Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-07-16

vi t6OI, uttutE tlt itlhutnCt vi NitNitl-
lan's disastrous failures In the Chicka-
hominy campaign which were Ingenious s.
ly distorted Into charges not against the
General but against the President, the
Union cause was sadly depressed in New
York, and Gov. Seymour was nominated
against Gen. Wadsworth. Gen. Wads-
worth was defeated by a gang of corrupt
Republican politicians, who, failing to
rule the nominating Convention, took
revenge on its patriotic candidate by
secretly supporting the Democratic nomi-
nee. Seymourwas elected, though runn-
ing as OH all other occasions largely be-
hind his ticket. AS Governor, he pur-
sued his characteristic timorous course,
occupying himself mainly in reducing
the quota of Sew York, in proving that
IL had been filled instead Of filling 1t,
etc., until the July riots in this city In
opposition TO the draft. The object of
these riots, which were undertaken
while Lees army was still in Pennsyl-
vania, was TO stop the draft, not only in
New Yerk, but in all the States, and so
compel the Government to abandon the
war. A series of vast murderous mobs
of many thousands each, swayed wildly
through the city, killing, burning, and
robbing, venting their vengeance especi-
ally OH negro orphan asylums, schools,
and tepements, but killing also Republic
cans, soldiers, draft officers, police, and
whoever came adversely In their way
From 600 to ! 500 persons were thus be-
ing murdered. At the time of Governor
Seymours arrival atthe City Hall q large
mob OF rioters. who had assembled In
front of the Tribune office, and were
being urged by their leaders to make an
assault upon it, hearing that the Gov
ernor wanted to address them, moved en-
s,,<,o ta ba IIal xxrl,a Gaxr-
mour delivered to them the following
speech, their ringleader standing beside
him while he spoke. He said: ., II
MY FRIENDS: have come down here
from the quiet of the country to see what
was the difficulty, to learn what all this
trouble was concerning the draft. Let
me assure you that 1 am your friend
(Uproarious cheering1 You have been
my friends-[cries of Eyes" "Yes,"
THAT'S So" eve are, and will be
again"1- now 1 assure you, my fell
low-citizens, that am here to show you
test of my frienship. [Cheers.] It0ish
tdnt General to Washington to confer
Nth the authorities there, and to have This
draft suspended and stopped. (Vocifer-
GUS cheers. ask you as good citizens
to wait for his retur;., and assure you
that / will do all that can to see that
there Is no inequality and no wrong done
to any one. 1 wish you to take good
care of all property as good citizens, and
see that every person is safe. The safe
keeping of property and persons rests
with you, and charge you to disturb
neither. 1t Is your duty to maintain the
good order Of the city and 4 know you
,OiU do IL. / wish you now to separate
as good citizens, and you can assemble
again whenever yOu ,Oish to do so. / ask
you to leave all to me now and will see
to your rights. Wait until my Adjutant
returns from Washington and you shall
be satisfied. Listen to me and see that
there Is no harm done to either persons
or property but retire peaceably."
/ The draft was not stopped, and SO far
Gov. Seymour's promises were falsified,
but its enforcementrequired % 900 troops
to be Withdrawn from the Army to New
York, at a time when tley were most
needed to confront the enemy.> Prob
ably no public officer ever more signally
disgraced himself than Gov. Seymour
did OH this occasion by making promises
which he could not perform, to those who
were contending against q Govern ,nent
| he had sworn to support. AT this time
| Gov. Seymour prepared the way for
| Pendleton, by predicting reputation, by
arguing tie hostility between the East
and West on the National debt question,
aud by advocating taxation Of the bonds.
Pendleton having since stolen his thnn-
der and surpassed his elOquence on these
questions, lie has recently spoken more
moderately, and at last leaned sufficient
ly the other way to raise an issue on
| which to defeat Pendleton. In 1854 Sey-
mour was again nominated for Governor,
but was beaten by iiov. Fenton, Sey.
mour again running far behind his tick
ct. III the National Democratic Con.
vention of that year, at Chicago, Sey
nnour was permanent President,
and the New York Delegation
exercised ruling influence. The
platform which declares the war failure
was jointly concocted by Seymour and
Vallandigham, the two leading spirits
of the Committee OH Resolutions. Thus,
at the darkest crisis of our great struggle
with the Rebellion, Mr.. Seymour took
the lead, and exercised more potent
influence than any other one man in
denouncing the war as failure, en-
couraging the Rebels to fight on, and
spreading distrust In the minds of oui
army and people, and dismay in the
hearts of the friends of the American
| Union throughoutthe world. The means
by which Horatio Seymour has obtained
his present nomination are characteristic
| OL tIlNt low pOiibtCoi CuuhihS anu NuPii
city which have marked his whole career
His influence, as shown by his recent
speeches, is adverse to Pendieton's doc
trines, which he formerly advocated, anG
by his control of the New York delega
ton, whose vote for Church was trans
parent subterfuge, was all directed t.
defeat Pendleton. For this purpose he
at first declined the nomination, so thai
his name should not be brought into an
tagonism with that of PendleC0n, and sc
make the fight an open one. For thii
purpose the New York delegation talkeC
about voting for Packer, and English
and Chase, and finally did vote for Hen
bricks. All this was done SO adroitlS
that il finally became necessary for Pen
Ill toms delegation to nominate Seymour
themselves to prevent the success o
Chase or Hendricks, either Of which
would have been fatal to PendletOnt
future aspirations. since SeymOur's
henchmen had voted for Hendricks, th'
latter could do no less than return tn,
vote, and thus began the niob-like stam
pede which ended in the nomination o
Seymour. The whole affair was al
adroit specimen of political hypocrisy
by which the actual favorite OF the ma
.ierity Of the Convention was not onl,
sold, but was induced to nominate tn,
trickster who had defeated him.
'Mr. Seymour Is skillful politica
gambler and q cunning demagogue. II
all matters of partisan character h,