The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-05-28
Letter Of GOV. Seymour to the al
hany Meeting.

ALBANY, May Il.
The following is the letter OF Coy Sey-
mour to the Failandigham meeting last
night:
FXEccrlyz DEPARTMENT. May l6. 1865.
| cannot attend the meeting at the Capi-
tol this evening, but wish 10 state my
opinion IN regard to the arrest OF Mr. Val
landigham. 1t is an act which has brought
dlshonot upon our country. 1t is full of
danger to our persons and our homes
1t bears upon It's font conscious viola
tion Of law ard justice
Actin; upon the evidence of detailed
iniormers, shrinking froln the l;ght of day.
in the darkness of night, armed men VIC
lated the home of an American citizen and
fartively bore him away to military trial,
conducted without those sa;eguards known
in the proceedings of our Judicial ,ribu
nais. The transaction involved a series
Of offences against cur most sacred rights.
1t interfered with the freedom Of spec h;
il violated our rights to be secure, in our
homes gainSt unreasonable searches and
seizures; it pronounced sentence without
trial, save one which was mockery,
which insulted as well as wrouged. The
perpetrators now seek to impose punish
ment. not for an offence against law but
for the disregard Of an invalid order. Put
forth in the utter disregard of the prin-
ciples OF civil liberty.
lfthis proceeding is approved By the
government, and sanctioned By the people,
il is not merely step toward revolution;
it will not only lead to military despotism,
it establishes military dcspotism.-
In this aspect it must be accepted,
ed, or in this aspect re- jec;ed. Ii il is up
held our liberties are overthrown; the safe
ty of our persons; security Of oar proper
ty will hereafter depend upon the arbilra-
ry will of such military rulers as may be
placed over u. while our constitutional
guarantees will be broken down.
Even now the Governors and courts of
some of the great western States have
sunk into insignifcance before the despo-
tic POWERS claimed and exerci cd By mill
tar7 nca who have been sent into their
borders. 1t is fearful thing to Increase
the dsnger which now cverhangs us by
treating the lev, the judiciary. and the
State authorities with contempt.
The people Of this country now wait
with the deepest anxiety the decisions Of
the administrator upon these acts. Hav
ing given it a generous support IN the con
duet oil the war. We pause TO see what kind
Of government it is Tor which we are asked
to poor out our blood and our treasures.
The action of the administration will de
esmine in tie minds Of more than one
half Of the people Of the loyal State,
y heiher the war is wagei to pu. down re-
hcllion at the South, or destroy free insti-
.u.inns at the North. We look for itS de-
:ision with mos. solemn solicitude.
IIoRArIo SEYNcUR.
The resolutions adopted claim that the
democrats have devoted during the TWO
years Of civil war. and express a deierm;-
nation to devote their energies TO The cause
IF the Union; denounce the assumption Of
military power in the arrest of Mr. Val
andgham. and assert the right Of free
discussion. They say that in the eiecl!oa
If Mr.. Sey mour the people condemned
he system of arbitrary arrests, and call
lpon the President to restore Mr. Nalland I
CHAM to liberty. They direct copy OF
he resolutions to be sen, to the President,
With the assurance of the desire Of the
meeting to support the government in eve
Y constitutional and lawful measure TO
uppress 5 the rebellion.