Year: 1863

We meet under circumstances OF unu-
sual solemnity to lcgislate for the interest
and for the protection of the State of New
York. The oath, which we have taken,
to support the Constitution Of the United
States and the Constitution of the State
of New York. and to perform our duties
with fidelity, has at this time especial
significance. 1t teaches us to look upon
each of these Constitutions as equally
sacred, that each is to be upheld in its
respective jurisdiction. At this time the
power of the one is openly deGed bv open
rebellion, while the other is endangered
by the confusion and discord growing out
of civil war. This "oath, declaration or
test" is not a mere ceremonial it is
part of the tenure of the offices we hold.
Until we have thus solemnly submitted
ourselves to the commands OF these in
struments. giving up our personal views
and opinions and pledging ourselves to
obey their requirements, we are not per-
mitted to perform one official act.


NATIONAL AFFAIRS.


The Constitution makes it my duty to
communicate 10 you the condition of the
State. | cannot do this without speak
ing of the Union and the war which af-
flicts our country, and which also affects
the extended commerce of New York !;
taxes all its pursuits has taken more
than 200, 900 men from our workshops
and fields and has carried mourning in
to the homes of our citizens. the genius
of our Government, and the interests of
our people demand that the aspects of
this war should be discussed with entire
freedom. Not only is the national life at
stake, but every personal, every family,
every sacred interest is involved. We
must grapplc with the great question of
the day; we must confront the dangers
of our position. The truths of our fnan-
cidl and military position must not be
kept back. There must be no attempt to
put down tho full expression OF public
opinion. 1t must be known ana needed,
to enable Government to manage public
affairs with success. There is yearning
desire among our people to learn their
actual condition. They demand free dis
cussion. This should be conducted in an
earnest, thoughtful, patriotic spirit The
solemnity of the occasion, and the suffer-
ings of the war, should revive the virtue,
the intelligence and the patriotism of the
American people. The decay of these
have brought our caamties upon us.


There are no causes for dscord that
have not always existed in our country,
and which were not felt by our fathers
in forming the Union. They had the
greatness, the magnanimity, and virtue,
to compromise and adjust them. The
value of the Union they then formed has
proved to be greater than they hoped
: Yet we became Indifferent to it when we
were in the full enjoyment of its bless
ings. We became ignorant of the char
acter and resources of our own country
men, while we had the fnll benefit of an
untrammeled commerce with all sections
of our land. 1t was when the world was
) astonshed with the power and wealth
growing out of our National Union, that
sectional prejudice and passions were act
i've in destroying fraternal affections and
generous love of our country. While We
boasted most of our intelligence, there
were those persistantly and laborousy
engaged, through the press, and in legis
, lative halls, teaching the people of the
North and South to undervalue and des
piee each other. Hostile Legislation and
the division of our churches impaired re
ligious and social intercourse. If the
North and the South had understood the
power and the purposes of each other
our contentious would have been al Just
ed. This misapprehenson SO bloody anC
terrible in its effects, was systematicall,
and laborously inculcated.


CAUSES OF THE WAR.


Affrighted at the ruin they hav
, wrought, the authors of our calamitie
at the North and South insist this wa
E, was caused by an unavoidable contes
e about slavery. This has been the sub
ject, not the cause of the controversy. -


We are to look for the causes of thi


war in pervading disregard of the obli
!. cations of laws and constitutions in dis
; respect for constituted authorities an


above all, in the local rejudices whic
I. have grown up in two portions of tn
Atlantic States, the two extremes of on
:, country, whose remote positions hav


made them we'll informed, ami whose in
E. terests have made them less considerate


with regard to the condition and charac
ter Of our whole people, than those livin
. in the great central and western section


of our Union. There is no honest state


ment of our difficulties which does no
. teach that our people must reform them
4, selves, as we'll as the conduct of the Gov
O. ernment and the policy of our rulers
There is not calamities we are suffering
n which was not clearly foretold by ou
to Fathers, as the result Of the passions an
W local prejudices which have grown u
during the past fifteen years.


1t is not too late to save oxr country


if we enter upon the sacred duty in tn
= right way. When we do so, the effec


will be seen and felt throughout the land


and by the civilized world. We sha'
n then strengthen our government we shaI
y weaken the rebellion; we shall unite on
Fl people and the world will recognize on
81 capacity for self-government, when W


are capable of self reform.


STATE RIGHTS.


g Not only must the National Constitu
6. ton be held inviolate, but the rights c
O. the States must be respec. ed as not les
of sacred. There are differences of opinio