Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-09-12
THE ISSUES or THE CAMPAIGN.
Speech Of Gov. Seymour at Mil
waukee, Sept. /, 1864.

Governor Seymour said IL fear that nv bro
kea voice will not allow me 70 address you as
would uish. have come from an assemblage
the most remarkable that ever met ia this coun-
tfY OF ouTs-sn assemblage which was marked
not alone OF its enthusiasm and the vassuess Of
us numbers, but also by its patriotic desire TO re-
store peace to our distracted country and 10 pre-
its liberty and it, union II IS in the spirit
Of that convection that / would address few
words to you know that am animated bY no
selfish or merely partisan desire 10 influence your
judgment, / have experienced too frequently
the Inequalities and eourtesies of those who differ
with me here ia Mlvaukee, TO question the pu-
rity of their motives. Three years ago passed
through this city and had occasion to address you
ct tha; crisis in our public affairs. Ii little
time after the public mind Was aroused by the
attack on Fort Sumter. l had hoped that a
spirit OF compromise and Cancellation might pre-
vent the shedding Of blood Failing in the East
% secure the adoption of measures TO this end.
turned my face to the West. ! addressed NV
cell not only to those of my own political faith,
bat also those Who differed from me. / hoped
that ,he great West would take a position that
would stop the flow OF blood. The rapid increase
ofyour population had increased your representa-
tive power in Congress Had not Fort Sumter
been fred upon. the West might have stepped ia
aud distinguished the 6rst exercise OF Der aug
mented power Ly the enactment of measures for
the preservation Of peace Three years has pass
ed away since then stood near this spot. Then.
seveniy.hve thousand men had been called for
by the federal government IL was believed to
be an e1ravagant call. looked upon it other
wise feared We did not appreciate the mag.
nitudo OF the contest Men OF all parties. actu-
s,ed by spirit Of patriotism. responded 10 the
demand 1t was promised that peace should be
restored in less than ninety days. Three years
have rolled away. The young men that respond
ed TO that cal-Shere are they More than FIVE
hundred thousand of our brave soldiers now sleep
in their untimely graves. Look at the debt !
An immense debt lover two thousand million
of dollars-by the accounts Of the government
itself
Over two millions Of men have been called for
since that tire 10 bear arms IN the struggle
Five hundred thousand more are 10 day being
called for. The nation Is crushed down with
taxation, and the war not ended. A point OF
time has arrived when Ii 10 the constitutional du.
", az well as the constitutional right. OF every
American citizen TO inquire whether it 10 for she
public interest to continue the war, and TO ait in
judgment upon the conduct OF the Federal Ad-
ministration. That duty We cannot escape. That
duty we must meet in spirit of patriotism, OF
candor. and honesty: we must meet il boldly
denounce this Administration for casual acts OF
wrong. ! would not condemn it because its
members have erred in judgment But ! de-
nOunce IL because believe il has entered apon a
| settled policy dangerous TO the welfare of our
country. Looking a, its policy in that light, it
is my duty 10 denounce il freely and boldly
Why is that Administration now compelled 10
make new demand upon usl IL proposes to
put down the rebellion by two powers-the pow
er OF policy and the power Of the army. That
il has failed is not the fault of tho army. All
over our country, by the banks of our rivers
and along our sea shores, the multtudes of new
made graves attest its devotion. There is no
man who will stand up and denonnce the con
duct or courage of our soldiers. The lines Of
our marches toward Atlanta and Richmond are
paved with their bodies. In the history OF the
world there has never been more deadly con-
hict wsgei By valiant men than during the pre-
sent summer Ii would be libel upon our army
to assert that il has not done all and more than
ALL too. that has been expected of them. Why
is is, then, that We have not succeeded Turn
ing from the consideration of the military power.
let Us observe the policy of the government.
To-day our forces compass the mouth of the
Mississippi, are present in the harbor OF Charles
ton, and are struggling for the possession OF
Georgia under Sherman. But let me tell you
also that today IL requires more men to hold in
the Union the three States Of Missouri, Ken
lucky, aud Maryland. than the whole number
originally called Tor 10 suppress the rebellion.
In the beginning, these States repudiated seces-
sion Three years ago the North responded with
unaninity to the calls Of the government
When. on my return from the west at that time,
the people OF Chicago. like the people of Nil.
waukee. were animated by spirit of unsnimity
and patriotism.
What do We see nowi The government has
so little confidence in the people that. by All Off
cia order just Issued, 10 denies TO the peoplc OF
Illinois. Ohio, Indiana and Michigan one Of the
sacred rights Of every American citizen. The
governments has so little confidence in the Pile
OF these States that fears TO trust them with the
privilege Of bearing arms. The Constitution de
clares that this right shall not be infrnged. Our
fathers believed it necessary for the protection OF
the people from the encr0schmenis OF arbitrary
power. You are told that the people of these
States cannot be trusted with arms even to hunt
their food upon your broad praries. The ad.
minlstraton has lost faith in the people Of Ohio.
Indiana. Illinois aud Michigan. and they have
lost faith in the administration. If we have
failed in this war. il is because the administra-
ton has established policy which has rendered
Intellectual our efforts in the field
The result OF the coming election involves the
liberties Of our country IL is 20 decide whether
you are 10 De SAFE IN your homes anu Dy your
own hresdes; aud there is no greater national
| trouble than that which penetrstes the home and
reaches the hreside. Greater questions, graver
questions. questions which come more directly
homo 10 the hearts and interests Of men. have
never been submitted to the people for their arbi.
traiion. Aud in their decision. that which is for
| the interest OF Democrats is also for the nteres,
of Republicans. We believe We are to triumph in
the contest. No man can doubt this who saw
what l saw in Chicago. Ii was the lsrges,
number OF men that my ewes ever rested upon
Three years ago, when | last visited Wisconsin
labor was hopeful and cheerful. saw your
prosperous husbandmen turning up the sod in
your fields. saw the mechanic happy at his
bench. The frugal laborer was content with his
wages and bis fare Man cared nothing for the
| light taxation assessed upon him under good
government Go where might, saw the evi.
dence OF public and private prosperity.
Three years have passed away. You have
| given up TO war one-hslf the number of your
youg men capable OF bearing arms. In your
workshops. and your farms labor is no longer
cheerful Men are told that they must leave
/ their homes: that they musi abandon the pillow ia
the furrow: that they must turn away from the
spindle and loom. aud devote themselves TO war
Mothers vnd sisters are in trouble by the family
hearth, and when there Is trouble there, there il
20 happiness in life Under the policy Of the
Federal administration. this IL not TO be the last
! draft upon you. When said TO the officers oi
the administration. that man enlisted from nv
State for three years ought 10 count az three mer
| for one year In the coming conscrption, was
told that the proper credit would be given In the