The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-22
Mr.. SEYMOUR and the War.

That Governor SEYMoURS war
record badly needs defending is a
recognized fact by all the Democratic
speakers and papers. His views were
widely published and extensively cir
culated both before and during the
struggle, and they were not in sympa-
thv with the Government in its death
erapple with treason. He insisted
that the Government had no power
to prevent or punish secession, and
argued that an irresponsible mob had
the same right to proclaim what he
called the " bloody, reasonable, and
revolutionary doctrine of public ne
cessity, as an organized Government"
The mob took him at his word, and
for days New York was underi its terri
bic control. In a conversation with
MI. RUSSELL, correspondent of the
London Times, in March, 1861, and
reported in the latter gentleman's
Diary, and never denied, Mr.. SEY-
MOUR gave his views on the seces-
sion doctrine pretty full. In regard
to it Mr.. RUSSELL says:
"The occasion Ia dinner party
offered itself to Mr.. HoratiO
Seymour to give me his views
Of the Constitution of the United
States, and by degrees the theme
spread over the table. = = There
was not a man who maintained that
the Government had any power to CO.
cree the people of a State or to force
a State to remain In the Union or un-
der the action Of the Federal Govern.
ment. 4 Although
they admitted the Southern leaders
had meditated treason against the
Union years ago, they could not bring
themselves to allow their old oppo-
nents, the Republicans, now in power,
to dispose of the armed force of the
Union against their brother Demo
Gratis in the Southern States. = = ,
Mr.. Seymour is a man of compromise
but his views go further than those
which were entertained by his party
two years ago. although secession
q1OuM produce TeUolation, Il a0ds, aeU
eTtbeless, an las opinion, q right, found.
ed on abstract principles, 11hich c0u[o
scarcely be 0brOgated NTH due regard
to the original compact"
After arousing a mob by promulga
ting the revolutionary doctrine that
mob could proclaim the doctrine o
necessity as well as a government, MI
SEYMOUR sought to allay their fur.
by addressing them in soft phrase
like the following. We copy an ex
tract from his speech to the NeV
York mob:
My FRIENDs--I have come dow
here from the quiet of the country t
see what was the dificulty--to lear
what all this trouble was conoorninl
the draft. Let me-assure you thai
am your friend. Luproarious cheer
ing. You have peen my friends
= ICries of yes, yes that's So we ar
and will be again. Aud now Iassur'
you, my fellow citizens, that | an
here to show you a test of my friend
ship. CCheers. | wish TO inform
you hat 1 have sent my Adjutan
General to Washington to confer wit
the authorities there, and to have thi
draft suspended and stopped. LVocil
crous cheers. x = / wish you no.
to separate as good citizens, and 70
can assemble again whenever you wis
to do so"
1t is hardly necessary for US to re
peat that, while the mob cheered th
speaker, they went on with their tel
rible work, imbuing their hands j
much innocent blood. Among Other
who fell a victim to their murderer
rage, was the gallant O'Brien, a so
der who had received many WOUND
in defending his country's honor an
integrity.
To have the draft suspended an
stopped" was the way in which tn
distinguished statesman proposed !.
assist the Government in putin
down the rebellion. Perhaps OF
Democratic orators can produce lie
tiers from the War Departmel
thanking him for his efforts in Ell
forcing the draft and st~rengthenir
the armies. We should be pleased
see the correspondence. 1t would
interesting reading-refreshingly co,
during these heated days of Jul
We suggest to the orator at the ne,
Democratic pole raising that he d
vote his time and attention to this i
teresting portion of Mr.. SEYMOUR
record. 1t will be entertaining to
hearers, especially, as is generally t
case, if a considerable number Of the
be Republicans.
THE SeatiReI says the race /