Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-28
zoe. STATE OF NV loKK,
ExgcTTIyE DKPARrxEsr.
ALBANY. Nav %, ls64S

a EXECUTIVE DKPARrxEsr.
ALBANY, May %, ls64\
To A. Oakley Hail ESQ, District Attorney Of
the County Of Ne~ York
SIN: | am advised that on the 18th instant the
office OF the Journal Of Commerce and that Of
the New ork World were entered by armed men,
the property OF the owners seized. and the prem
ses held by force for several days. IL is charged
that these acts OF violence we're done without due
legal process aud without the sanction OF State
or national laws
If this be true the offenders must be pun
ished.
Ia the month of July last, when New York
was scene OF violence. ! gave warning "thar
the laws OF the State must be enforced, its
peace and order maintained aud the property of
It's citizens protected at every hazard I" The
laws were enforced at a fearful cost Of blood and
life.
The declaration then made was not intended
merely Tor that occasion or against any class OF
men. It's one of an enduring character. to be
asserted at all times and against all conditions of
citizens. without favor or distinction. Unless all
made TO bow TO the law il will be respected
by none. Unless all are made secure in their
rights OF person and property none can be pro-
tected II the owners Of the above named Jour
mails have violated state or national laws, they
laws Any action against them outside of legal
procedures j. criminal At this time OF civil war
and disorder, the majesty of the law must be
upheld or society will sink into anarchy. Our
soldiers IN the field will battle in vain for cOnsti-
tuuonal liberty, il persons property OF opinions
are trampleG upon At home We must not give
up home freedom, and thus disgrace the Ameri
can character, while our citizens in the army are
pouring ost their blood to maintain the national
honor They must not find when they come
back that their personal and Preside rights have
been despoied.
In addition to the general obligation to enforce
the laws OF the land, there are local reasons why
they must be upheld in the city OF New York
If they are not. its commerce and greatness will
be broken down. Ii this great center of wealth,
business. and enterprise is thrown into disorder
and bankruptcy, the National Government will
be paralyzed. What makes New York the heart
of our country Why are its pulsations felt at
the extremities of our landI Not through it,
position alone, but because of the worldwide be.
lief that property is safe within its limits from
waste by mobs and from spoliation by Govern
ment. The laborers in the workshop, the mine,
and in the field, on this continent and in every
other part of the globe, send TO its merchants,
for sale or exchange, the products of their toll.
These merchants are made the trustees of the
it is believed that in their hands property is safe
under the shield of laws administered upon prin-
ciple and according to known usages. This
great confidence has grown up. in the course OF
many years by virtue OF q pans-taking. honest
performance of duty by the business men of your
city. In this they have been aided by the en-
forcement OF laws based upon the solemnly re.
corded pledges that 1.-The right of the people 10
be secure in their persons, houses, papers and Of.
fects, against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated and that no one shall be
deprived of liberty or property without due pro-
cess of law"
For more than eighty years have we as a peo-
pie been building up this universal faith in the
sanctity of our jurisprudence. lt is this which
carries our commerce upon every ocean and
brings back TO our merchants the wealth of every
cline. lie il charged that. in utter dsre
gard OF the sensitiyeness OF that faith, at a mo-
ment when the nationa'credit is undergoing a
fearful trial, the organs of commerce are seized
and held, in violation of constitutional pledges
that this act was done in public mart of YOUR
great city, and was thus forced upon the notice
OF the commercial agents of the world and they
were shown in an offensive way that property is
seized by military force and arbitrary orders
These things are more hurtiu 70 the national
honor and strength than the loss of battles. The
Piles of our government, and the folly and crimes
of officials will be looked upon the natural re-
suits OF the spirit OF our institutions. Our State
and local authorities must repel this ruinous ir:-
ference. If the merchants of New York not
willing 10 have their harb0r sealed up and their
commerce paralyzed. they must unite in this de
mand for the security of persons and property
If this is not done, the world will withdraw
from their keeping its treasures and its com
merce. History has taught all that official vo-
lation OF law in times of civil war and disorder
goes before acts of spoliation and other measures
which destroy the safeguards OF commerce
| call upon you to look INTO the facts con-
nected with the seizure of the journal of Com
merce and OF the New York World II these
acts were illegal, the offenders must be punished.
In making your inquiries and in prosecuting the
parties implicated. YOU will call upon the Sheriff
of the county and the heads of the police depart
ment for any needed force or assistance. The
failure to give this by any official under my
control viii be deemed sufficient cause for his
removal.
Very respectfully yours. &c.
HoRArIo SEYMOUR.