Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-08-07
Horatio Seymour's War Rec

OTOs
We have nowhere seen a more graphic
statement of Mr.. Scymour's record during
tie memorable months of the year 1868
and its effect upon the soldiers who were
sighting the BATTLES OF the Union; than in
the speech Of Lieut.. Gov. Woodford, of
New Y ork, himself an officer in the Cnion
army. at a ratification meeting ia Brooklyn.
We commend the suhjoiucJ extracts to ev,
cry voter, and especially to the Union SOL
d'ers and their friends After contrasting.
III eloquent terms, the positions Of Graht
and Seymour rs representatives, of their re-
spective parties. Geucrel Woodford said
General Grant and IIoratio Seymour so
fifty and fully represent and typify the par
ties which have put them in nomination.
that Il discussion of the policies at issue
would almost inIinctivcl. suggest their
names as those of the natural leaders i'll
this contest. Calm. patient. wise, loyal and
brave. Ulysses ) Grant more than any liv-
ing American, in his own person embodies
the spirit and purpose of the great North
which amid all danger and disaster stead
lastly ptlrSues its purposa of crushin" re-
bellion and saving the Union. His ringin 9
words II will fight it ont ON this line if it
takes all summer" had in them the spirit
and the will, the heart and the voice of the
whole loyal people of the land. The story
of his victories is the story of our nations
effort to vindicatc its authority and pro.ect
Ms life. And In the simple grandeur and
solderly magnahmity with which he ac-
cepted the surrender of the rebellion I'M
der the apple tree AT. Appomattox, the chiv-
airy generosity and the Christian purpose
Of the North found tic and most beautiful
expression.
And now would thatT could close these
words without reference to lioratio Sey-
mour. But fidelity alike to history and to
my old comrades in the army living and
dead, COMPEL that | should speak of one
passage In his public history. l make no
attack upon Governor Seymour asa man,
but his official acts are subject for crit
icism. On the eth. of July, 1853, When
Governor OF the state. he stood IT the
Academy Of Music in New York. and in
most elaborate address ap4lo Q alike for
slavery. the Sout: and the rebellion. lie
Rad no word Of c.eer for the patient man
who was bearing the aation's sorrow III tho
Capitol at Washington. lie had no word
of encouragement for our gallant soldiers.
who that very hour We're graphing with
Lee III a life and death struggle among the
hills of PENN ylvaiiia; Cheers and cries of
you're right )nothing but ley snecrs. but
cold calculations. and but lily concealed
sympathy with treason. Thank God. at
that the hour Meade gave the lie to his
eloquent sophistry as he hurled Lee back
in terrible defeat from Cemetery hill and
Round Top and Gettysburg; aud Grants
cannon made strange echo to his cowardly
bat concealed appeals for compromise ard
surrender rs Nicl>burw fell and Pcmber-
toms host cast down their days in defeat.
There was a great deal of noise and
confusion at thi psint liz the upper part Of
the house. The speaker waited patiently
until silence WAS ia some measure restored
and then continued:
My friends don't b, disturbed It's a
good sign. SO soon after the Democratic
Convention when the unterrified are wan
dering into the doors OF the Republican
church (shouts OF laughter and applause:)
and if they will only be patient VII tell
them more about their idol Horatio Sey-
lnour (hisscs and [ciieersl than they ever
dreamt of.
Painting under the terrible heat. some
falling and even dying by the wayside, our
men were still preSsiur on. The loyal
arms had bean victoriuus at Gettysburg,
and We had heard the glad news from
Vicksburg. We were wary. but still we
could see the end. ald the victory d-aweth
IL gh. Like thund~r from clear sky fell
the tidings of this couardiy uprising at
our 0zn bsme against the government and
tha flag.
Strong men wcpt witk shame and r, re.
Firm lips closed in fiercer wrath as
they WHISPERED the news down the ranks.
and mnskets were crippled with venge-
full feeling such as we had not known be-
fore in skirnsh and battle. Could we
have filed that day into Broadway there
would have been bloody reckoning, and
short work would have been made with
His f xcelency's especial friends.
A few short days p sssd. and on July
18th of the same year. the terrible draft
riots broke out in New York city. Now |
do not charge that that Seymour did not
seek to quell the riot; but do charge that
these riots were the natural. logical and
almost necessary results of his speeches.
his teachings. and his public official acts.
1t was the logic of his polished brain
rooted and growing in the passion of the
mob. And then when the storm had gath
cred he address, d these maddeued. brutal
lied rioters as his '.friends," and besouoht
their patience by the plea tlst he had s7nt
his Adjutant General to Wasliin. ton TO beg
that the draft be suspended. daughter,
Kisses aud checrs.) When the ,idings of
these riots and OF Scymour's conduct and
speech reached ne. with nv regiment. |
was tOiling along 4 dusty road of Mary
land in pursuit Of the retreating rebels.
A sudden movement Was here visable
through the whole audience; an instant
afterwards an electrical cheer burst from
every part Of the building; many people
stood up, and handkerchiefs and hats were
waved at the speaker. . ~ 5.ts.{
We had left home to fight your battles,
ard We felt that you were bound to tn
to pension our widows, to succor our
wounded. and feed our little ones. We
were there just as much for your sake as
for our own. and we felt tina. when our
ranks grew thin W. had right to rein.
forcements, that yon were bound in hon
or to send us your young mn and YOU
strong young men, even if your old mei
and boys had to work your factories ane
your women had to till the fields. -
We were terribly in earnest. We were
fighting rebels. We meant to stand up tC
our work, and we very solemnly intended
that you should stand square up to yours
fCheers. How reverenlly we thanked
God when the good Lincoln and the liol
hearted Stanton said the DRAFT shall be ell
forced And how we cheered the sol
dicrs who were sent from cur midst TO Ell
force the laws aud uphold the honor of oul
flag against the Northern mob.
You can now understand how We sol
diers feel towards His EXcelency. lIoratio
Seymour. In the hour of our sorrow and