Year: 1863

s ork, referring to National affairs:
Wemeet under circumstances of unnsu
solemnity, to legislate for the honor, tt
interest, and the protection of the peop
? of the State of New York The oa,
which we have taken to support the cor
stitution of the United States, and til


constitution of the State of New York, I
perform our duties our duties with fidellt


has at this time especial significance.


teaches Us to look upon each of these col


stitutions as equally sacred that each


to be upheld in its respective jurisdiction


At this time the power Of the one is oper


ly defied by armed rebellion, while tn


other is endangered by the confusion an


discord growing out of civil war. The acl


declaration, or test is not a mere ceremo


NAL 1t is a part of the tenure of tn


Offices we hold. Until we have thus solemn
ly submitted ourselves to the command
ofthese instruments, giving up our persons


views and opinions, and pledging 0urselye
to obey their requirements, w are not pei


mitted to perform official act


The constitution makes it my duty L
communicate to you the condition of tn


State. l cannot do this without speaking


Of our Union, and Of the war which aff1ict


our country, and which also affects the ex


tended commerce of New York taxes al
| its pursuits; has taken more than zoo, ,O0t


men from our workshops and fields; arc


has carried mourning into the houses o.


our citizens. The genius of our govern
| ment and the interests of our people de-


mand that the aspects o! this war should
be discussed with entire freedom. Not
only is the national life at stake, hut every
personal, every family, every sacred inter
est is involved. Wemust grapple with the
great questions of the day. We must con
front the dangers of our position. The
truths of our financial and military situa-
ton must not be kept back. There must
be no attempt to put down the full ex
preston Of public opinion. 1t must be
known and needed to enable government
to manage public affairs with success.
There is yearning desire among our peo-
pie to learn their actual condition. They
demand free discussion. This should be
conducted in ar earnest, thought tful, pat
riotic spirit


The solennity Of the occasion aud the
.ufferinys of the war should revive, the
virtue, the Intelligence, and the patriotism
of the American people, The decay OF
these has brought our caiamities upon US
There are now 70 causes for discord that
have not always existed in our country
and which were not felt by our fathers in
forming the Union. They had the great
ness, the inagnaniniiy and virtue, TO com
promise and adjust them. The value of
the Union they then formed has proved
20 be greater than they hoped. Yet we
became indifferent TO it when We were in
the enjoy yment ofits blessings We became
ignorant of the character and resources OF
our own countrymen, while we had the
full benefit OF an untrammeied sommerce
with all sections Of cur land 1t was when
the world was astonished with the power
and wealth growing out of our National
Union, that sectional preludices and pas
siens were active in destroying fraternal
affections and generous love ofo country.
While we boasted most of our intelligence,
there were those persistently and labor
iously engaged, through the press and in
legislative halls, in teaching the people of
the North and South to undervalue and
despise each other. Hostile legislation
and the division OF our churches impaired
religious and social intercourse, If the
North and South had understood the
power and purposes of each other, our
contentious would have been adjusted.
Mhis misapprehension, so bloody and ter
rib!e in It's effects. was systematically and
iaboriously inculatei


itfrighted al the ruin they have wrought
the authors OF our calamities. at the North
and South, insist that this war was caused
by an unavoidable contest about slavery.
This has been the subject, not the cause,
of controversy. We are TO look for the
causes Of this war in a prevading disregard
OF the obligations OF laws and constitutions,
in disrespect for constituted authorities,
and. aboue all. in the local prejudices
which have grown up in two portions OF
the Atlantic States, the two extremes of
our country. whose remote positions have
made them less weliinformed, and whose
interests have made them less considerate
with regard to the condition and character
of our whole people, than those living in
the great central and western sections OF
our country.


There is no honest statement OF our
difficulties which does not teach that our
people must reform themselves, as we'll as
the conduct of the government and the
policy Of our rulers. There is not ca
lamity we are suffering which was not
clearly foFetold by our fathers as the re-
suit Of the passions and local prejudices
which have grown up during the past
fifteen years 1t is not too late to save our
country, if we will enter upon the sacred
duty ia the right spirit and IN the right
way.


In the first place we must emulate the
conduct of our fathers, and show ooedl-
ence to constitutional obligations. The
veIy idea of the power and right OF the
people to establish government rresuppos'
es the duty of every individual to obey
the established government; yet spirit
of disobedience has sappedd the tounda-
tons of municipal, State, and national au-
thority in every part of our land. 1T IS
not only the undertaking and pervading
cause of the war,-it is also the immediate
occasion Of eur caiamities. When the
leaders cf the insurrection at the extreme
South say that free and slave States can
not exist together in tn Union, and when
this is echoed from the extreme North by
the enemies of our constitution, both par
ties simply say they cannot because they
will not respect the laws and the constItu
ton. This spirit Of disloyalty must be put
down. 1t is inconsistent with all social
order and social security, with safety OF
persons and property.


In order to uphold our government, 1t IS
also necessary that we should respect to
the authority af our rulers. Whllh acting
within the limits Of their Jurisdictions, and
representing the interests, the honor. aro
the dignity of our people, they are entitled
to Difference. Where it is THAR right to
decide upon measure and policy. it is our
duty to obey, and to give ready support
to their decisions Thisis a vital maxim
of libertG. Without this loyalty, no gov
ernment can donduct public affairs with
success,-no people can be safe in the en-
ioyment of their rights. This duty ia
peculiarly strong under our system, which
gives the people the right, at their elections.
to sit in judgment upon their rulers; to
commend or condemn them, to keep them
in or expel them from official stations


This war should have been averted; but,
when ITS food gates were opened the ad-
min;stration could not grasp its dimensions
nor controle its sweep. Government was