Year: 1864

anu SUructurM changes III great states, W
have seen only its beginning. Such change
are the work of time. If they are to b
; made by military power, it must be cxerte,
: black troops are used, the diversion iron
labor and the cost of war will be equally
prolonged, and we have just entered upOi
a course of certain cost and uncertain re
suits. No such changes as are now urged
have ever, i'm the worlds history, beer
without struggles lasting through more
than one generation Of men.


What has Government accomplished il
the territories wrested from rebellion by
the valor of our armies? Has it pacifed
them? Has it revived the arts of peace?-
Has quiet and confidence been restoredp Is
commerce renewed? Are they not held as
they were conquered at the expense OF
Northern blood and treasure?


Are not our armies wasted by holding
under armed control those who, under q
wise and generous. policy, would have been
! friends? The spirit which prompts the
off many i'm the border States, who, at the
crisis of our country's fate, broke away
from their ardent sympathies with the Sc
ceding States and clung to the Union.-
States which by the elections of the people
ranged themselves upon the side of the
Constitution, are not allowed the free ex-
ercise of the elective franchise. In some
quarters discomfort has been increased; in
no place has the wisdom of Government
gained us allies.


There is but one course which will save
us from national ruin. We must adhere to
the solemn pledge made by our Government
at the outset of the war.


We must seek to restore the Union and
to uphold the Constitution. To this end,
while we put forth every exertion of materi-
al power to beat down armed rebellion, we
must use every influence of wise statesman
ship to bring back the States which now re-
ject their constitutional obligations. We
must hold forth every honorable induce
ment to the people Of the South to assume
again the rights and duties of American
citizenship.


We have reached that point in the prog
ress of the war, for which all have strug-
gled and all have put forth united eXertions.
Our armies and navies have won signal
victories; they have done their part with
courage, skill and success. By the usage of
the civilized world, craftsmanship must
now exert its influence. If our cause fails,
in the judgment of the world it will be
charged to the lack of wisdom in the Cabi-
net, and not to the want Of bravery or pat
riOtism in the army.


The great object Of victories is to bring
back peace; we can now with dignity and
magnanimity proclaim to the world our
wish that States, which have long been
identified with our history, should resume
their position in the Union. Wenow stand
before the world great and successful mil
itary power. No one can foresee the la
tent victories or defeats which lie in our
course if force and force alone is to be eX-
erted. The past has taught us the certain
cost of war and the uncertainties of its re-
suits.


In this contest, belligerent rights are nee
essarily conceded to the South. The usages
of international warfare are practiced in
the recognition of flags and the exchanges
of prisoners. Is it wise to put off the end
of the war and thereby continue recogni-
tion which tends to familiariZe the public
mind in our own country and in the world
at large with the idea that we are disunited
into two distinct nationalities? A needless
ly protracted war becomes disunion.


Wise craftsmanship can now bring this
war to close, upon the terms solemnly
avowed at the outset of the contest. Good
faith to the public creditors; to all classes
of citizens of our country; to the world,
demands that this be done.





field should be followed up and secured by
the peace-making policy of the statesmen
in the Cabinet. In no other way can we
save the Union.


The fearful struggle which has taught the
North and the South the courage, the en-
durance and the resources of our people,
have made a basis of mutual respect upon
which generous and magnanimous poll
cy can build lasting relationship of union,
intercourse and regard. If our course is
to be shaped by narrow and vindictive pas
sions, by venal purposes, or by partisan OBJ
jects, then 70 patriotic people have poured
out their blood and treasure in vain and the
future is full of disaster and ruin.
We should seek not the disorganization
but the pacification of that section of our
country devastated by civil war.


In this hour Of triumph appeals should
be made to States, which are identified with
the growth and greatness of our country,
and some of which are associated the patri-
otic memories of our revolutionary strug-
gle. Every generous mind revolts at the
thought of destroying all these memories
that cling about the better days of the Re-
public; that are connected with the sacrifi-
ces of the men who have made our history
glorious by their services in the cabinet, in
the forum and in the field.


The victories which have given our Gov
ernment its present commanding position
were won by men who rallied around and
fought beneath the folds of a flag whose
stars represent each State in our Union. If
we strike out of existence single State, we
make that flag falsehOod. When we eX-
| tinguish the name of any one of the origi-
nal States, we dishonor the historic stripes
of our national banner. Let the treason
able task of defacing our flag be left to
those who war upon our Government, and
who would destroy the unity of our coun-
| try.


Faith to our armies and our citizens de-
mands that we keep sacred the solemn
pledge made to our people and to the civil
lied world, when we engaged in this bloody
war, 'that it was not waged in any spirit
of oppression, or for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugation, or purpose of over
throwing or interfering with the rights Of
established institutions in those States, but
to defend and maintain the supremacy Of
the Constitution, and to preserve the Unior
with all the dignity, equality and rights Of
the several States unimpaired; and that a:
soon as these objects are accomplished, tht
war ought to cease"


HORATIO SEYMOUR.
i NOTICE To SHIPPERS