Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-21

SPEECH OF GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, OF NEW YoRK,
BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION
AT ALBANY, ON THE 9TH INST

AT ALBANY, ON THE 9TH INST.
Mr. CHAIRMAN: Three years have passed since
you and others, whom / see before me to night
assembled in this ball for the purpose of trying
to avert the war which now af1cis the land We
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
were Knocked. and we were told that we were not
true to the Union. How sad has been the inter
vening periodl How many of the young men of
the country have heen carried to bloody gravesi
Eow much mourning is spread over the landl
What agony and distressl We met again when
the had been brought to another of its stages,
and once more we appealed TO our Republican
friends to join us in effort to the country.
Applause Then too our appeals were in vain.
But will not dwell on the darker side OF the
picture, Sad as has been our history. some good
has resulted from it, for we have learned to value
our rights and to appreciate the inestimable
worth o. onr Institutions; and those who stigma
tized US as Union savers are now glad 10 talk of
maintaining the Union and the supremacy of the
Constitution For this am grateful although
our petitions might have been received more gra
ciously. At Syracuse few days ago they re-
solved to uphold the Union. This | accept as
good omen although coupled with words harsh
welcome this promise on their part; am not
without hope as to the future The war has
tanght all men the high duty of maintaining the
Constitution; for that. and that only, will result
in establishing the Union upon frmer basis,
and the rights of the States upon settled foun
dation.
know that the acts of the last Congress orr
ginating In error and baneful i'm their Influences
aS many of them have been, alarmed the land
They sought the ceniraizitiOn of power But
have never doubted the result; for those very
measures are to overthrow their theories of gov
ernment Ii will be found that the measures
adopted to enlarge and centralize the powers of
the General Government cannot. in the end, re
strain the rights of the States The States are
the natural sources of power of the General Gov
ernment. and, although put down. they will rise
again Our fathers saw fhst If the Government
attempted the exercise of powers other and
greater than those secured to il under the Con-
sfitution il would imperil and destroy itself Let
us see IL they were right few months ago the
Government adopted measures relative to the
currency, to indemnify. and cOnnScatiOn. and also
to the conscripton act, if may be allowed to so
term It, lApplause | haveyko views. no sc
crets no correspondence, whichI have not sub
mitted most cheerfu'ly tn public scrutiny.
there expressed the upinion that when the confis
which threatens the integrity of the States and
trenches upon the personal rights. opposed MS it
is to the genius of free governmental then
said that when they entered upon its enforcement
they would be baffied. because il was inconsistent
with the nature of our Government. One year
ago the people had voluntarily given one million
of men and had poured forth their treasure in un-
exampled profusion for the prosecution of the
war. Every school district, every township. con
tributed men and means without stint. Whyi
Because called upon by the Government? Rather
because prompted by the viii of the people. Our
Government were armed with military power
unequaled by any other nation. but forgetting
that its strength depends upon the popular will
they pursued course inconsistent with the ma
ture of our institutions. We made the issue with
them at that very time when they had at their
command the largest military force on the globe
and we beat them In those acts which they
supposed we're calculated TO strengthen them
and perhaps weaken localities. thev failed One
year ago our State gave 100 900 men to the war
and New York city contributed most literally il
men and money at the same time. How is il
now7 Do men 60 as cheerfully now as them
No That Government around which one million
of men so cheerfully rallied now finds il neces
sary to use its utmost power to drag a few thou
sand into the field Is his strength or weaknessi
success or fniluref The State of New York
since the first of last January has raised upwards
of twelve thousand volunteers. which is more
than twice the number that will ever ne carried
out Of the State by the canscriptiou I don't say
how many NAV go substitutes, for that is equiv.
alent 10 volunteering: bat venture to predic
that they will never get six thousand to &c
because thev have been drafted under the pro
visions of that law.
am full OF hope for the future. because be
lieve that Government that passes beyond tn,
bounds of its power. so far from endangerine
permanently the rights of the Staies. simply en-
dangers the rights and strength of ITSELF and THU
lesson. once learned by all men. will result in
return TO just principles. The glory and strength
of people must be the hearts OF peolle
am convinced that the Union will be preserved
| and the rights of all the States maintained, be
cause our opponents will be driven back from
their assumptions by sheer necessity and sad ex
perience. | believe that in less than one yea
their own experience will have taught them tba
their theorr--that the Government must be up
held by the exercise OF doubtful powers. mus, b,
abandoned There is but one wiy 10 maintain
Government, and that * hy nphol'Iing the law,
and rights of ever, State and every citizen.
MANY harsh words and unjust charges have
been INDUCED in by our opponents toward myself
and perhaps owe it to yon to say that have
never sought to embarrass the Government. Ira
duced as have been, have seen in ITS man,
mistakes reason TO uphold il. and have sought 4
direct il in that course whirh it, own honor, Al
well a. the honor ol the country clearly dictates
| | have appealed with no selfish or partisan OBJ
| iect in view to It's friends and agents. when
| ever an opportunity presented, to avoit
the errors into which it has fallen. Was
unfrlendly to warn it of those unfair proris
ions in the conscription. which were so plainl
calculated to render it objectionable and obi
Gus to the people? Who had the most interes
| in the mattera Whose interest was it that tn
law should ne enforced in the farest and mos
unobiectionabe mannerg Should anything hav,
been more grateful TO them than TO try 70 render
the enforcement of this law, objectionable as il i
at hest, as little obnoxious as posslblel When il
| July last discovered some inequalities OF tn,
| enrolment, deemed il nv duty to the peopl
| and the Government TO call its attention to them
with view to their correction, they surely wer,
most interested i'm having it fairly carried out. Il
| he not their truest friend who, when the attemp
| is made to enforce such law, seeks to render !
least objectionable to popular supportf To thi
end sent agents TO Washington to represen
its unequalness and unfa'rness. At late
day 1 sent communication to the Presiden
appealing to him to save our country from th'
| in1iction o. these wrongs. This appeal wal
made as we'll for the sake Of the Government a
of the people, and yet this act is stgmatised, ans
the publication of those letters was alluded TO a
calculated to arouse public resistance VIII,
| then did they publish the lettersf have neve
published any of them. not only wrote to thi
effect to the President but to the commander o
tie Northeastern District. There two othe
letters which have not been published Laugh
ter But Of this do not complain; although
they were neither official. nor private. conf
dental. addressed letter to Mr.. Lincoln. il
which informed him that had discovered gros
frauds in the operation Of the law; that. although
politically opposed TO his Administrat ton, wa
in this guided only by regard for our country
aud that wished to aid in saving the country