources, aud endurance
Of our own sister states. All this warning g
was treated as sympathy with treason, -
| You have the results of these urheeded
PRAYERS they have stained our soil with
blood they have carried mourning into
thousands Of homes; and to-day they
have brought our country TO the very
verge Of destruction. Once more | come
before you, to offer again An earnest pray
er, and bid YOU TO listen to warning -
Our country is lot only at this time torn
BY one Of the bloodiest wars that has ever
ravaged the face Of the earth, or Of which
history gives an account. but, if we turn
our faces to our own 10y al state, how is it
.here, Do you not find the community
divided into political parties, strongly ar
rayed against each other, and using with
/ h q ooh
and Defiance! Is it not said by tlose who
support more particularly the aaministra-
ton, that We who differ honestly, patrioti-
ca,Iy, sincerely, from them with regard to
the line of duty, are men of reasonable
purposes and traitors to our country =
"Hear, hear.') But on the other hand,
is 1t not true that many Of our organza-
ton look upon this administration as hos
tile 10 our rights and liberties {; look upon
our opponents as men who would do us
wrong in regard TO our most sacred fran
chses need not call your attention to
The tone Of the o,ess or to the tone Of pub
lie feeling, to show you how, at this mo-
ment, parties are thus exasperated, and
stand in almost defiant attitudes to each
other. A few years ago we were told that
.a.,;o,.i; life, waged in times like these,
would do no har,,. to our county; but
YOU have seen the sad anu bloody results.
Let us be admoni.hed now ir time ana
take care that this irritation, tits feeling
which is growing up in our midst, shall
no. also ripen unto civil troubles tha: shall
carry the evils of war into our very midst
and about our own homes. Now, upon
one thing all parties are agreed, and that
is this: Until we have a united North we
can have no successful war. Until we
have a united. harmonious North we can
have no benefcent peace How shall we
: have harmonvl How shall the unity OF
AL parties be obtained | wish to say a
few words upon this point, which, firmly
believe il one Of the most important con
siIera,ions to which | could call your at
ten,ion. Is harmony TO be coercedl
appeal to you, my Republican friends.
when YOU sav 10 us that tbs nations lite
, and existence hangs upon harmony and
concord here, ii ,ou yourselves. in roui
seriops moments. believe that this is 10 he
produced by seizing our persons. bv infrin.
l.: