Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-08
Goxernor,s Messages.

GOVERNOR SEIMOURS MESSAGE.
ALBANY, Jan. 7.-Gov. Seymours message
was sent to the legislature to-day. On ma
tional affairs, he says not only is the national
life at stake, but every person, every family,
| and every social interest is involved. The
| truths Of our financial and military situations
must not be kept back. There must be no
attempt to put down the expression of public
| opinion. Atfrightened at the ruin they have
| wrought, the authors of our calamities, at the
| north and south, insist that the war was
caused by an unavoidable contest about slave
ry This has been the subject not the cause
OF the controversy. We are to look for the
causes of the war in pervading disregard of
obligations of our laws and constitutions in
disrespect for the constitutional authorities,
and above all in local prejudices which have
grown up In two portions of the Atlantic
states-the two extremes of our country
There is no honest statement of our difficult
ties which does not teach that our people
must reform themselves as well as the con-
duct OF the government and tho nflie.. 3
1t is not too late to save our country if we
will enter upon the sacred duty in the right
spirit, 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 our government, we shall
weaken the rebellion, we shall unite our peo-
pie, and the world will recognize our capacity
for self government when we show that we are
capable of self reform. Where it is the right
of our government to decide upon measures
and policy it is our duty to obey and to give
ready support to their decisions. This is
vital maxim of liberty.
This war should have been averted, but
when its fioodgates were opened, the admins
tration could not grasp its dimensions nor
control its sweep; the government was borne
along with the current, and struggled as 1t
best could with the resistless tide. Few
seemed able to comprehend its military or IL
nancial problems. Now we are not to sit in
harsh Judgment upon errors in conduct or
policy; but while we concede ali these ex-
cuses for mistakes, we are not to adopt errors
nor sanction violations of principle. The
same causes which eXtenuate their fault in
Judgment, must make us more yigilant to
guard against their influences. The governor
then urges economy, and says integrity In the
administration of affairs is vital in periods of
war. He says meddling and intrigue have
thwarted and paralized the power of our SOL
diers and skill of their generals within the in
| fiuence of the capital, while our armies have
gained victories in the fields therefromS
The governor says the national constitution
must be held inviolate, and holds that the
rights of the state must be respected as not
| less sacred. A consolidated government
would destroy the essential home, rights and
| liberties of the people. On the subject OF ar
bitrary arrests, he says, the suppression OF
| journals and the imprisonment of persons
have been glaringly partizan. Conscious Of
these gross abuses, an attempt has been made
to shield the violators of law and suppress in
| quiry into their motives and conduct. This
attempt will fail. Constitutional acts cannot
be shielded by unconstitutional law. | shall
| not inquire what rights states in rebellion have
forfeited, but l deny that this rebellion can
suspend a single right of the citizens of the
| loyal states.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR TODD.
! CLEVELAND, Jan. 1.-THE message of Gov.
| Todd was delivered to an adjourned session of
the Ohio legislature, Sunday, in reference to
the yet uncrushed rebellion. He urges the
fulfilment of the duty which the crisis forces
upon us. No cause was sufficient to justify a
| state in taking up arms against the govern
ment, even had the authorities of the general
| government interfered with the domestic in
situations of Ohio or South Carolina to the ex-
tent of introducing slavery in the former, or
excluding it from the latter, it would be no
cause to take uparms.
This would not give the slightest pretext
for armed resistance, but no such attempt
was made or thought of, as the authors and
leaders of the rebellion well knew. To bring
these men to the punishment they deserve,
and to restore law and order, the people of
Ohio are willing to bear any burdens which
may be put upon them. Ohio has 1l5, POO
volunteers, 10000 of whom are in the field,
and Il, 900 men have been drafted into the
service, but part of these enlisted afterwards
for three years. The balance have been di-
minished by various causes, till only about
2,4O0 have been drafted into the service. The
governor recommends the thorough reorgan-
ization of the militia, and the establishment
OF school for military instruction. The gov
ernor also justifes the suspension of the writ
of habeas corpus, and advocates the passage
of a law furnishing resistance; and also law
allowing soldiers to vote. The cash balance
in the state treasury on the 10th of Novem-
Der, was S4,7S4 so The balance of the mes
sage is devoted to state affairs.
MESSAGE OF GOV. CURTIN.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. THE message Of
Gov. Curtin is almost exclusively devoted to
state affairs. The finances are in favorable
condition.
Including the three months volunteers