, 1868-08-07
Tho National Democratic Nominees.
Horauo seymour.

born in Pompey, Onondaga county, New
York, IN the year 1911, and is consequently
about 6fty-seven years Of age. The family
to which Mr.. Seymour belongs is descended
from Richard Seymour, who was one of the
original settlers Of Hartford, Conn. Major
Moses Seymour, the fourth lineal descendant,
served in the Revolutionary War, and sub
sequeutly represented Litchfeld in the Leg
islature of Connecticut for seventeen years
Of bis five sous, Henry Seymour, father of
HoratiO, was born in 1880. He removed to
Utica, in New York, served in the State
Legislature with signal ability, and was for
many years Canal Commissioner, occupying
a prominent position in the politics and leg
islature Of the State. One of his brothers
was distinguished member of the United
State Senate from Vermont for twelve years.
Hon. Origen Seymour, for some time Re-
preventative in Con gress from the Litchfeld
District of Connecticut, was the son of
another brother named Ozias. The maternal
grandfather of Mr.. Seymour, Colonel Forman,
served through the Revolutionary War in
the New Jersey line.
Mr. Seymour received liberal and thor
ough education in the best institutions of the
State His instincts and preferences natur,
ally led him to the study Of the law, which
be pursued with great vigor and industry.
He was admitted 10 the bar when only a
little more than twenty years of age, and at
once commenced the practice of his profess
ion in the city of Utica. The death of his
father, however, soon afterwards devolved
upon him so great responsibilities in counec-
ton with the settlement of the family estate,
as to require the most of his time and atten-
tion, obliging him, much against his will, to
relinquish the practice of his profession.
The death of his wife's father, the late John
r. Bleecker, occurring about the same time
added to his numerous cares in the adjusts
ment of important property interests Some
of the best years OF Mr.. Seymour's life were
absorbed in this work, but no doubt his
mind was being schooled, as it could not
otherwise have been, for the graver RESPONSE
bilities and duties that were to come in after
life. Up TO this time Mr.. Seymour had
acted no prominent part in political life,
although from his youth, as were his ances-
tors before him, he had always been strong
ly attached, through sympathy and taste, to
the democrats party. In the fall Of 'l84l
when not thirty years of age, Mr.. Seymour
consented to the use of his name as demo-
cratic candidate for member of Assembly.
Although the Wings were at that time large
y in the ascendancy in Utica, Mr.. Seymour
was triumphantly elected by large major,
ity. In the Legislature Mr.. Seymour at
once took commanding position upon the
great questions involving the interests of the
State, engaging in debates with great ferven-
cy and assisting largerly in shaping the
legislation of the session. Among his Leg.
islative associates were John A. Dix, Michael
Hoffman, David R. Floyd Jones, George R.
Davis, Lemue Stetson aud calvin T. Hull
5urd. The democrats at that time were in
the ascendancy in both branches of the
Legislature, and the great measure of the
session was Michael Hofflnan's bill in relal
ton to finances, which was supported and
passed by the democrats. In the success of
this measure, which was destined to restore
the deprecated financial credit of the State,
Mr.. Seymour took an active and sympathetic
interest, displaying for the first time the
forensic ability and oratorical power that
have since distinguished him.
In the spring Of l842 Mr.. Seymour was
elected Mayor of the City of Utica, despite
the continued hostility and opposition of
the wings. In the fall of l843, he was
again elected member of the lower House of
the Legislature, and was reelected to, and
served in the same position during the ses-
sions of 1874 and 1845. The session of
1874 was an important and exciting one, the
Assembly being agitated with acrimonious
contests, chiefly springing from contemplated
opposition to the administration of Governor
Bouck. The leader in the debates of the
session were Mr.. Seymour and Mr.. Hoffman,
the recognized leader of the Legislature in
lS42, and formidable antagonist in debate,
but Mr. Seymour appears to have coped with
him successfully, and to have won not only
the plaudits of his political associates but
the praises of his constituents likewise. The
session of 1S45 opened with changed spirit,
based upon the victorious election of Mr..
Polk to the Presidency At the outset of
this session Mr.. Seymour was induced by
his friends to enter the contest for Speaker.
ship, to which position he was triumphantly
elected, despite a violent factional fight,
which seriously threatened his prospects
One of the prominent and important events
of this session was the election of Daniel S.
Dickinson to the United States Senate, in
which Mr.. Seymour took leading and ac.
tive part. He also engaged with fervent
spirit in the discussion relative to the call
for convention to amend the Constitution,
but voted against the bill providing for that
measure. With this session Mr.. Seymour's
legislative career was brought to a close.
For the succeeding five years Mr.. Sey-
mour was not prominent in public life, hav-
ing resumed the practice of law in the City
of Utica. By the action of the Legislature
of 1850, providing for the enlargement and
improvement of the Erie Canal, and ap>
propriating the revenue of the State in con-
traventiou to the provisions of the Constitu-
ton, Mr.. Seymour again assumed leading
position in State politics, and most earnestly
resisted this effort to override the provisions
of Constitution so recently adopted. On
account of his strenuous opposition to that
/ H. La g. IL