Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-09


.
speech OF GOV. Seymour-DeIivered
Before G,OOO People at Buffalo, on
Monday, Oct. 2s, 1864. 81
sincerely regret that Gov. Bramlette Is not
here to night to speak to you. wished you to
learn from the lips of patriot of Kentucky that
the language Of those who love and mean - up
hold the Constitution, aud intend 10 preserve the
Union, is alike. uttered by men from the North
or the South, from the East or the West. You
would have found that that distinguished man.
uhO lives in a community particularly affected
by the war Ia which we are engaged, and who
has stood up with Others abreast OF the tide of
secession, was in full accord and sympathy with
Us who meet here to night to utter words which
we hope may be calculated 10 preserve that Union
of our land which we have so much at heart
Cheers In his absence | will address you
briefly in regard to the great questions of the
day Our hand is afflicted with civil war of
proportions upexampled in the history OF the
world. The flame of great couhagration is
tapping uD the blood of our citzeus i destroying
the property OF our citizens; is carving mourn
ing and death into our homes, and threatens the
very fabric of our Union. Under circumstances
like these nv friends, when we assemble tOgeth
er, we ought to come up with an honest purpose
to take that course at the coming election which
shall be calculated to advance our country's
gOOd--tO make our nation once again what it Was
a few wears since-the envy. and admiration of
the whole world Applause Unfortunately,
at times like these, when so much Is at stake
and when there is every reason why men should
be calm, dispassiOnate, thoughtful aud patriotic.
we are all toe. prone to give way to passion aud
prejudice. You hear from some querters only
the language of denunciation. of abuse; appeals
to passion, where there should be arguments ad
dressed to our cOnsciences and our convictions of
duty. Let Us meet the questions we are to dis
cuss to night with an anxious purpose to discover
where the right is, and, having succeeded in that,
boldly, manfully. patriotcalIy, to sustain and
maintain it, [Cheers.] Now. in the discussions
which are going on in this country, there Ger
tain points upon which all men are agreed. Let
Us at the outset ascertain what they are. so that
we NAV more clearly understand the nature of
the disagreemeEts which exist among u.s. All
men agree in this-if this war is prolonged for
certain psriOd of time. with continually in
creasing debt, that there must come time when
il will reach an amount that will Overwhelm Us
with NATIONAL bankruptcy. Men may not agree
as to what that sum may be-one may say two
thousand millions, another three thousand mil
lions, and perhaps more sangune man still may
fix the amount at four thousand millions: but
there is no man who does not agree that there is
an amount of public Indebtedness which, ii fast
upon ened Us, must bring upon the calamity
and disgrace of national bankruptcy.
There is another point OF agreement There
is no man who does not admit that if this war
continues on tor a certain period, it must over
whelm us with national ruin. Then here are two
points on which, although we may differ as to
amOuntOr time, we essentially agree-two events
that all admit must bring upon us individual and
national ruin All agree that we must bring this
war to a successful issue before have been
overwhelmed by these national evils. We agree,
tOO that the exgency is so great and the peril so
imminent that are bound to put forth every
exertion TO save our country from those ealami-
ties which lie in our pathway, as soon as may be
We say to our opponents, We are ready with you
to put forth every effort OF physical power-we
consecrate ourselves and all tn we have for the
salvation and perpetuation of our country. In
all sOemity saw It, with heart full of love for
my country; with desire to sacrifice anything
and everything for its preservation and its happ-
ness-with all solemnty say it, that here again,
as we have heretofore done, do we delicate our
selves TO this most holy aud patriotic work of sa
wing this fair land of ours from ruin and disinte
grafton. Now in this we are agreed. Where,
then, commences the point OF divergencel
Where do our footways branch eft from each
otherf We 90 farther than they, and agree to
add one further influence against rebeliOn-that
of Cancellation. Great cheers We desire to
can stand, so that shall present one undivided
and unbroken front We will not only bring all
the powers of force against the rebellion, but we
will do more than that-we will carry disunOn
into lis ranks by extending to them in this hour
when victory has crowned Us, and when it is great
and magnanimOus so to do, every inducement
that honest and honorable men can offer to them
TO return to the Union. [Cheer, In this we
differ. from our political opponents-we do not
of,. uUf opa loaa III flaov.
we propose to bring to bear those influences which
the history OF the world. your own good judg
nert, everything, teaches you is essential 20 bring
TO successful termination any contest whether
between individuals nations. Cheers We
feel that upon this point, therefore we hold higher
ground than is held by those who stigmatlze US as
being untrue to country. Why do they stig-
matize US rfius7 They would hardly make that
Imputation against the hundreds and thousands
who have gone forth from the Democratic ranks
to battle for the dag of the Union. [Great cheer
ing1 Why thenl Is il because we willing
not only 70 sustain soldiers in the field, to
sacrifice property and life, but that we say that,
more than this, we will sacrifice upon the altar Of
our country our pride and passions, when pride
andpassion stand in the way of success. [Cheers
But this is not the only point OF difference Who
will not concede that unless there is energy,
more skill. more judgment exhibited than has
heretofore marked the progress OF this war, we
are coming 70 certain destruction?
A man may float along the beautiful river that
runs by your city. in safety for time; but il be
continues, day-after day, TO float idly along, and
allows the time to pass By when he can reach the
margin in safety, ne will fad himself at last 10
sight Of that mighty cataract whose name is ia
NOUS throughout the world. and will find himself
within the swift vortex OF its waters which will
overwhelm him in utter destruction. SO with
our nation, unless we put forth every exertion
not only Of material power but Of wise states
mansbip Of Christian consideration. Of patriotic
sacrifice Of passion and prejudice, we too shall
find, slasi too late that the period is past when
weican rescue ourselves from the dangers that lie
in our course. Cheers
That party is most true 10 the country whlc
proposes to wage this war for purposes which are
affainabie, which are within reach. On the other
hand that party does the most to endanger our
iusnre and bring us to destruction which opposes
new and greater obstacles to the successful ter
mination Of the war. Now ask you to listen
for moment while state to you the attitude ol
the tso great parties upon this subject We say
on our part that we wage this war for the pur-
pose ofrestoring the Union, for the purpose ol
uphoiding our Constitution. and Of maintaining
and defepding those personal, home, hearthstone
rights OF the citizens which are guaranteed in
that Constitution. These certainly are objects