The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-19
ORIGINAL ARTICLES.


Although the present governor Of Connecticut,
Thomas Il. Seymour, will not probably be re-
slected, in consequence Of there being whig ma
jority in the Legislature of that State, elects the
family OF Seymour seem to be still in luck, by the
election Of Origen S seymour, of Litchfeld, to
Congress, from the district composed Of Litchfeld
and Fairfield countless; which district was repre-
sented by a whig, (Mr. Butler,) in the last Con-
gress.
Origen S. Seymour is lawyer of LitchGeld, and
was speaker of the House last year in the Connect
cut Legislature. His father brother of the late
Henry Seymour Of this State, who was native Of
Litchfeld, Conn. The Of the latter, Horatio
Seymour, was the democratic candidate for Cover
nor of New York, at the last election, and was de-
feated by very small majority in favor of Wash
ishington Hunt. The present Governor of Con
necticut, Thomas IL. Seymour, is distant relative
of the two we have named. lie feow-student
in Capt Partridge's military school, uhen at Mid
dletown, Connecticut,) with Horatio Seymour
David L. Seymour, Of Troy, in this State, who
was elected to Congress from Rensselaer, county
last fall, is also relative of Horatio Seymour and
was in Congress with Thomas Ii. Seymour, in the
18th Congress, Qs43-5.) The latter gentleman,
while member Of the House, took the pains to
inquire Of each member as to the place of his
tiyity; and he found forty members in that Con-
gress who had emigrated from Connecticut, OF
whose parents had resided there.
The four Seymours have named arc of the de-
mocratic party, as was the late Henry Seymour, of
this State. His brother, IIoratio Seymour, Of
Vermont, was, however, a conspicuous wing, and
represented that State in the United States Senate,
for two terms, or twelve years, viz, from 1921 to
1893. William Seymour, n democratic lawyer, Of
Binghamton, Broome county, Wy, represented the
Delaware and Broomc district in the twenty-four,h
Congress, 1851 lie was elected over the late
celebrated politician, General Erastus Root, who
then ran as whig, having formerly represented
the same district democrat Seymour received
majority of III in Delaware, Roots own county,
ard Root had majority Of 800 in Brooine, the
county Of Seymour's residence
The late Henry Seymour emigratcd carly in life
from Litchfeld, Connecticut, to Onondaga county,
in this State, and afterwards removed to Utica.
where his son, Horato Seymour, resides lie was
for a long time conspicuous in the politics Of this
State, and considered by Mr.. Van Buren, and
the Albany regency, of their most sagacious
and trustworthy adhercnts He elected to the
State Senate in 1915, by the democratic party,
two years before the election of Dewitt Clinton as
Governor. When the latter came into Office, in 1917
who was them also, member of the State Senate,
in organizing the bucktal party, to oppose the
administration of Governor Clinton. Mr. Hammond,
who was likewise in the State Senate, from 1918 to
1922, describes Mr.. Henry Seymour as well bred
man, and very gentlemany in his department
His great native shrcwdness and sagacity had
been improved and highly cultivated by association
with genteel society. As politician, he was eau
anI i lie road nxv,th
being jcsutical, but Of this, Mr.. Hammond says
he cannot speak from his own knowledge; for he
certainly never gave him any proofs of a want Of
sincerity and candor. lie was then country mer-
chant in the county Of onondaga. His opposition
TO Gov Clinton Mr.. III. does not think originated
from personal motives, but, is inclined to believe
that MIR. Seymour thought Mr. Clnton's policy,
if sustained would endanger the republican parity
and his attachment personally to Mr.. Van Buren,,
controllei him in his political action.
Under the first constitution of the State Of New
York, it will be reeollected that appointments to
office were made by council, consisting Of the to-
vernon and four Senators-the latter chosen by the
Assembly annually, and selected from the four
great Senate districts into which the Senate was
then divided Mr.. Van Buren,, having osganzed
the bucktail party, to operate against Gov. Gin
ton, in 1878, DESTROYS Of having council Of ap
pointment chosen which should be subservien his
views. which the Governor could not control. but
for whose acts, the public would hold him Gov Gin
ton) responsible. In other words, Mr. Van Buren,
wished 10 elect council which should be nominally
tlintonian, hut which at the same time. should be
really hostile TO the Governor. Partly by manage
mcnt, and partly by accident a council OF the cha
racter last described, actually chosen. AZ
though the Clinonians held o majority IN the As
sembiy, the Bucktails, led by Van Buren,, managed
10 get up quarrel respecting two of the cand-
dates. Tor the council. and consequently the Sena-
tors chosen were Peter X. Livingston, Jabez H.
Hammond, Henry Yates, and Henry Seymour. of
these, the only sincere friend Of Gov Clinton
was Hammond; Livingston and Seymour we're de-
eided bncktails Yates Was doubtful but eventually
went wi IA the bucktai.. This election of council
considered Of the neates, add most ingenious
of the many political tricks played by Van Buren,.
The moment the council was chosen, il was stated
that he wrote 10 a friend ia Columbia county the
following brief letter.
"All is safe. Seymour, Seymour. Seymour
The following year, ut the Legislative session Of
Isl9, Mr. Seymour chosen canal commissioner
in opposition To the late Ephram Hart, Of ltica,
who was then also member of the state senate,
and had been then temporarily appointed to the
Office in question. by t'oy Clinton in pursuance OF
authority vested IN him by law, az the vacancy
happened in the recess Of the Legislature AS NJ.
Hart bad many bitter enemies among the old
federaiists il easy TO intrigue against him
with members Of the Legislature. He was. how
ever, of his that he was angry with
friend for suggesting fears that he might be
beaten MIR. Seymour was nominated in the Senate.
where the bucktals had n majority; and Nlr. Hart
in the Assembly, where the Glintonans prevailed.
Mr.. Seymour wa chosen on joint ballot of the two
houses. by majority If one vote, receiving some
fifteen twenty votes from his political opponents.
the Clintonans and federais,s besides the otes of
his own party. Thi. was a second triumph Of the
buck;ails in the Legislature. through the name of
seymour: and by putting him in the Canal Board.
they not only thwarted the wishes Of GOV. Clinton
typlacng political enemy by his side, but greatly
promoted the bucLtal party interests, through the
,agscity and exercise of power by Mr.. Seymour.
In is2i the control Of the ioard of ANAL Commits
sioncrs placed in the hand Of The bucktails,
by adding William g. Bouck, afterwards Governor,
TO the Roard Gov. Hinton was still retained a.
Of the commissioners and 80 continued until he
commissioners were stephen Van Rensselaer,.
samuel Young. and Alyron IIoley. The latter
gentleman, although he had been a Clintonian.
finally co-crerGted with Mcsrs. Young, Seymour
and touck.