The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-16
Extraordinary Letter from WMllam H.
Seward.


Mr. DEAR SiR.-Your letter of the oath inst in which
you inform Of desire entertained by yourself and
others to place me in nomination before the people Of
the county OF Chautauque, q candidate for the Office
Of member Of the Convention which has been called to
revise the Constitution Of this State has been received
mankind. my habtusl confidence would be revived by
some new act Of friendship the part Of the whg citi
.sns whom you represent Here IL trust, sought BY
red BY the people Of Chautauque county, among whom
are many a. well qualified for 1t as am and yet, 1t
similar kindnesses coming from the quarter Il
would be ungenerous to accept such offer under such
circumsances and no man can ever hnd good motive
Tor an ungenerous act Every personal reason which
existed for continuance in private le still
iss Years have brought with them increase Of the
number and the need for whom labor.
admit that the Constitution must be revised thorough
y revived The State Of New York lies In the gate Of
the continent and has long been receiving full tide of
rican States, well from Europe 10 addition to
raj increase Enjoying the instruction Of half dozen
schools and a. many libraries the state has alarmed its
antqunted guardians by complaints that s condition 10
uncomfortable and its energies cramped by the Constr
tuition assigned 10 quarter Of contury ago. But all
parties sgree not only upon the necessity Of revision,
but upon all the necessary amendments except
nd s that
In the state Of New York can BIO clogged little longer
BY laws Of naturalization and registry acts operating
African. But the progress already made in exploding
these errors gives earnest Of complete triumph
ass ns 10 the and
the opponents Of universal suffrage have fallen back
upon the p.a Of the hopeless debasement Of the African
hors defeat the Of the coored man.
by the ar6ce Of Submitting article for that purpose
TO the people separately from all other amendments to
votes TO destruction, no FIRST makes mad" The apollo
gsts ofslavery in New Hampshire recently separated
kindred question from all other issues, In popular
election, with what result has been seen.
Universal suffrage in this State 10 not local ques-
ton slavery continu - IN the South because the ne
virtually -cs THROUGH their masters for perpetual ala
very while Northern allies dsfranchise free negroes
dom. The evils Of the compact have become intolera.
bie The free States Increasing In population and in
wealth scventy6ve per cent than the saveholdng
states, have fallen into hopeless minority Their In.
terests sacrificed at home and betrayed abroad
We have reached new stage in our national career
ton in an element Of national strength IL the moral
dnon OF the people BE- sound Of national weakness II
that condition be unsound. Slavery has impoverished
the states where exists much, that they inca
pablo Of endowing schools, maintaining mails construct
ing roads, or supporting armies. With principles IN
rom ss,sbi hing proper dsi.ncs. the Slave
holding states ready apologists in every Of TO-
reign injustice snd sssrsssioa The people hay: IN
ths whole Of Oregon The President hsreupon requires
the consent Of Congress for proper notice % Great Br
the notice u altogether lost II is slavery that doth
make ards Of US slln and justly 30. New York
without discontentod citizen subject within her
boIders would be stronger alone than all the twenty
eight states. Massachusetts de6sd England seventy
years ago She has only statesman who would dare
10 commit her to such conflict now and he belongs "a
the revolutionary sge rather than to this.
want no war-Iwant NO enlargement Of territory
sooner than IL would come IL were contsnted with
"a mastery Inactivity" abhor war a. l dstsst
slavery. would not give human Life Tor all the
continent that remains 10 be annexed But cannot
exclude the conviction that the popular passion for ter
rit0ral aggrandixemsnt 10 Irresistible Prudence jus
ce srdce may check II for season. but 1t will gain
strength by s subjugson An American navy 10 hover
ing vers Cruz An American army the heart OF
what Mexico. Let the Oregon question be settled
whom Il may WILL nevertheless, come back sgain. Our
population destined to roll s rssisess to the
barriers Of the NORTH and to encounter Oriental civil
rston on the shores Of the Pacific. The monsrchs Of
Europe to havo rest whils they have colony
naming this oontsest Fpncs has already sold on,
Spain has sold out We shall how long before
Eng sni incnss 10 follow their example, Il behovei
US, then, TO qualify ourselves for our mission. We
must dare destiny. We can do this, and only
do Il, BY early measures which will effect the abolition
Of slavery, without prscipitancy. without oppression
with the consent Of mankind, and tho appreciation o
Heaven. The restorston Of the right Of suffrage Il
freed 10 the hrs sct and will draw after IT, In due
time, the sublime catastrophe Of emancipation.
But this act has already opened There IL need ioI
70 upon the stage have the seconceit to be
lisve that could be az ell useful The people Of Chsu
tauqus county obliged many times. and Away
without solicitation They must now grant me ono favor
upon request which 10, 10 leave mo IN peace at home
Under no circumstances, and upon no consideration
could consent to be candidate for public Office.
am, very respectfully, your obliged
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.