Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-01-17
Ohio 6tatesnrart
GOVERNOR sEYMoUR,s MESSAGE.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.

NATIONAL ATFAIRe. '''t
We meet under circumstances of unusua
soemnity, to legialate for the honor, the inter
est and the protection of the people Of the STATE
Of New York The oath which we have taker
to support the Constitution ofthe United States
and the Constitution Of the State of New York
to perform our duties with fidelity, has at thit
time peculiar Significance. Il teaches us tc
look upon each Of these constitutions as equals
sacred; that each Is to be upheld In its respec.
tive Jurisdiction. At this time the power Of
the one is openly defed by armed rebellion
while the other Is endangered by the confusion
and dscord growing out Of civil war. This
act, declaration, or test is not a mere ceremo.
nial. IL lie part Of the teaure of the Offices
we hold. Until we have thus solemnly sub
mi.ted ourselves to the command of these In
surgents, giving up our personal views and opin-
ions; and pledging ourselves 10 obey their re.
quirements, we are not permitted TO perform
one official act. st Az.
The Constitution makes it my duty to com.
municate to you the condition of the State. /
cannot do this without speaking of our Union
and Of the war which afilcta our country, and
which also Affects tho extended comm erce
of New York; taxes all lie pursuits; has taken
more than two hundred thousand men from our
workshops and fields; and has carried mournine q
into the homes Of our citizens. The genius Of
our government and the interest Of our people
demand that the aspects Of the war should be
discussed with entire freedom. Notonly is the
national life at stake, but every personal, every
family, every sacred interest 10 involved. We
must grapple with the great question of the day !;
We must confront the dangers Of our posi ion. !.
The truths Of financial and military situations
mus. not be kept back. There mus be no at
tempt to put down the full expression Of public
opinion IL must be kloWn and needed, TO en-
able the government to manage public sffslrs
with success. There Is a yearniDg desire
among our people to learn their actual condi
tion. They demand free discussion. They
should be connected In on earnest, thoughtful,
patriotic spirit The eolemnlty OF the occa.
sion, and the suferlngs Of the war, should re-
vive the virtue, the Intelligence and the patri-
otism Of the American people. The decay Of
these have brought our calamities upon us.
There are now no causes for disocrd that have
not always existed 10 our cozluy, and Wsioh
we're not felt by our fathers in forming the
Union. They had the greatness, the magma.
nimity and virtue TO compromise aud 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 we're in the full enjoyment of Its blessings.
We became ignorant Of the character and re.
sources Of ourosn countrymen, while we had the
full benefit of an untrammeled commerce with
all sections of our land. Itwas then the world
was astcnished with tho power and wealth
growing out of our national Union, the sec.
tional prejudices and passions were active Ia
destroying frsternal affections and generous
love Of our country. While we boosted moot
of our intelligence there were those persistent
ly and laboriously engaged, through the press
and In legislative halls, 10 teaching the people
Of the North and the South 20 undervalue and
despise each other. Hostile legislation and
| the division of our churches impaired religious
and social intercourse. If the North and the
South had understood the power and purpose Of
eaoh other, our contentious would have been
adjusted. This misreprehension, 80 bloody
and terrible In Its effects, was systematically
aud laboriously incplcated.. ......la.
.s' oAusEs OF THE WAR. 5l .a,1.
Afftighted at the ruin they have wrought, the
authors of our calamities AZ the North and
South insist that this war was caused by an un-
avoidable conteat about slavery. This has been
the subject, not the cause of controversy, We
are to look for the causes Of this war Ia per.
vading disregard Of the obligations Of laws and
constitutions; 10 disrespect for constituted au-
dices which have grown up In two portions of
country, whose remote positions have made
them less well informed, and whose interests
have made them less considerato, with regard
to the condition and character of our whole peo-
pie, than those living In the great central and
w estern sections Of our Union. There Ia no
honest statement Of our difficulties which does
not teach that our people must reform them.
selves, rs we'll as the conduct Of the govern!
ment and the policy of our rulers. There ID
not calamity We are suffering which wa. not
clearly foretold by our fasherr, as the result Of
the passions and local pfejudices which have
grown up during the past fifteen yesrs, -55.55
It is not too late to save our country II we
will enter upon the sacred duty In the righs
spirit and In the right way. When We do 50,
the effect will be seen and felt throughout our
lend and BY the civilized world, Weshall then
strengthen our government; We shalt weaken
tl,e rebellion; we ehall unite our people; and
the world will recognize our capacity for self
government when We show that we are capable
of self reform. Az % ttlsSH
RESPECT roR LAWS AND RULERS. IN
In The first place We must emulate the con-
duct of cur fathers, and show obedience to con.
stituted authorities, and respect for legal and
constitutional obligations, uThe very ideA Of
| the power and right Of the people to establish
government presupposes the duty Of every indi-
1 vidual to obey the established government. ~
Yet spirit Of dlsobedience has eapped the
foundations of municipal, . State, and national
authority in every part of our land. It Is not
only the underlying and pervading cause Of the
war; it is also the immediate occasion Of our
calamities. rrvl7A Hg agA9LlITH99
When the leaders of the insurrection OF the
extreme South say that free and slave States
cannot exist together 10 the UOion, and when
this is echoed from the extreme North by the
enemies Of our Constitution, both parties elm
ply say they cannot, becausei they will not
respect the laws and the Consultation. sfThi.
spirit of disloyalty must be put down; ~ Il
is inconsistent with all social order and 60
'cial security; with safety of persons and prop.
esty. .i "a . bss@alog ., y iA5 as1shI.s Y
10 order to uphold our government itis also
a, Scessary that We should show respect toiths
an ,thority of our rulers. While acting within
tha limits of their jurisdictions, and represent,
Ing the interests, the honor, and the dignity Of
onr people, they are entitled to deferences--
Wha, % Is is their right TO decide uroH measures
aa d po rlicy, tits our duty TO obey and TO give
ready 8, Ipport to their decisons. This isa vital
maxim Of liberty. Without this loyalty nc
eoyerpms nt can conduct public affairs with sue
sesa. no ne ople can be safe in the enjoyment ol
their right g. This, duty 10 peculiarly strong
under our aysteni, which givesethe people chs
rlI ~ :, alaotona IN Rfk In Ind 0ru ant rnnf