The New York herald., 1865-01-07


contributions will be taken up In all our
churches al an early day. We understand that
one gentleman has already received donation
Of $4,000 In aid Of the measure.
We notice that meeting with the same COM
mendable object has been called by the citizens
Of Boston. Let tho contest between these two
cities be an animated one. II the headquarters
Of sboiitionism are astir, New York, conserva-
tive and muniAcent. must not fall behind
EXIT Governor seymeur-Enter Governor
Fentoa.
The defeat Of Horatio Seymour by Cover
nor Fenton was tho natural result Of the politi-
cal course which the former gentleman has
seen ct to pursue since tho outbreak Of this
war. Whether he will ever rise to the surface
again is, to say the least, exceedingly doubtful,
although we understand that his friends enter
tain strong hopes for him should the democracy
again obtain possession Of the national admin
istration. If this be true, they had better
nnrse these anticipations In secret, since an in
discreet public avowal Of them would certainly
do much to prevent the consummation neces-
sary to their fulflment But Horado Seymour's
history Will often be used to point moral or
adorn tale; and, before we allow him to sink
into the retirement which awaits him, we must
make him the text for brief political sermon.
So soon as this war began Mr. Seymour ct
tempted to adopt . neutral position. New, in
civil wars It Is impossible to be neutral When
ono ia in the midst Of river he must either
float or sink. Before long. therefore, Mr.. Sey-
mour showed very clearly that his symps-
thies were with the South. In spite Of this he
was nominated for Governor by the democrats
In 1862. At FIRST II appeared to M that his
election was an impossibility, and yet we were
very anxious to have him elected, II he would
correct his secession tendencies, 30 that we
might use him to rebuke the national admins
tration, which was at that time much more par
tisan than patriotic. By the most strenuous
efforts and the most unremitting labor we at
length lifted Mr.. Seymour upon the war plat
form, and then we knew that his election was
assured. But having once raised him to that
platform, it was with the greatest difficulty that
we could keep him there He was as slippery
rs an eel, and had bad habit Of wriggling
into the peace ,mire as soon as he left this mo
tropolis However, we did hold him upon the
war platform, and upon that platform he was
elected.
The sequel Of tho story our readers already
know. The moment the election was over ana
we released Mr.. Seymour from our grasp. he
slid from war to peace with the celerity OF
thought. His whole career as Governor was
marked by conspicuous absence Of ability.
He was continually doing those things which he
ought not to have done, and saying those things
which he ought not to have said. Although he
knew how important it was to have the great
State Of New York. nation Of itself-in close
alliance With the general government for the
purposes of the war, he often seemed deter
mined to bring about conflict between the
State ard national authorities, and was con-
stantly Suggesting little malicious impediments
to elnbarrass those more active or more
patriotic than himself When prompt measures
were required he displayed more imbecility
than energy. To turn every circumstance to
his personal or political account was, appa-
rently, his sole object Perhaps he desired the
Chicago nomination for President; but, II so,
he never had the slightest chance for It. Say
ing foolish things, writing foolish things and
doing foolish things, he wasted opportunities
which might have been valuable to the country,
and became one Of the most unpopular persons
In the State.
II is currently reported that Governor Sey-
mour secured his denomination In 1854 by q
trick. He prevailed upon the Convention to
give him complimentary vote as reward Of
his services, and then withdrew his promise not
to accept Whether this be 30 or not, we neither
know nor care. Political nominations are
generally secured by tricks Of one kind or
another; and. If Mr. Seymour tricked the
he only outwitted those who
would have been quite ready TO outwit
him were anything to be gained by It Once
all the machinery Of the party was
put in operation to elect him The small and
puny men by whom he had surrounded him
self pulled all their little wires Great stress
was placed upon the fact that the liquor deal
ers were in his favor. But against the machine
and against the wirepullers was the strong,
hearty Union sentiment Of the people, and that
defeated him. We predicted this result, and
rcjoiced at 1t. He went down with the Woods
and with vallandigham, and Is buried with
them His example should serve as warning
to his successor, and to every public man. Had
Seymour taken the advice Of the HERALD-had
he remained upon the platform where we placed
him-had he been true to the Union and loyal
in his support Of the government-he might
have continued to be Governor Of New York so
long as he pleased. And We assure those
leaders Of the democracy who have survived
the recent storm, that, II they do not observe
and adopt the course Of the HERALD for the
next foxr years, they win be wrecked and
ruined as utterly as Horatio Seymour, in spite
Of their fine prospects and programmes for
a