The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-01-16
MESSAGE OF GOV. SEYMOUR OF
NEW YORK

The message of Gov. Seymour must
prove . sumner to the acknowledgements.
1t is the most mastery exposition OF, and
protest against, the radical policies OF the
present administration We have anywhere
met with, Gov. S. uneloaks the iniq lities
of Chase's national bank system; he
shows the inequalities and Injustice of the
CONSUMPTION; shows the real character Of
the Presidents scheme of reconstruction,
IN short lays bare all these, and other
questionable and destructive schemes,
showing each to be part Of whole sys-
tenn which must end in the destruction of
the material interests Of the couatry, our
former form of government, and the public
liberty, unless at once arrested by re.
turning to the originally proclaimed OBJ
jects of the war, which he maintains have
already been SO far accomplished that
peace IN accordance with these Is now at
tainable. We have room only for the con.
Guiding paragraphs Of this mastery state
paper.
Two antagouistic theories are now be-
fore the American people for bringing to
an end the destructive contest in which
we are engaged The first is that contain
ed in the resolution adopted by Congress
and approved by the President at an early
day, and upon the faith Of which the peo
pie of this country, without distinction of
party, have furnished more than one mil
lion of men to our armies, and vast cen.
tributiens to the treasure &C. our country.
This resolution eonsecra;ed tho vner.
gies of war and the Policy Of the govern.
ment to the restoration of the Union, the
support Of our constitution. 1t was sol.
emn appeal to the civilized world that the
objects thus clearly set forth justified a
war which not only concerned the Ameri
can people, but which also disturbed the
commerce and industry Of ali nations.
1.-The OPT osi:e theOy prevents the return
of the revolted States upon tie condition
Of laying down their arms; it denies them
o political existence which enables them
to come back upon any terms; it holds
that States in the revolted section Of the
country must be 're-establishsd; ; that the
States hereafter made may or may not
hold the names or boundaries of the Sta..es
thus destroyed, although it is suggested
as not improper that these Lanes and
boundaries, &c, shall be maintained.
The war therefore. Is not to bs breusht
10 an end by the submission of these
States to the constitution and return TO
the Union, but it mus: be prolonged until
the South is subjusated to the acceptance,
not of its dutis, under the constitution,
but OF such terms As may be Dictated
Until States are TINS re established 1t is
held that there are no political organiza-
tons which can bring back the people to
their allegiance that if the nine States
spoken Of lay down their arms, and should
return to the performance Of their duties,
they would rot be recognised or received
This theory designs a sweeping revolution
in the section of our country now in re
bellon, and the creation Of a new politi.
cal system by virtue Of executive DEGREES.
"Is this calculated to stop the waste Of
blood and treasure? If the south is rev.
oiutionized, Its property devastatsS, its in.
dustry broken up and destroyed, will this
benefit the nsrth?
"Thos, who urge the restoration of tho
Union AID the preservation of our con-
stitution contend that, in addition to up.
holding our armies and our navies, every
measure OF wise craftsmanship and con-
cilitatory policy shall be adopted to bring
this war to a successful close
"Only the ends for which this war was
begun should be- sought; because they
are III, most easily at.ained, most
beneficial when gained, and Il their sup>
port the most varied, the most enlarged
and the most patriotic influences can be
exerted.
On the other hand, it is insisted that
the war shall be prolonged by waging it
for purposes beyond those avowsd at the
outset, and by making demands which
will excite desperate resistance. A de-
mand is made that the people Of the South
shall swear to abide BY proclamation put
forth with reluctance, and which is object
ed to by q large share Of northern people
as unwise and unjust. as it makes no dis
tinction be;weea the guilty and the Inno-
cent. They are to take an oath to which
no reputable citizen Of the North of any
party will subscribe; that they will uphold
any future proclamations relating to slav-
cry They are to submit themselves to
uttered and unuttered opinions and de-
crees. No longer regarding the war as d.
rec:ed again t armed rebellion, it is to be
institutions Ii IS held that the whole
States are stripped of all Political rights
until they are Pursed BY Presidential elem
cncy.
The DISCRIMINATION and destruction of
the South are not to save us from the cost
of war The plan for the future governs
ment of the seeded States demands the
drain upon the persons and property eff
ON <>rt h.
voters of either of these States shall SUBJ
NIT themselves to tho conditions i.apesed,
they may form new governments with new
or old names and boundaries This in
considerable minority is to be supported
in the exercise of power by the arms and
treasure Of the North. There will be no
motives on their part to draw the remain
lining population into the support of the
governments thus created. There will be
every inducement of power, Of gam, and
Of ambition, to perpetuate the condition
Of affairs so favorable to individual pur,
poses. II will also be for the interest of
the national administration to continue
this system of government, SO utterly at
variance with a representative policy. Is
not this the same mistaken theory upon
which other nations have tried to govern
their dependencies Has complete sub
jugation for centuries produced the quiet,
the obedience to law, the order, the secu-
rity to life and property, the kindly feelings
or the mutual contributions to prosperity
which belong to real peace?
Governments thus formed would rep-
rssen., not the interests OF their citizens,
but the wills aRd interests Of the power
that creates and sustains them. The nine
States thus controlled would balance in
the House of Representatives in the choice
of President, and at all times in tho SEN
ate, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, ILL
nois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri,
Kentucky and Wisconsin, with q united
population of 1858 900 which is more
than one half of that Of the whole coun-
try. The nstenth who would accept the