The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16
FROM NEW YORK.
MESSAGE OF GOV. SEYMOUR.

Governor Seymour's message is quite
lengthy, that part referring to national
affairs occupying four ordinary newspaper
columns. He says New York has sent,
since the outbreak of the war, 22O, 900
soldiers to the field.
Speaking of the causes of the war, he
says: Affrighted at the ruin they have
have wrought, the authors of our calami-
ties, North and South, insist that the war
was caused by the unavoidable contest
about slavery. This has been the subject
and the cause of the controversy. We
are to look for the causes of this war in
pervading disregard of the obligations of
laws and constitutions. Disrespect for
constituted authorities, and above all in
the local prejudices which have grown.
up in two portions of the Atlantic States.
When the leaders of the instruction at
the extreme South say Free and Slave
States cannot exist together in the Union,
and when this is echoed from the extreme
North, by the enemies of our Constitution,
both parties say they cannot because they
will not respect the laws and the Constitu-
ton.
This spirit of disloyalty must be put
down. 1t is inconsistent with all social
order and social security with the safety of
persons and property. This war should
have been averted-but when it's flood
gates were opened, the administration
could not grasp its dimensions nor control
its swoop. The government was borne
along by the current, and struggled as it
best could with the resistless tide. Few
seemed able to comprehend it's military or
financial problems. Hence we are not to
sit in harsh judgment upon errors in con-
duct policy.
SIMILATIONS OF POWER.
There are not only obligations resting
upon our people toward our authorities,
but under our political system there are
limitations between the departments of the
government and between the State and
national governments, which must be OBJ
served to secure the public safety The
legislative, executive and judicial depart
ments are co ordinate. 1t is equally trea-
sonable to resist the rightful authorities of
either. To overthrow the power of either
department is revolution. While the War
Department sets aside the authority of the
Judiciary and Overrides the laws of the
States the Governors of States meet to
shape the policy of the general govern
ment. The national legislature appoints
committees to interfere with the military
conduct of the war, and Senators combine
to dictate to the executive choice of con-
stitutional advisers.
The natural results of meddling and in
trigue have followed While our armies
have gained victories in the field remote
from the capital, within its influence the
heroic valor Of our soldiers and the skill
of our Generals are thwarted and
paral yzed.
STATE RIGHTS.
Not only must the national constitution
be held inviolate, but the rights of the
States must be respected as not less sacred.
There are differences of opinion as to the
dividing line between State and national
Jurisdictions, but there can be none as tn
the existence of such separate jurisdictions,
each covering its own subjects Of legisla-
ton and jurisprudence, which are essential
to the public welfare. A consolidated gov
eminent in this vast country would destroy
the essential home rights and liberties OF
the people. The sovereignties of. the
States, except as they are limited by the
constitution, can never be given up. With
out them our government cannot stand.
1t was made, and it can be changed, by
State agency.
Governor Seymour quotes the constitu-
ton in support of this, and says, while
States can thus take away or add to les
power, the general government can in no
way touch the right OF these States, or in
wade their jurisdiction. He then devotes
considerable space to the subject of arbi-
trary arrests, and says that the subject
presents body Of tyranny that cannot be
enlarged; also that the suppression of jour
mails and the imprisonment of persons have
been glaringly partisan, that the attempt
has been made to shield these violations of
law and suppress inquiry, but this attempt
will fail. 1t is a high crime to abduct a
citizen of this State. Ii is made my duty
by the constitution to see the laws en-
forced. | shall investigate every alleged
violation of our statutes, and see that of
Tenders are brought to justice. Against
these wrongs and Outrages the people of
the State OF New York at its late election
soiemnly protested.
MARTIAL LAW.
The claim of power under martial law is
not only destructive Of the right of States
but overthrows Legislative and judicial de
partments of general government. 1t as
serts for the President more powers as
head of the army than as representative
ruler of the people. This claim has
brought discredit upon us in the eyes of
the world. 1t has strengthened the hopes
Of rebellion, weakened confidence of loyal
States, tends to destroy the value of our
government in the minds of our people,
leads to dscord and discomfort at the
North, while it has united and invigorated
the South. Martial law defines itself to be
law where 1t is, but this new and strange
doctrine holds that the loyal North lost
their constitutional rights when the South
rebelled, and all are now governed by mil
itary dictation. Loyalty is thus less secure
than rebellion, for it stands without means
to resist outrages or to resent tyranny.
Amidst all the horrors that have been
enacted under martial law in the history
of the world, and amidst all the justifica-
tons attempted of its usages, it was never