Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-03
Gov. SeYmour,s Speeches,

Gov. Seymour's speeches at Rochester and
Buffalo are able and sensible, just what we
would expect from a statesman and patriot
In his speech at Rochester he said -
repel with indignation the suggestion
that any member of the democratic party, or
that party as an organization, or that myself,
as an individual of that party, will ever do
violence to law or order. Let us inquire into
the reasonableness of this charge. Suppose
the people of the United States see fit to elect
democratic President and Vice. President.
Is your government changed? Do we hold
unqualified power? Could we make war
Could We control the legislation of the coun-
try! What will our powers be under the
laws as they now stand?
You have seen the Chief Executive of these
United States shackled by legislation you
court; you have heard majority of that tri-
bunal pronounce him guilty man, and he
would have been deposed from power had
they not lacked one vote to make two-thirds
of the Senate to sanction that action.
Those statute laws which to-day shackle
and hinder the action of Andrew johnson,
would equally shackle a democratic execu-
tive. If we succeed in this election, our re-
publican friends will control the Senate and
House of Representatives, and army, for their
candidate is the general who commands that
army.
How absurd, then, is the cry that there is
danger from an Executive thus shackled and
powerless. 1t may be asked, then, what do
we gain if we change the Executive and
place one of different party in the execu-
tive chair, when his powers will be so limi-
tad. Just this, my triends-While he can
affirmatively do but little, he can do much to
check the unwise action of the party now in
power; he can do much to protect the labor
of this country from unwise legislation; he
can do much to check in future the dangerous
policy which threatens the dearest and most
vital interests of the country. [Cheers.1
But more than that. 1t is necessary for
the welfare of the American people that there
shall be given popular verdict which will
say that the policy of men in power is not
such as meets their approval. What we hope
and aim to do in this contest is to stay the
progress of confusion, usurpation and unwise
legislation.
In his speech in Buffalo he said -
Our hope is, in this election, to put into
the executive Offices those who could stay the
tide of corruption those who could save
from further I'M uries the system Of consttu-
tlonal government; those who could protect
our people from legislative wrong. We feel
that our success would be rebuke by the
American people of measures which have
been condemned SO strongly by many leading
Republicans and Republican presses, as well
as ourselves. If the candidates on our ticket
should prove capable, honest, and true to their
trust, at another election the people of the
United States could go farther and make
Democratic House of Representatives., and in
due time the character of the Senate could
be changed; and believe that the day is at
hand when the judgment and votes of the
American people will restore again power to,
that time honored party under whose influence
our country was made great and prosperous.
None of these changes could be made vio-
lently; none could endanger public peace,
but they would all tend in the end to promote
the welfare and prosperity of the United
States.