New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-10
HOR1TTO SEYMOUR.

HORATIO SEYMOUR.
If the Democratic Convention had been in
tent on selecting that candidate for President
least likely to win Republican votes and most
certain to arouse and intensity Republican OPP
position, it could not have hit the mark more
exactly. Horatio Seymour has been the dead
lest, most implacabe enemy throughout. OF the
ideas which triumphed in the abolition of Slav-
cry and discontinue of the Rebellion. He was an
open advocate and champion of that Nebraska
bill whereby Slavery shamelessly repudiated a
solemn compact whereof she had TeaDed the
full advantage, and strove to wrest from Free
Labor a vast region which she had quitclaimed
for a valuable consideration i'll hand. For the
victims in Kansas of Border Ruffian arson, out
rage and murder, he had never word of cheer
or sympathy He was for Buchanan against
Fremont when this State gave the Pathfinder
plurality of $4,000. He was for anybody
against Lincoln in 1860, when New-Iork gave
the latter a clean majority of $4,000. Mr.. Lin
coin being elected, he insisted that the Repub-
licans should give up their cardinal principle
of No Extension of Slave Territory, or
be held accountable for the Rebellion that
the Shareholders would otherwise initiate. He
attended the Tweddle Hall Convention, in
| Albany, Jan. 81, 1861 and there-because the
| Republicans in Congress kept quiet and did
not ask pardon of the Slave Power for having
| elected a President-assailed them thus abu-
sively:
What spectacle do we present todayi Already six
States have withdrawn from this Confederacy. ReyOlu
ton has actually begun. The term Secession dyests 1t
Of none OF Its terrors nor 40 10 ,oTT
or mitigate its evils. All virtue, patriotism and intel
gence seem to have fed from National Capitol; 1t
hash eeD we'll COnflagTatlOn
for madmen-some look with diotic imhecily; some
| in suen silence and scatter the frebrands which
consume the fabric above them, and bring upon all a
common destruction. Is there revolving aspect in
this which has not Its parallel at the Capitol OF
your cOuutrya you there the senseless imbe
city, the garrulous idocy, the maddened rage, DIS
played with regard to petty personal passions ana party
purposes while the glory the honor and the safety OF
the country are al forg0enT oil Inc ns same
land Our churches are torn asnder ana desecraed
10 partisan purposes The wrongs OF our local legsaon
the growing burdens Of debt and taxation the gradual
destruction OF the African I'D the Free states Whch IS
neglect OF our own duties caused by the complete alb
sOrption the public mind by senseless unreasonlng
thus far brought greater social moral and legislative
evils upon people of the Free States than it has upon
the institutions of those against whom II has been
| cited The wisdom OF Franklin stamped upon the first
coin issued by our Government the wise motto MIND
your business! The violation OF this homey proyerD
which lies at the foundation OF the doctrines OF local
rights thus far proved more huTfu TO the meddies
in the affairs Of others than to those against whom this
| pragmatc action 10 directed.
epa and Kentucky that force is to be used it must be
exerted against the united South II would be an act
FOLLY and madness in entering upon this contest
ergae our opponents and thus subject ourselves to the
disgrace defeat I'm an ingorious warfare Let us also
see successful coercion by the North is less revolution
airy than successful Secession by the South. Shall
prevent revolution by being foremost in overthrowng
the principles OF government, ana all that makes II
valuable to people, and distinguishes 1t among the
! nations Of the earthT
Gov. Seymour proceeded to demonstrate,
after his fashion. that the South was so strong,
80 earnest, 80 united, that she could never be
put down. and that we mad no question to de-
eide but this:
"shal we compromise after wari or compromise ruth
| out WARP
which, you see, wasn't the real question at all,
at all.
"A few weeks later, Mr.. Seymour, meeting
Judge Charles II. Ruggles, asked him: Judge,
"haye you read the Confederate Montgomery
Constitution? -" / have; and it is better
ethan ours (the Federa). Then why not" he
continued obviate all difficulty, by simply
adopting that Confederate Constitution l"-
that is to say, by giving up the Union, joining
the Southern Confederacy, and thus making
every State Slave State, and all our territory
Slave territory, evermOre. Such is the man,
and such the ideas which have directed his
political course. Naturally, he kept on railing
more and more fercely as President Lin
coin was constrained to strike directly
at Slavery, the core and handspring of the
Rebellion, each blow at the hideous "institu-
"tion" evoking his decided, vigorous protest.
When at length Grants long pause before
Vicksburg, and Hooker's failure at Chancelors-
vile, had been followed by Lees determined
advance into Pennsylvania, the hopes of the
Copperheads seemed on the very brink of
realization, HOratio Seymour, then Governor of
the State, came hither to deliver to his cronies
Fourth of July grafton, wherein he exulted
over their frightening prospects thus openly:
when accepted the invitation TO speak with Others
at this meeting we were promised the downfall OF Vcks
burg the opening Of the Mississippi the probable capture
Of the Confederate Capital and the exhaustion OF the
Rebellion. BY common consent all parties had liked
upon the day when the results OF the campaign should be
known TO mark out that line Of policy which they felt that
country should pursue But, In the moment Of ex-
peoted victory, there the midnight cry for help
from Pennsylvania to its despoisd fields from the