Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-09-18
Gbe Obio 6tates,'ra,t
GOV. sEYMOUR's SPEECH
The Policy of Concil iation.
DEMO CRATIC CONVENTION.
From the ReportOr the Albany Argus, Sept. lolhl

From the RcpOrtO Of the Albany Argus, Sept. 1Oh,l
At this point Gov Seymour was discovered
entering the hall accompanied blythe Invitation
committee, aud he was welcomed with storms OF
applause, which were continued for several min.
utea after he had ascended the etage. When
quiet was restored, he said:
| Mn. CIHARAAn:-Three years have passed
away since you and others, whom SEQ before
me tonight, assembled In this hall for the pur.
pose of trying to avert the war which now
sf1lcts the land. Wo saw the storm, and we
then invoked that party which had just achieved
triumph In the nation, to unite with us In an
endeavor to prevent the calamity. Our fears
were derided, our prayers we're Knocked. and
We were told that we were not true to the Union.
How sad has been the intervening period! How
many Of the young men OF the country have been
carried to bloody graveg-h0w much mourning
Is spread over tho land--What agony and dis
distress! We met again, when the war had been
brought to another Of its stages, and once more
we applied to our Republican friends to Join us
Ia an effort To save the country [Applause.l
Then, tco, our appeals we're In vain. But will
not dwell upon the darker aide Of the picture.
Sal as has been 0ur history, come good has
resulted from 1t, for we have learned to
value our rights and to appreciate the inosti
msble worth Of our institutions, and those who
stigmatized us as "Uniop Savers," are now
glad to talk OF maintaining the Union and the
supremacy OF the Constitution. For this I
am grateful, although our petitions might have
been received more gTaciously. At Syracuse,
the other day, they resolved to uphold the
Union. This 1 accept as a good omen, al
though coupled with words harsh and nj Just
toward myself Most heIftlIy do welcome
this promise on their part | am not with
out hope ss TO the future. The war has
taught oil men the high duty Of maintaining
the Constitution, for that, and that only,
will result in establishing the Union upon
irner basis and the rights of the States upon
la settled foundation. / know that the acts Of
the lest Congress, originating in error, and
banelul in their influences, as many of them
have been, have alarmed the land. They
have sought the Capitalization OF power, but
have never doubted the result, for those yer,
measures are to overthrow their theories Of
Government 1t will be found that the measures
adopted to enlarge and centralize the powers
; of the General Government cannot, in the end
restrain the rights Of the States. The Statea
are the natural sources of the powers Of the
General Government, aud although put down
they will rise again. Our fathers saw tha. II
4 the eGovernment attempted the exercise of powers
other and greater than those secured to Ii under
the Constitution, 1t would imperil end destroy
7 itself. Let n see If they we're right. A few
Q months ago the Government adopted measures
relative to currency, to indemnity and con1sca
tion, and also the Conscripion act-if may be
, allowed to 10 term 1t, [Applsuse.l l have had
no We've, no secrets, no correspondence which
have not submitted, most cheerfully submitted
to public scrutiny. then expressed the opinion
that when the Conecription act should be put
in operaton-!hat act, which threatens Che
integrity Of the States and trenches upon per-
eonsl right, opposed as it is to the geniue OF
free government-I then said that when
they entered upon its enforcement they would
be bsfled, because it was inconsistent with
tho nature OF our Government. One year
ago the people had Voluntarily given one mil
lion Of men, aud had poured forth their treasure
J in unexampled profusion, for the prosecution
Of the war. Every ohool district, every
townshlp and city, contributed men and means
WITHOUT stint. Why2 Because called up-
on by the Government2 Rather because
prompted by the will of the people II
was the free offering of free people. Gov
ernment was armed with military power un.
equalled by any other nation; but forgetting
= that its strength depends upon the popular
will, they pursued course inconsistent with the
nature Of our institutions. We made the issue
with them, 1t that very time, when they had OF
their command the largest military force on the
globe, and ue beat them, [Cheers In those
acts which they supposed were calculated To
strengthen them, and, perhaps, weaken looall-
ties, they failed. One year ago our State gave
one hundred and twenty thousand men to the
war, and New York city contributed most lib.
orally In men and money at that time. How
Ia IL now2 Do men 90 as oheerfully now, az
then7 No. That Government, around which
one million men 60 cheerfully rallied, now Hnds
II necessary to use Its utmost puwer to drag q
! Few thoueands into tho field. ls ths siren ett
ar veakness-success or failuTe2 The State Of
New York, since the let Of last January, hal
raised upwards of twelve Thousand volunteers
which Ia more than twice the numbpr chat will
ever be carried out of tho State by the con-
scription. don't say how many may 70 OF
substitutes, for that is equivalent TO volunteer
\ ling, but venture 10 predict that they will
y lnevsr get ak thousand men to GO because they
b have been drafted under the provisions of that
!. law am full Of hope for the future, because
believe that O Government that pasnea beyond
the legitimate bounds of LIE powerseo for from
endangering, permanently, the rights Of the
: Estates, simply endangers the rights ant
strength Of itself, and this lesson once Learned
lby all will result in a return to Just principles
The glory and strength Of o people must b,
1.-The hearts of a people. am convinced thu
the Union will be preserved, and the right
lof all the States maintained, because our op
lponsnts will be driven back from their as
:. lsumptlons By sheer necessity and cad expe
, Irience. believe that in less than one veal
their own experience will have taught then
that their theory shat the Govevnme ems must b.
lupheld by the exercise Of doubtful pc ers, mus
, he abandoned. There is but one way to main
tain Government, and that is by upholdinl
she M laws and the rights OF every Slate an
G, avery citizen. Many harsh words and uDjua
charees have been INDUCED by our opponent
towsrds myself, and perhaps / owe 1t 10 you
ssy that have never sought to embarrass th
Governmeut Traduced by its friends as l hav
hsen. have seen in It's many mistakes Feaso
!, In upbold II, and have sought to direct II
!, that courae which, Ito own honor as we'll as th
" onor Of the country clearly dictates. hav
aupoaled, with no sefsh or partisan object
IL View, to its frienda and its agents, whenever
opuortunity was presented, TO avoid the error
ipto whichi has fallen. Was! % nnlriendly
warn II Of those unfair provisions In the con
soription which were 90 plainly calculated
render Il Objectionable and odioua to the people
Who had the most interest In tho matter
Whose interest was 1t that the law should !.