Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-05-30
NO. 4.
GOV. SEYMOUR'S VALLANs
DIGHAM LETTER..
STATE OF NEW YORK, ExEcUIvE DEp'r
ALBANY. Nav 1e. 1sS9

ALBANY, May le, 1888.
1cannot attend the meeting at the Cap.
ito! this evening, but wish to state my
opinion in regard the arrest Of Mr..
Valandigham.
| 1t is an act which has brought dishd-
| or upon our country; it is full of danger
to our persons and to our homes; it bears
upon its front n conscious violation of law
aud of Justice. Acting upon the evidence
of detailed inforlners, shrinking from tbs
light of day IL the darkness of night,
armed men violated the home of Ameri-
can citizen, and furtvey bore him away
to military trial conducted without
those safeguards known in the proceed.
ings of our judicial tribunals.
Tho transaction involcd series of Of
1 fences against our most sarcd rights. 1t
interfered with The feedom of speech; It
violated cur rights to be secure III our
homes against unreasonable searches and
seizures; it pronounced sentence without
a trial, save one which was q mockerv,
which insulted as well as wronged. The
perpetrators now seek to impose punish
ment, not for an offence again law, but
for disregard of an invalid order, put
forth in an utter disregard ofprinciples
of civil liberty. If this proceeding is APP
proved by the Government and sanctioned
by the people, it is not merely a step to-
wards revolution, it is revolution; it will
not only lead to military despotism, it es.
tablishes military despotism. In this as.
pect it must be accepted, or in this as
pect it must be rejected.
If it is upheld, our liberties arc over
thrown. The safety of our persons, the
security of our property will hereafter de-
pend upon the arbitrary wills of such MIL
itaIy rulers as may be placed ever us,
Willie our constitutional gnarantieswill be
broken down. Even now the Governors
and Courts Of some Of the great Western
States have sunk into insignihcanco before
the despotc powers claimed and exercised
by military men who have been sent into
their borders. 1t is a fearful thing to in
crease the danger which now overhangs
us, by treating the law, the judiciary and
the authorities of States with contempt
The people OF this country now wait with
the deepest anxiety the decisions of tho
Administration upon these acts. Having
gave It a generous support in the conduct
of the war, ace non pause to see what kind
of Government it is for which we are
asked to pour out our blood and our treas
ures.
The action of the administration will
determine in the minds of more than ono
half of the people of the loyal States
whether this war is waged to put do,un
rebellion at tho South, or to destroy free
institutions at the North. We look for
its decision with the most solemn solicit
tude.
HoRATIC SEYMOUR.
To Peter Cagger, Solomon F. Higgins
Erastus Corning, Jr., Committee.
The Albany Journal, paper that has
treated Gov. SEYMOUR with much moro
leience than he deserves, Is constrained
to protest against the infamous natue Of
this letter. Its language, though mild,
conveys just and severe rebuke. 1t
says: This is not the language of un--
conditional patriotism; for it makes a sup.
port of the Government and a prosecution
Of the war for the suppression of the re-
belIIon contingent upon the decision of All
individual. Whether the President shall
act wisely or unwiselv in this case of
VALLANDIGHAM, cannot affec. the question
of the restoration of tia Union. In AS
Stunning that it will, GOV. SEYMOUR reveals
more of the partizan than the patriot, and
insults the common sense as well rs the
loyalty Of the people. He, and those who
think with him, may pause whilo the
bloody hand of rebellion is at the throat
of the nation, but they will pause alone.
The loyal people will know no pause I'M
til the rebellion is put down and the I'm
ion restored.
"But His ExceIlency net only 'pauses'
but threatens. If VALLANDIGMAM, tho
confrere of BRECKENRIDGE, and the pirnp
and pet of the whole tribe of traitors, is
not released, them, according to Gov.
SEYMOUR, the war will be deemed war
to destroy free institutions at the North.
and. that event, of course, the war will
be opposed Thus, His Excellcucy makes
the fate of the Union hang upon the
decision Of the President in the cause of
VALANDIGHAM. This is neither States
manship nor Patriotism. If the Presi-
dent shall do wrong in that or any other
case, tho more need to push the war to
right conoueiou, that be may the more
speedily and the more certainly be punish
ed.
| awe trust that the Govornor ;s mara
loyal than logical; and that be will re-
consider his purpose to pause and re-
solve to support the war for the restora-
ton of the Union, irrespective of contin.
gencies, and regardless of the wisdom or
folly of any man.
- A cnrraSrondant &c tlo Me-. y 4.