Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-26
THE NEWSPAPERS SUPPRESSION IN NEW yopv

Inc following is copy Of the letter from Governor
SEYMOUR, of New York, to the States ATTORNEY for thu
county York which has been to in the tegra
phc Columns of of the newspapers 1t drscs the Dis
rct Attorney to investigate sad if need be- TO prosscut
all concerned m the recent seizure of The World and
the Journal of Commerce:
STATE OF NEW YORK.
To A. OAKEY HALL, Esq
District Attorney Of the County of New York
SIR am advised that on the 10Th instant the Office Of
the Journal of Commerce and that of the New York or
entered by armed men, the property Of ha o,nar
seized and The premises held by force for several davs
charged that these acts of violence were done with
out due legal process and without the sanction of Sat
or National lave If this be- true the offenders must ba
punished. ~ "
In the month Of July last, when New York was scene
OF volencel that the laws of the state mnt
De enforced its peace and order mananed and the
pery OF ITS citizens protected at every hazard The laws
were enforced at q fearful cost of blood and life.
Inc declaration then made was not intended mera,v
or that occa'on or against any class of men II il ons
OF an enduring character to be asserted at all times And
al conditions of citizens without favor or dstnc
uon Unless all are made to bow to the law il will he re
spected by none. Unless all made secure in their
rights oil person and property be- protected If
Inc owners oil the aoovenamed Journals have violated State
or Nhtona laws they must be proceeded sqanst and puD
shed by those laws Amy action against them outside Of
legal procedures is criminal At this time of civil war
and disorder the majesty of the law be upheld or
society Will sink into anarchy Our soldiers in the field
VIII battle in vain for constitutional liberty f persona or
property or opinions are trampled upon at home We
must not give up home freedom and thus disgrace the
American character while eitixens in the army ara
pouring out their blood to maintain the national honor
They must not ad when they back that their por
| sonal and freside rights have been despoiled
In addition to the general to enforce the ws
OF The land there local reasons why they mus he mn,
held in the city Of New York If they are not ia COM
merce and greatness will be broker down IL tb .snt
OF wealth. business and enterprise thrown into dsodsr
and bankruptcy the National Government will be nara
zed What makes New York the heart of our country
" ri Ita naafIn Aalts IL
Not through ts position alone because of the world
wide belief that property is safs within it's limits from
waste by MODS aud from ssolation by Government.
Ihe laborers IN the workshop, the mine, and in the
ned on this continent and in every other part of the
globe, send to lbs merchant for sale exchange the
products OF their toll These merchants are made the
trustees of the wealth Of millions living every land be-
cause it s believed that in their hands property il safe
under the shield Of laws upon prnope and
according TO known u'age- This great confidence has
grown in the of many yesrs by virs OF pains
taking honest performance duty by tbs business men
of your city la this they been aided by the en-
orcement OF lava based upon the solemnly recorded
pledges that the right OF the people 10 be n
persons houses papers, and effects against
searches and seizures shall be violated and that no
one shall be deprived Of liberty or property without due
process of law"
For more than eighty years have we as people been
building up this universal faith in the sancity iuris
prudence lt is this witch carries our comercs unon
every ocean and brings back to merchants wealth
OF every cline 1t is charged that in disregard
oil the srnsveness OF that faith at when national
organs
are seized and held in violation of constitutional pedges
that this act done in public mart c your great city
aud was thus forced upon the notice Of the
agents OF the world and they shown in offensive
way that property seized BY military force and arbitrary
ORDERS.
These things hurful to the national honor and
strength than the loss Of battles The world will confound
such acts with the principles Of Government aud the
folly and crimes Of officials will be looked upon as the
natural reuts OF the t Of institutions Our State
AID local authorities must repe this inference III
the merchants of New York not willing to have their
habor sealed and their paray zed they must
unite in this demand for the security of persons and pro-
pery IL this s not done, hs world will withdraw from
their keeping its treasures aud its History
taught all that oca violation Of law of civil war
sud disorder before acts Of sposon and other
sures which destroy the safeguards of commerce
call upon you to look into the facts connected with
the seizure of the Journal Of Commerce and OF the New
York World If these illegal, the ofsuders
must be punished 10 making your Inquiries and prose-
cutting the parties implicated, you will call npon the
sheriff Of the county and tho heads Of the police depart
mpnt for any needed force assistance The faluro to
give this by any official under my control will be deemed
a sufficient tor his removal.
Very respectfully, yours, DC
HORArIo SEYMOUR. =