The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-17
Extract from the
Speech Of Gov. Seymour,
In New York City, July 4. 1868.

Ahere Is one appeal that want now to
make to this whole community, irrespec-
tive of party, and l pray that you may
hear that appeal. A few years ago we
stood before this community to warn
them of the dangers of sectional strife,
but our fears were laughed at. AT a lat.
er day, when the clouds of war overhung
our country, we implored those in au.
thority to-compromise that difficulty, for
we had been told by a great orator and
statesman (Burke) there never yet was
revolution that might not have been pre-.
vented by compromise made in time.
ly and gracious manner. (Great ap-
plause.) Our prayers were unheeded.
Again, when the contest was upon us,
we stopped to invoke those who had
the conduct of affairs not to underrate
the power of the adversary-not to uu.
derrate the courage and resources, aud
endurance of our own sister States. All
this warning was treated as sympathy
with treason. You have the results of
these unheeded warnings and unheeded
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 beg you to listen to o warning.
Our country is not only at this time torn
by one of the bloodiest wars that ever
ravaged the face Of the earth, or ofwhich
history gives us an account, but, if we
turn our attention to our own loyal
States, how is it there ? Do you not
find the community divided into politi.
cal parties, strongly arrayed against
each other and using, with regard to
each other, terms of reproach and
defiance Is it not said by those
who support more particularly the ad :
ministration, that we who differ honestly,
patriotically, sincerely, from them with
regard to the line of duty, are men oil
reasonable purposes, and traitors to our
country? (Hear, hear.) But on the
other hand, is it not true that those oi
our organization look upon this admin.
iStration as hostile to our rights and lib.
critics; look upon our opponents as men
who would do US wrong in regard to oul
most sacred franchises? I need not cal
your attention to the tone of the press
or to the tone of public feel, to show you
how, at this moment, parties are thus
exasperated, and stand in almost defan
attitudes to each other. A few year,
ago we were told that sectional strife
waged in terms like these, would do nj
harm to our country; but you have seel
the sad bloody results. Let US be ad
monshed now in time, and take care tina
this irritation, this feeling which is grow
ing up in our midst shall not also ripeI
into civil conflicts that shall carry tn
evils of war into our very midst ant
about our own homes, Now, upon on
thing all agreed, and that is this: Unit
we have q united North we can have nj
successful war; until we have united
harmonious North, we can have no be
nefcent peace. How shall we have har
mony? How shall that unity of all par
ties bo obtained? l wish to say fey
words to you upon this point, which
firmly believe is one of the most import
ant considerations to which I could cal
your attention. Is harmony to be co
creed? (Cries of "No," "No,w l ap
peal to you, my republican friends, tina
when you say to us that the nations lif
and domestic peace hang upon harmon,
and concord here, if you yourselves, il
your serious moments, believe that thes
are to be produced by seizing our per
sons, by infringing upon our rights, b
insulting our homes, and by deprivinl
us of those cherished privileges forwhic
our fathers fought, and to which we hav
always sworn allegiance? (Great ap
plauSe } l do appeal to you, my reput
lican friends, and beg that you will re
ceiVe this appeal to the earnest and ps
triotic spirit which prompts me to max
it. l Iappeal to you if you are not dc
ing yourselves and your country gret
wrong when you declare that harmon
and unity of parties are essential to say
the nations life, essential to the highes
interests of our land, and yet thus stie
Matte men as true and honest as you
selves, and those whom first eyperienc
has proved to have been wiser, too, 6
men who do not love their country, an
who are untrue to our institutions. =
How, then, are we to get this indispen'
able harmony-this needed unity! 1T
not to be obtained by trampling upo
rights; tits not to be obtained by threats
it is not to be obtained by coercion; it
not to be obtained by attempting to clio;
our lips when we would utter the homes
purpose of our hearts and the stron
convictions of our judgment. (AI
plause.) But, my republican friend
there is q mode by which it can be reacl
ed, and there is a mode by which the nj
tionS life can be saved there is moo
by which in the end, we will restore th
Union Of ours, and bring back those gil
riouS privileges which are So wantonI
; thrown away. (Applauso.) We con
to you in no spirit of arrogance. "
simply come before you this day and as
. you to accept the wisdom and the patr
otiSm of our common fathers. We &
= not come to you to make any concessic
of advantage to us. On thecontrary. v
only say to you, holding in your hant
: and in your control almost all the poll
J ical power of your country, to exerci
it, and to exercise it according to OF