East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-01-13
: Message of Governor Seymour.


We give 80 much of Gov Seymour's
message as relates to national affairs !;
The past year has been crowded
with events, both civil and military, of
the gravest interest The establish
ment of a National Bank system !;
the issue Of enormous amounts of pa
per money, which is made a legal ten
der; the adoption of a law for coerced
military service; the act indemnifying
and shielding officials charged with
oflenses against the persons and prop
erty of citizens; the suspension of the
writ of haJeas corpus in peaceful and
loyal communities, are measures which
60 far toward destroying the rights of
states and centralizing all power at
the national capital.
The executive and military officials
assume to declare martial law and to
arrest citizens where tho courts are in
undisturbed operation, to try them by
mility tribunals, and to impose pun
ishments unknown to the customs of
our country; to administer arbitrary
test oaths; to interfere with the free
dom of the press, and with state and
local elections by military DEGREES and
the display of armed power.
The President claims the right to do
acts beyond his civil jurisdiction, and
beyoud the Legislative power of Con-
gress, by virtue of his sposition as Com
mander-in-Chief In this assumption
he is sustaided by both branches of
Congress, and by a large share of the
people of the country: These pro-
ceedings of Congress and the action of
the executive and military officials
have wrought revolution. The civil
power, the laws of states and the judi
cary have been made subordinate to
n,il;tary on+ha,.;ty A. th;s t;n,e, uAs-,
we are living under a military govern
ment; which claims that its highest
prerogatives spring from martial law
and military necessities. These acts
have been sustained by the army and
acquiescod in by the people. This
revolution if permanently accepted
must be recognized as an overthrow
of established and cherished principles
of government. Hereafter it will force
itself upon the attention of the Amer
lean people, who will then sec and
feel its nature and results. To their
decision in calmer hours this subject
must be referred.
If these measures of military, polit-
ical and financial consolidation break
down, their failure will show the wis
dom of the Constitution in withhold
ing from the general government pow
ers it cannot exercise wisely and well !;
and it will establish the rights of
states upon basis firm and undispu-
ted, and will make the general gov
ernment strong by confning it to its
proper jurisdiition. In the end we
shall return to the principles from
which we have been drifting.
In the meanwhile we are threaten
ed with other calamnities which de-
mand our immediate attention. The
rights of the people and the restraints
of the Constitution can be ro-asserted
whenever the public shall demand
their restoration, but it is beyond the
power of the popular will to rescue us
from the calamnities of national bank
ruptcy or national ruin, when these
have befallon us. The progress OF
events has brought us to apoint where
we are compelled to contemplate these
calamnities and to consider how they
may be averted.
While it is duty to state plainy
my views about public affairs, shall
do so in no spirit of controversy or Of
disrcspect for the opinions of those
who differ from me. The questions
of the day are beyond the grasp of
any mind to comprehend i'll their in
fluences or results. We see them
from different stand-points, and we
reach conflicting conclusions. None
but the ignorant the bigoted or the
designing will make these differences
of views occasion for reproach or con.
tumely. The times demand outspoken
discussions. When We sec good and
earnest mon, under the influence of
some absorbing sentiment, overlooking
the great principles of good govern
ment, trampling upon usages and pro-
cedures which have grown up with
the history of liberty in the civilized
world, we are warned that none of us
can claim to be above the influence of
passions or of prejudices. While do
not agree with those upon the one
hand who insist upon an uncondition-
al peace, or with those, upon the 9TH
or extreme, who would use only un-
qualified force in putting down this
rebellion, / demand for them what L
ask for those who concur i'll the views
which / present, fair, dispassionate
and respectful hearing. Let not the
perils of our country be increased by
bigotry, by partisan passions, or 10y an
unwillingness to allow opinions to be
uttered in forms and modes iii accord
ance with the usages of our people
and the spirit of our laws.
Since the outset of tho war the ma
tional administration has asked for
nearly two millions of men. 10 keep
up our armies, the average annual
calls have been more than 100000
men.
In addition to the loss of life, there
has been diversion of labor from
peaceful and productive occupations to
war, which destroys the accumulated
wealth of the country.
The Secretary of the Treasury states
the national debt will be sixteen hun
dred millions in July next. This does
not include unascertained dcmands.--
In our former wars these latent claims
have nearly doubled the liabilities
supposed to exist during their prog
ress. If the war should cease to-day,
the National indebtedness could not
fall short of two thousand millions OF
dollars. To this must be added the
III. q a.. a.. IL f.kxx4 y.