The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-22
Gov. Seymour ON the Objects of the War
His Sympathy with vallandighana,

The following letter of Gov. Seymour, writ
ten in reply to an invitation to attend s. meet
ing of sympathy with Vallandigham, when
that patriot was arrested and thrown into
prison by Gen. Burnside for preventing SOL
diers from enlisting, seems to have escaped
public attention. As terse and succinct
statement of Gov seymour's views and senti.
ments concerning the objects of the war, it is
worthy of republication now. The meeting in
question was held in May, 1858:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ALBANY, May 16, 1868.
L cannot attend the meeting at the Capitol
this evening, but I wish to state my opinion
in regard to the arrest of Mr.. Vallandigham.
1t is an act which has brought dIshonor upon
and our homes. 1t bears upon its front q con-
scious violation of law and justice. Acting
upon the evidence of detailed informers,
shrinking from the light of day, in the dark
ness Of night, armed men violated the home of
an American citizen, and furtively bore him
away to military trial conducted without those
safeguards known in the proceedings of our
judicial tribunals. The transaction involved
series of offences against our most sacred
rights. 1t jnterfered with the freedom of
speech; it violated our rights to be secure in
our homes against unreasonable searches and
seizures; it pronounced sentences without
trial, save one which was mockery,
which insulted as well as wronged.-
The perpetrators nov seek to impose punish
ment, not for an offence against law, but fol-
the disreg ard of an invalid order put forth in
the utter disregard of the principles of civil
liberty. II this proceeding is approved By the
Government. and sanctioned By the people, It's
not merely step toacard reUoltion; 1t is revotet
ton; IL acin not only lead to military despotism
1T establishes military despotism. In this as
pect it must be accepted, or in this aspect re-
jected. II 1t is stpheld oar liberties are oUer-
Mrotcn; the safety Of our persons and the Sc
curity of our property will here after depend
upon the arbitrary will of such military rulers
as will be placed over us, while our constitu-
tional guarantees will be broken down. Even
now the Governors and Courts of some of the
great Western States have sunk into insignif
eance before the despotic powers claimed and
exc 'cised bv military men who have been sent
into their borders. 1t is fearful thing to in
crease the danger which now overhahgs u.s. by
treating the law, the Judiciary and the State
authorities with contempt. The people of this
country noao Dait Nth the deepest anxiety the
decisions Of the administration upon these acts.
Having given it generous support in the con-
duct OF the war, zoe pause to see aohdt kind of
Government ID is for which we are asked to
pour out our blood and our treasure. The ac-
ton of the Administration will determine in
the minds of more than one half of the people
of the loyal States neither this aoar is sodged 10
put doacn rebellion at the South or destroy free
institutions at the North. We look Tor It's de-
cision with most solemn solicitude.
HORATIO SEYMOUR