Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-10-21
GOV. SHYhOUR'S Speech
An Earnest Argument for Good and
Lawful Government and a Protest
Against the Encroachments
Of the Party OF Gen.
tralIzation.
m. c0HKLHG's ARGUMENT REFUfED.

lated-The Period of Imitation and
Speculation and the Party
that was Responsible
for 1t.
The following is the speech in full of
Ex-Governor Seymour, delivered before
the Young Mems Democratic club .of
New York:
With all G g,vernments under all con-
ditions there is the peril on the one hand
OF resistance to rightful authority; on
the other that the government may
through corruption destroy itself. On
the one hand the peril of force, on the
other that of fraud or injustice. When
our fathers framed our Constitution
they kept in view both these dangers.
10 prevent wars, to extend the blessings
OF peace and good order over our broad
domains. they formed our Union. To
save it from the corruptions and errors
which would be generated in govern
ment leglslatiDg at one point for
country SO vast and varied in its inter-
ests they preserved the States, leaving
untouched their names, their social
structures, and the power to dir It and
control all things that related to their
home interest. With great care and
wisdom they defined the jurisdiction of
general and State governments. We
differ In opinion as to the exact limits
OF these, and these differences divide us
into parties; but all agree that these
lmlts exist and are essential to the
safety OF our political institutions. Every
lntelllgent citizen feels the danger to the
republic when States attempt to resist
the rightful authority of the general
government. On the other hand, there
Is no intelligent man who does not ad-
NIT that the destruction ofthe rights of
States would be followed by corruptions
and abuses which in the end would
snatter our country into fragments. In
no other land are the topics of public
dis .ussion of greater dignity or value
than those which engage the attention
OF the American people. The structure
OF our society, the nature of our civil
ization, the diversified industries of
our people, are all affected by the action
OF our varied political bodies, from the
smallest organization up to the tlegis-
!ature5 OF the States and of the Uuion. It
is true that there is much of pas sion. of
prejudice, and OF selfish purpose which
mar to degree the dignity and thewis-
dom of our political action. But still IL
is true that it is q grand system of
popular instruction, that its discussion
tends to educate and to elevate, and that
the results have exceeded the most
sanguine hopes of those who, a hundred
years ago, sought to build up govern
ments which should prove blessing to
the vast population of our Union. That
man IS wanting in mental or moral
development who does not know nor
care about our public affairs. Tt is an
indifference born of ignorance. He be-
comes tool in the hands of the corrupt.
The questions which agitated the minds
OF our fathers are those which concern
us to-day. How shall we save our
Union from destruction by vioIencep
and how shall we save it from the more
subtle dangers of corruption and of sell
fish schemes? How shall we make the
general government strong within it's
rightful jurisdiction, and how shall we
prevent it from overstepping its limits.
and thus making it source of evilP The
subject which should arouse the atten-
tion and excite the earnest thoughts of
every American citizen is toward which
OF these perils are we now driftinpP We
dlffer as to the powers which our differ
ent governments ought to exercise. but
we cannot differ as to the tact that there
is danger if we err in either direction.
REsIsTANCES TO GOVERNMENT.
So far the pending election has been
free from the excitement which some
times marks our political contests. IT
is favorable time to note the influences
which tend to promote the welfare of
our country Or to endanger its prosper
Ey. Let US look in the first place at the
instances where our Union has been
periled by resistance to its rightfuI
authority. tits in the nature of violence
to arouse the public mind. The full
measure of its dangers are felt. 1t means
disorders and peril to all forms of social
business and political action. When.
therefore, at an early day, resistance
was threatened in Pennsylvania to the
revenue laws, at a time when our new
government hardly felt that it had any
cohesive power, our people rallied to
the support of the measures taken bv
President Washington to enforce its
rightful authority. At a later day, when
we were yet one of the feeble powers of
the earth, when we were engaged in a
war with the superior number. wealth
and resources OF Great Britain, prom
inent citizens aad eff ;ials of New Eng
land threatened resistance to the mill
tary measures OF the general govern
ment. but the body of the States and
The people remained true to their coun-
try The victory at New Orleans and
the treaty at Ghent put an end to the
danger, and our Union came out of its
trials strengthened, not weakened, by
this threatened resistance to its author
ity. In the progress of I me discomfort
and a spirit of hostility to the Union
grew up in the Southern States and pro-
duced contest in many ways the most
remarkable for its cost of blood and
treasure in the history of the world At
the outset of The controversy great in
difference was expressed whether the
dissatisfied States should remain in or
20 out of the Union. But when force
was displayed, when our flag was fired
upon, and the fact was realized that
there was danger that this Union would
be broken up, the spirit of devotion
shown for the work of our fathers
Rstonished the world. The result
was 30 complete and triumphant
that it was accepted by those overcome
On the blttlefield. While these
dangers from force and resistance cannot
be Over-estimated, il still remains true
|, that in each instance when thev have
4 been exerted against the Union it has
{ been made more cohesive and strong.
Tie question now to be considered il
! b : far during the excitement of the