Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-20
Gov. SeymouI's Letter to the Vail an dig
ham Meeting.

The following ia the letter Of Governor SEY
MoUR to the VALLAsDiaHAM meeting at Albany
N. Y, last Saturday night:
EXECUTIVE DEPARrMEsr, May I6
| can not attend the meeting at the C,pitol
this evening, but wish to state my opinion In
regard to toe arrest Of Mr.. Vallsndighsm. II
is sn act which has brought dishonor upon our
country. 1t is full of danger to our persons and
our homes. 1t bears upon lts front q conscious
vlolativn of Law and justice. Acting upon the
evidence of detailed informeis, shrinking from
the light of day, In the darkness of night,
armed men violated the house OF nm American
citizen ard furtively bore him away to military
trial, conducted without those safeguards known
TO the proceedings OF our judicial tribunals. -
The transaction involved series OF cffenses
against onr most sacred rights. 1t interfered
with the freedom of speech 1t molested cur
rights to be secure in our homes against unrea.
sonAble searches and seizures it pronounced
sentence without trial, gave one which was
mockery, which insulted 90 well as wronged
The perpetrators now seek to impose punish.
ment, not for an offence against Law but for the
cgard OF an Invalid order, put forth in the ut.
ter disregard OF the principles of civil liberty.
Ii this proceeding is approved by the Govern
ment, and sustained by the people, il lie not
merely a step toward revolution-it is revol1-
tion IL will not only lead TO military despot
ism--it establishes military despotism IN this
aspect 1t must be accepted or In this aspect re.
jeoted, II 1t is upheld, our liberties are over
thrown, ;he safety OF cur persona, security
Of our property will hereafter depend upon the
arbitrary will of such military rulers as may
be placed over US, while our constitutional guar
antses will be broken down. Even now the
Governors and courts of some OF the great
Western States have sunk into inaignifcance
before the despotic powers claimed and exer
cised BY military men who have been sent into
their borders. Ii Ia fearful thing TO increase
the danger which nov overhangs Us by treating
the law, the judiciary, and the State authori.
ties with contempt. The people Of this coun.
try nuw wait with the deepest anxiety the de-
cisions Of the Administration upan these acts
Having given it q generous support in the con.
DUCT OF The war, We pause to see what kind oi
Government IL ia for which We are asked to pour
out our blood and our treasures. The action Of
the Administration will determine In the minde
of more than one half OF the people Of the
loyal aies whether this war is waged to put
down rebellion Gt the South or destroy free ia-
Eti!utlons at the North. We look for ils de-
cision with mOst aoiemn tolicisEde.
(Sigred) HORATI0 SEYMOUR.
TIE resolutions adopted point to the devotion
shown by the Democrats during two years. o.
civil war, aud express determination to devot'
their energies to the cause Of the Union; de
nouuce the assumption OF military power In TIL
arrest Of Mr.. VABLASDroHAM; assert the righ
Of iiee discussion. They say that in the cleo
tion Of Mr.. SEYMOUR the people condemned th
system Of arbitrary arrests, and call upon th
Pfeslden; to restore Mr.. VALLaNDIoHAM to lib
erty They direct copy Of the resolutions t
be sent to the President, with the assurance o
the desire Of the meeting to support the Gov
eminent in every constitutional and laWfu
measure to suppress the rebellion.