The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-07-26

Ohio, a. its choice for Presidential candidate, il
lS60-in order To secure that desirable result
and for the purpose, doubtless, Of intoxicating &
correct and iorbearant -piii, among the members
OF the Republican party-is employing itself, MOI
so much in advocating and pressing the merits o
its candidate "a in malignins William II. Seward
in which enterprise il pays little regard TO the
political antecedents of that statesman. In the
opinion Of the editor Of the Newaygo Republican,
it is right and meritorious tina, the name of his
own favori,e candidate for a Presidential nomina.
ton should float at the masthead Of the Repub.
hcan ship, hu, il Is with profound grief and NOR.
LITIGATION that he finds himself compelled by a
words:
"We already discover the usual casting about
and fishing in the muddy waters of politics, by
those who live in that diabolical pool, preparatory
20 making some kind Of "haul" for the Prcsi.
dency in 1860. Conspicuous among these All glers
Is VIM II. Seward Of New York"
Chase floats " from the ensign halyard-, ." while
Seward fishes in the muddy waters" OF the adj.
abolcal pool" below
A"S S"''V' VI th' ~ p'scttcfH pfDtcfi- tD SilDN
Why it is All act Of sheer presumption for the
friends Of Mr.. Seward to urge his name before
the National Convention Of 1860 Firstly, be-
cause, a. he says:
=" Seward was never practically ani;-Slaverv
until the corruptons Of the Democratic and the
enervaton Of tie Wing prtes created revnlu-
ton among the people, whereupon, his arch scru-
tiny percsiving the current OF popular opinion,
was soon found floating with it,"
To proposition novel and 80 astounding,
We can make no other answer than 10 recur 10
the public course of Mr.. Seward, which We shall
do at some length before this article Closes
The two articles To winch We refer, are filed
with injurious expressions concerning Mr. sew
ards political cour-", calculated To stir up his
friends, wherever they miy bs, and are therefore
in bad taste, and bad Judgment at this time esp,.-
c'ally, when by common consent among the Re-
publican press IF Michigan, the subject of men,
~ connected viii, the residential nomination.
has he"n allowed Ia rest until the appropriate
time for action. Such mos, assurcdly has been
the course Of this paper, and ~ far "A, our ob-er-
vatlon has extended, such IN, been tI,. aim OF
the Republican press OF the State but no such
course can he mainiained If papers pretending
To be Republican, are To devote their energies Ia
open utilization OF statesmen whose services and
talents hay. made them objects of envy or appre-
henson to the friends Of other candidates. 4
truer heart a more noble nature. or a more self.
sacrificing spirit To the instincts Of duy and con-
science, than is borne in the breast of William
n. Seward, does not exist, aud So believing, we
are not disposed to listen too implicitly To- the
dictates of a cold prudence, while he ia being
stabbed in the house of his friends to make way
Tor man who never wal, and never will be his
better.
IL - sal and fatal fault among the fraternity
ct Republican editors, a. has been shown in two
Senatorial contests in this State, and upon other
OCCASIONS that they cannot enjoy their preere nee,
and take the chances, without at once sliding
down the proc'ivity of diatribe, and seeking to
make the rival candidate more detestable even
than the Locofoco estimate of him. But let u
See how far and how long Mr.. Seward has been
practically anti-Slavery"
Whoever is familiar with the political course
Of Mr.. Seward, knows that from his earliest
manhood he has waged a consistent and deter
mined war against human slavery. He publicly
spoke against the institution and its extension,
at Auburn, on the 4th of July, 1925, where he
reviewed the Missouri Compromise and its con.
sequences.
In 1912, through his Influence and exertons.
the law authorizing a STAKEHOLDER travelling
through New York with his slaves TO retain
them for nine months, was repealed 1t was by
this repeal that the slaves in the Lemon case,
brought from Virginia to New York, to be ship
ped to Texas, were saved from perpetual bond
age.
Through the means, and by the assiduitv and
promptness of William ii. Seward, an act wa.
passed by the Legislature of New York, in 1912,
allowing the right of jury trial TO allcdgcd slaves
and in 1850 he hbored with equal zeal for the
incorporation of a similar provision in the Com
promise bill in Congress
Through Gov. Stewards means, and at his sole
instance, an act was passed prohibiting the State
officers OF the State of New York from par,ici-
Pating in actions for the recovery of slaves, and
denying the use of public isils for their deten-
ton.
In 1910, ne urged and procured the passage o,
law for the recovery of free colored citizens OF
New York, who should be kidnapped into sa-
very. He urged in his last message, the aboli-
ton OF the freehold qualification for colore,l
voters. His attitude in the Virginia case" a
1t has been called, is "record enough in itself
to indicate Gov. Seward from the charge OF
having followed, instead of having led popular
opinion upon this grave subject. The features
OF that case were GaIniiiar 10 all true Nor
thern men, but since 40 many marked and i'm
portant events appear TO have been forgotten, it
may be that the Virginia case" is among them.
A Norfolk, Va, brig arrived at New York in
1889, bringing slave hid in the hold. Three
coicred men on board were supposed TO sympa-
thse with this slave. and af'idavits for their ar
rest were made, as privy to the escape of the
slave. A requisition was made upon Gov. Sew
ard, based upon these afidavi,s. but before the
reauisition reached Gov. Seward, the seamen
had been brought before Robert III. Morris r..
corter Of the city of New York. and b,a hon,
discharged by him, upon the ground of INSULT
eient aihdavts. The Lieut.. Gov. of yirs;,i,
however, persisted in his application TO Gov
Seward. who might have sheltered himsai, u,5,,
h 4