Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-23
political.
Prom the n II Statesman.
FACTS IN THE LIFE OF MR.. SEW
ARD

/ Irish decent, strongly marked with the ma
tional characteristics Of generosity and hos
pitality for which that people are well known.
Mr. Seward has never forgotten his Irish
parentage as a constant defence Of that class
Of his fellow-citizens so fully proves.
After the common advantages of young
men in a land of free schools, young Seward,
in tho year 1916, entered Union College,
Schenectady, n. Y. In his College course he
evinoed the traits Of industry, Independence
and philanthropy, which have characterized
his public career. When in his Senior year
he withdrew from College for year, and
spent six months as a teacher of youth at the
South, and the remainder in the study Of the
law. When the next Senior class reached
tho point at which he left his own, he returned
to College, and graduated with the highest
honors. Mr.. Seward, at Schenectady Col
lege, like the late John G. Calhoun at Yale,
was a pupil who attracted the particular at
tention Of President Mott, as did Mr.. Cal
houn of President Dwight, for the uncom-
mon promise they gave of future distinction.
Mr. Seward resumed the study Of law with
John Anthon, Esq, Of New York city, com
peting his course at Goshen with John Ducr
and Ogden Hoffman, and in January, 1923,
/ then a little more than 2l years Of age, com.
]
burn, which, except the intervals when he
was absent in the public service, has been his
abiding place until the present day. The
/ little building which he first occupied as
law office after reaching Auburn, was the
subject of remark in a recent address at the
rail station in that town. after reaching home
from his European excursion.
According TO the extended auto biography
Of Mr. Seward Of which this is abridge-
ment. his first election was TO the Senate Of
New York in 1880. From his entrance into
business, however, be appears TO have mani
tested taste for political affairs. In 1924
then younger than most men to whom such
tasks are committed, he was chosen by bis
fellow-citzens to prepare an address to the
people-which is still preserved as produc-
tion Of universal merit His speeches in the
Senate of New York attracted large share
Of public attention He was a member Of
that body four years, and, among other OBJ
iects advocated the abolition of imprisonment
for debt. improvement in prison discipline, the
election Of various officers by the people in
stead Of their appointment by the Governor
and Senate, and the interests of popular edu-
cation and internal Improvement. His speech
es, even during that very early period in his
career, were admired at the time, and have
not, even now, lost their interest and value.
In 1883 Mr.. Seward was nominated by
his party for Governor of New York, but his
time had not fully come. In 1887 however,
he was chosen to that office by decisive ma
joriry, being only SO years Of age younger
than any one who, before or since, has been
chosen to the Chief Magistracy of the EN-
pire State. Being from youth up an earnest
man. Mr.. Seward was not satisfied with the
mere exercise of the routine duties Of gov
ernor-signng bills and exercising so much
Of a supervision over public affairs as TO see
that the wheels Of State did not stop-but
embraced every suitable opportunity to bring
to the attention of the Legislature the CON
sideration of measures by which the happi-
meas Of the people would be increased and
public prosperity augmented. lie was a
chief magistrate desirous that his native State
should make progress through the abundant
facilities she possesses, the great central COM
monwealth between the Lakes and the Sea.
He early formed a strong attachment to De
Witt Clinton, and was next in the order Of
New York governors who pursued the policy
of that celebrated man. Mr.. Stewards chief
magistracy, like all his other public labors,
was distinguished for unweared industry,
unyielding independence, and incorruptible
The last vestge of Slavery in the State
was extirpated under his auspices. The
cause of popular education secured large
share of his attention. and he recommended
, measures intended to bring all the children of
the city Of New York under the influence Of
common schools. Internal improvements,
embracing the enlargement of the Erie Canal,
building new and lateral canals the New
York and Erie Railroad, and other roads Of
less magnitude, received constant and ener-
getic support from him. He sought to meli-
orate, so far as consistent with punishment
for crime, the condition of convicts in the
prisons of the commonwealth. To this end,
the use of the lash was discontinued, libraries
were introduced, and a regular system Of
moral and intellectual training established
Mr.. Seward never suffered his public duties
in elective offices to divert his mind from the
profession he early chose and upon the de-
feat of the great Henry Clay as the Wing
candidate for the Presidency in 1874, Mr.
Seward returned, with unabated ardor, to the
law. As in all other labors to which he ever
turned his mind, so in his chosen profession,
Mr.. Seward was unweariod in exertions for
all who committed their causes to him. Be-
sides attending to a large and lucrative prac-
ice, involving the rights of inventors under
the Patent Laws, he was never content to see
the poor and friendless prisoner suffer for
want of counsel. The cases in which he act
ed in behalf of such persons without com
pensation are too numerous to be set forth
{ fully in this sketch.
Mr.. Seward became a member of the Sen
ate of the United States in 1919, and his ca
reer from that time until now is sufficiently
recent to render unnecessary any further
statement of facts in his life. He stands
now, in the judgment of the country, the first
statesman on the continent-without peer
amongst living men here, and equal, perhaps,
to any who have preceded him in the councils
of the nation. He may or he may not be-
come the Republican candidate for the Presi-
denoy. Whether it be or not, the present
is an appropriate time to give tke chief Incl
dents in his life; and they now accompany
the speech just delivered, which has probably
been read by more men than even, in tho
same number of consecutive days, read any
other production Of an American statesman.
AN EXPENsIvE CHEw.--A gentleman re-
siding in New York, on his way to Washing