The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-09-10

TO the degradation of popular suffrage, the ,
corruption of our elections, the pouring into /
the ballot box of ignorant and subsidized /
votes. They are in favor of allowing each /.
State to determine for itself who are the
most competent and fit among its inhabit> ,
ants to exercise political power and to con
troll the elections Of the State, and thus
ultimately to give direction TO the political
administration of affairs in the Union.
All these things, gentlemen, are true of
and concerning the candidates who have
been named by the New York Convention
for the support Of the American people.
Are they to be elected Why not !
Is it not high time that there should be
a change in public affairs? Do not The
public interest demand it? Do not the
interest of the citizen cry aloud for it t?
Does not the peace of the country call for
1t? All these questions, it seems to me,
must be answered in the affirmative
There can be no question that there should
be change in public affairs, and here
are good men under whom and by whom
this change can be effected. Why then
shall they not receive the support Of the
people ? Why shall they not be elevated
to the places for which they have been
named Is there any good reason against
it Can any be stated Has personal
calumny succeeded in degrading the char
acter of either, in convincing us that in
any respect they are unworthy or incom-
potent men unsuited for the discharge of
the high duties with which it is proposed
TO charge them Why, gentlemen, the
hot and premature charges of the Repub-
lican newspapers against Governor Sey-
mour have pretty much died out. be-
lleve so etfectual have been the answers
that have been given TO them that even the
most impndent among the men who speak
and write for the Republican party refrain
from repeating them, or those who do not
refrain have their trouble for their pains,
for nobody puts any confidence in their
statements nobody thinks them import
ant nobody of intelligence be lieves them
to be true.
When our State was in peril in the late
war Governor Seymour sent troops over
| to our protection, to assist US, and, in
/ part, by his energetic and patriotic con-
/ duct and efforts the rebel invasion Of Penn
! sylvania was thrown back, and other
/ towns of our State were not subjected to
/ the fate of Chambersbnrg our people
! were not oppressed our towns were not
/ consumed; our borders were not made
desolate. We owe debt of gratitude to
/ Governor Seymour for the prompt, unset
! fish assistance rendered by him to our
! State at that time.
But there was a riot over at New
! York !" There was a disturbance in that
city just afterwards. Tue State of New
York was nearly stripped of troops sent 70
| our defense and put under the command
| of the Federal authorities, and in enforcing
the draft in the city of New York a riot
broke out. What of it? Do you not
remember the cause of that riot-that it
was produced by injustice The enumer-
alton of persons subject to draft in the city
of New York was a dishonest one, made
by political men. There was an over
estimate of the city, and consequently there
was general conviction among the people
that the draft was unfair, unjust and ini-
quitous. This was the principal cause oil
the difficulty there. The Governor of the
State had nothing to do with the enumer
alton or the draft, for conscription was
under Federal authority. A riot began.
What was done The Governor, leaving
the quiet of his home, came down to the
city of New York to assist in allaying he
disturbance, and he succeeded. l hap,
pened to be in New Y York at the time, and
saw Governor Seymour at the Aston
House, in room occupied by him in com
mon with Senator Morgan Ga Republican
Senator from New York; and Mayor Oo-
; dyke Uhe Republican Mayor Of New Y ORR
city,. Senator Morgan then compliment
ed Gov Seymour in the highest terms tC
me and to others (and doubtless he would
now for the energy, prumptness and abili
ty with whic he met that emergency.
Well. gentlemen, there was some usc
of troops TO repress the riot-not Fedora
troops. They were called over from Sta
ten Island, l believe, and were State troops
organized under authority of Governo
Seymour himself. The riot was represseC
without Federal aid.
Among other things, however, whicl
the Governor did was to address a popu
lar assemblage in the city, in which wer,
men who had either been concerned in th,
ltO'' vi hAu oy yupt1tuloOu Win IT, III du
dressing that crowd instead of abusins
them, what did he do7 He addressed
them as ''friends." Instead of abusin!
them, and repelling them from him, n
spoke to them in kind manner, and b,
his speedily reasoning with them-h
did allay their passions. He spoke in th
interests of peace and order, and he accom-
plished his purpose. In short, Governo
Seymour's mission to New York at tina
time was entirely successful, and it wa
one for which he deserved honor and tn
thanks, not only of the people of New
York, but of the whole country, becaus
at that time civil disturbance anywhere il
the North tended to weaken the public arm
in the struggle we were conducting agains
the Confederate States.
I do not know ANYTHING else that ha