The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-07-31
Jhe 8edforA Gazette.
OUR CANDIDATES.

His early advantages in schooling
were superior to those of most Ameri-
cans of the time, and his education
from the beginning has been a most
liberal one. Developing a preference
for the law, he set to work at an early
age to educate himself for the bar.
His keen perception, quick intellect,
not less than his constancy and perse-
verance, enabled him to acquire an en-
Viable position as a lawyer, while still
a young man. He commenced his
practice in Utica, New York State ;
and his professional career, in relation
to his clients, to his legal cOnfreres, and
to his general reputation, was eminent
ly successful. 1t is scarcely to be won
dered at that, with such prominent ele-
ments Of success and popularity, he
should at once have been called to the
public service.
The first prominent Office which Mr..
Seymour accepted was i'll the year
1912, when he was a little more than
30 years of age. He was in that year
elected to represent his district i'll the
legislative assembly; and he continued
to discharge bis duties as a member Of
| the State legislature until 1915. Dur
ing this service, he showed such ability,
firmness, and faithfulness to duty, that,
skipping the usual intermediate steps
of distinction, the Democratic party
nominated him for the GovernOrship
of the State of New York in the year
1850. His opponent was Mr.. Wash
ington Hunt, who, indeed, was elect
ed ; but Mr.. Seymour ma e, by his
own personal efforts, the contest one of
the sharpest that have ever been re-
corded in the political annals of the
State.
At the very next election, in 1852,
the New York Democracy confirmed
their faith in Mr.. Seymour, and, by
nominating him again for the office of
Governor, testified that they attribu-
ted their defeat in no wise to their
candidate, to his want of ability, ener-
gy, or integrity. The result proved
that they were right in their faith, for
Mr.. Seymour was elected to the chief
office of the State of New York by an
overwhelming majority. He took his
seat as Governor, and his term Of office
was characterized by many measures
of great Denefit to the commemorative.
His native dignity, of which a good
idea may be formed by those of Chica-
g0'S citizens who saw him preside at
the Chicago Convention in 1864, is
singularly adapted to any position
that demands earnestness and decis-
ion. Even at this early day, he evinc-
ed a determination to counteract the
growing tendency to fanaticisn, CEN
traIization, and the undue assumption
Of power, inconsistent with the spirit
of our government. One of the most
noteworthy acts of his term was in his
veto of the Maine-law liquor bill. His
foresight was penetrating enough to
discern the evils that would follow a
measure that had no basis of principle
upon which to stand.
In 1856, Mr.. Seymour's name was
prominently mentioned in the Demo-
cratic National convention in connec-
ton with the Presidency, and he was
already regarded as one of the ablest
statesmen and truest Democrats in the
land. In 1862, he received the nOmi-
nation for the governorship of New
York, in opposition to General Wads-
worth. This contest is memorable in
the history of the country. Governor
Seymour met the issue, as he always
does, openly and clearly. With a
heart and a will for the preservation Of
the Union, which was afterwards
practically and satisfactorily put to the
test, he opposed the corruption of the
party in power with all his strength.
In order to fOrestall any efforts which
may be made to challenge his devotion
to the Union, we give an extract from
a speech which he delivered during
his canvass in 1862. In his glowing,
polished style, he said:
"Now, when the men of the South
make the bayonet and the sword the
arbiter (they elected, and not We;)
when they determined to settle it by
blood land not We the sword, so far
as the present is concerned, must be the
arbiter; and in our strong arms it shall
make vigorous and true blows for the
life of our country, for its institutions,
and for its flag. Now, let me say this
to the higher law men of the North,
and to the higher law men of the South,
and to the whole world that looks on,
witnesses to the mighty events tram
spring in this country, that this Union
shall never be severed, no, never.
Whatever other men may say, as for
the conservative people of this country,
and as for myself as an individually =
let other men say and think what they
please for the division Of this u
nion, and the breaking up of that great
natural alliance which is made by ma
ture and by natures God, never will
consent to it,-no, never, as long as |
have voice to raise or hand to fight
for this, our glorious land"
AT bis Inauguration as Governor of