The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-15

lhC ZION. WIN. u. oEW\HO u 70 SPEAK tO-mOr-
row evening at Poughkeepsie at great political
meeting. Mr.. Seward has made but one speech
as yet during this canvass, at Detroit: it was re-
ported in some Of the newspapers, and VIC gave
our opinion on it at the time intimating that il
was not the speech that might have been expect
ed of Mr.. Seward at the present time.
Mr.. Seward is man of very peculiar intel
lectual calibre. By his admirers iu this State,
be is praised and esteemed as one of the greatest
statesmen of the country; while those on the con-
trary, who DO not admire him as q leader, and
| who Judge his character from his acts, set him
| down as no higher than demagogue. In our
opinion, the latter view is the more correct All
the life of William II. Seward has been an Illus
ration Of demagogueism. He first sprung into
notice on the strength of the senseless excitement
| in reference to anti masonry. man named
named Morgan of Batavia, in ct OF delirium ire
I mens consequent upon long continued habits Of
| intemperance, published book to disclose the
secrets Of free masonry. Upon this some persons
in Batavia calling themselves Massns, aud given
TO the same habits as Morgan, abducted the poor
fellow and carried him of. His Disappearance
gave rise to local excitement which lasted long
enough to give political birth to William H.
Seward. His squire, Thurlow Weed, established
o paper which he called the 4ai-Aaso,sic III
Qairer, attacked The Masons, and succeeded in re
turning several members to the Legislature, one
Of whom was Mr.. Seward
This was the platform from which he spraug
and it is but just to him to say that he appears to
have been consistent in his attachment to il
Every sectional excitement, every local agitation
every momentary feeling has been stimulated by
him, and has counted him among its leaders His
principal support and agitation OF late years have
been derived from the anti-siayery agitation
which has enabled him to take a very prominent
part in national politics But here again We
note the peculiar character OF the man. This
great controversy In which al the country is en-
gagged il the firs. in which the question Of anti
slavery has entered into the Presidential contest
has VIM H. Seward taken in that controversy .he
position Of great statesman, adhering to the
constitution with al its guarantees, and doing
justice to the whole country? In our opinion he
has not. he has denounced all the Shareholders
when II is well known that it il only small por-
ton Of The slaveholding class aided by another
small portion Of non-slavcholdcrs, that hayecaus
cd the evils Of which he complains: and he has
entirely concealed The fact-now becoming palmer
every day-that the bulk of the shareholders, and
al-o the bulk of the non slayeholding whites OF
he South, are opposed to the course Of the I'D
ministration in Kansas, and earnestly DESTROYS OF
change.
Now, if William H. Sewari--whose talents are
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to stand before the country
in tie light Of a statesman, he must take higher
ground than that which he occupied at Detroit,
and argue the question in view OF the constitn-
ton, and at the level OF the whole country. Il
he does this he may possibly yet stand forth as
the leader Of the party; for, il must be admitted
notwithstanding the opportunity that has offered
90 first class man has yet risen to the surface OF
he Fremont revolution.