Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-17
Message of Gov. Seymour,
OF NEW YORK.
Delivered Wed~esdoy, January 7, 196;
To TIE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY

To TIE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
We meet under circumstances of unusual
solemnity to legislatc for the honor, for the
interest aud for the protection Of the peo,
pie Of the State of New York. The oath,
which we have taken, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States and the Con.
stitution of the State Of New York and to
perform our duties with fidelity, has at
this time especial significance. 1t teaches
us to look upon each of these Constitutions
as equally sacred, that each is to be up
held in its respective Jurisdictions. At
this time, the power Of the one is operly
defed by armed rebellion, while the other
is ondangere by the confusion and dscord
growing out of civil war. This "oath,
declaration or test" is not a mere cere-
monial it is a part Of the tenure of the
Office we hold. Until we have thus SOL
emuly submitted ourselves to the COM
mands of these instruments, giving up
our personal views and opinions and plcdg-
ing ourselves to obey their requirements,
we are not permitted to perform one official
act.
[After this paragraph, the Governor goes
on to discuss at length the questions rela-
ting to the finances and other local ques-
tions pertaining to the State of New York
and which for that reason we omit: Gov
Seymour then proceeds to discuss, -ED.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Constitution makes it my duty to
communicate to you the condition OF the
State. Icannot do this without speaking
of our Union and of the war which atiicts
our country, and which also affects the eX.
tended commerce of New York; taxes all
its pursuits has taken more than 200, 600
men from our workshops and fields; and
has carried mourning into the homes OF
our citizens The genius of our govern
mcut and the interests of our people de-
mand that the aspects of this war should
be discussed with entire freedom. Not
only is the national life at stake, but every
personal, every family, every sacred inter
est 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 sltua-
ton must not be kept back. There must
be no attempt to put down the full ex-
preston of public opinion. 1t must be
known and Needed, to enable government
to manage public affairs with success
There is ycarning desire among our peo'
pie to learn their actual condition. They
demand free discussion. This should be
conducted in an earnest, thoughtful, patri-
otic spirit. The solomnity OF the occasion
aud the sufferings of tho war, should re-
viye the virtue, the intelligence, and the
patriotism Of the American people. The
decay of these have brought our calamitles
upon us. There are now no causes Tor
discord that have not always existed IN
our country, and which were not felt by
our fathers in forming the Union They
had the greatness, the magninlmity, and
virtue to compromise 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 anu
resources of our own countrymeH' "nl's
we had the full benefit of au untrammeled