The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-21
Sketch of the Life OF Mr. Seward.

sketch Of the Life OF mr.. Seward.
We condense the following account Of
the life and public services Of Mr.. SEWARD
from the American Oyolopedia: hsI,.a
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD was born in Flor
ida, Orange county, New York, May 1901.
His father, Samuel 8. Seward, who died in
1s49, was physician, and combined with his
profession large mercantile business, by
which he amassed fortune. William Henry
when nine years old was sent to an academy at
Goshen, among whose pupils had been Noah
Webster and Aaron Burr. At fifteen he went
to Union College, qualified for the junior
class, though he entered the sophomore. Az
ter taking his degree he became student at
law, and was admitted to the bar in 1922. He
removed to Auburn the next year, forming
law partnership with Judge Miller, whose
youngest daughter, Frances Adeline, he mar
ried IN 1924. In 1880 he was elected to the
State Senate as an anti-mason by majority OF
1900, although the district had given large
adverse majority the preceding year. In 1888
he visited Europe, and made rapid tour of
Great Britain and portion of the continent,
publishing the result of his observations in
series of letters which appeared in the Albany
Eyeniag Journal In 1884 he was nominated
for Governor by the Wing party, but was de-
feated in the election by w. L. Marcy, although
in every county he led his ticket. In 1886 he
became the agent of the Holland Land Com
pany. In 1888 he was again nominated for
Governor by the Wings, and in . hotly con-
tested election was successful by majority of
10, 600 over his former competitor, Gov. Marcy.
Mr.. Seward held the Office of Governor for two
terms, having been reelected in 1910. He
early announced his intention not to be can
didate for third term. On retiring from
Office he again resumed the practice of law,
first in the courts of his own State, and after
ward acquiring o lucrative share Of patent
causes in the courts of the United States. In
1874 Mr.. Seward entered with energy into the
Presidential contest in behalf of Henry Clay,
and again in 184S in support of Gen. Taylor.
With the election of Gen. Taylor q large ma
jority of Mr.. Stewards friends were returned to
the Legislature of New York, who early Sc
lected him as their candidate for United States
Senator, in place of Gen. Dix, whose term was
about to expire. In the election Feb. 1S49)
Mr.. Seward received 121 votes to 30 for all
others.
Gen. Taylor early chose Mr.. Seward as one
of his confidential friends and advisers, aHd he
soon came to be regarded as the leader of the
administration party. A violent contest in
Congress Immediately commenced. Mr.. Sew
ard avowed determination to make no fur
ther concessions to the slave power, and was
denounced as seditious and dangerous agita.
tor. In q speech on the admission of Califor-
mia into the Union, March II, 1850, he used the
following language: 1t is true, indeed, that
the national domain is ours. It is true, it was
acquired by the valor and with the wealth of
the whole nation. But we hold, nevertheless,
no arbitrary power over it. We hold no arbi-
trary authority over anything, whether &C.
quired lawfully or seized by usurpation. The
Constitution regulates our stewardship; the
Constitution devotes the domain to union, to
justice, to defence, to welfare, and to liberty.
But there is higher law than the Constitution
which regulates our authority over the domain
and devotes it to the same noble purposes.
The territory is part-no uncomfortable part
of the common heritage of mankind, be-
slowed upon them by the Creator of the uni
verse. We are his stewards, and must so dis
charge our trust as to secure in the highest at
tainable degree their happiness" The phrase
higher law" thus applied to the law of God,
was the subject of much excited comment in
the Senate and in the public press, and has
ever since been urged as ground of reproach
by the political enemies of Mr. Seward.
Mr.. Stewards second term closed with the
26th Congress, March 8, 1861. He had been
reelected in 1856 under circumstances Of pecu-
liar interest. He was strenuously opposed by
both those who disliked his gncompromising
resistance to the slave inter( + and by those
who could not endure his persistent opposition
to the exclusive creed of the American n
party. at that time rising power throughout
the Union. d
The Wing party, to which Mr.. Seward had
belonged since its organization, in 1852 adopt.
ed platform approving of the slavery COM
promises of 1850, at the same time nominating
Gen. Scott for the Presidency. while Mr..
Seward could not sustain the platform, he
yielded his support to the nominee, who be-
fore the convention had been already regarded
as his favorite candidate. In 1856 the Repub-
lican party nominated Col. Fremont for the
Presidency. Mr.. Stewards labors in the can
vass were jealous and effective In 1860, as in
1856, q large portion of the Republican party
favored his nomination for the Presidency. In
the convention, on the first ballot he received
173 votes; Mr.. Lincoln, the next highest, 103
necessary for a choice, 233. On the final
ballot Mr. Lincoln was nominated. Mr.. Sew