The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-10
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Horati0 Seymour,

L HoratiO seymour,
l the nominee Of the Democratic National Conven-
ton for the office OF President OF the United States
Is q native Of the State of New York. having been
born In Onondaga county some time during the year
isii He b consequently afty-seysa years 81 age at
the present writing. His fatz& being Q gentleman
Of wealth MI seymour naiyed ~ sz,arsus eaq9s.
ton, and after his graduation Engaged u the stuoy
OF the law. Upon being admitted tv oe bar no com
menced the practice OF his profession in We town Of
Utica, Oneida county, and soon became popular
!swyer He did not long pursue this occupation.
however. The death OF his father made him sue.
cessor to large and valuable estate attention to the
interests OF which compelled him to abandon all
professional and public labors. He never after re-
s6Eed practice.
Mr. Seymour's political predictions were It may
be said ilherited from his ancestors, all or nearly
all OF whom, were and had been democrats from the
rst formation OF the party To this political organi-
cation the subject Of this sketch gave in his adhe
sion and has ever since adhered to and been
prominent member ~ 1t. He nrst appeared before
the public as q candidate for the SURFACES of his
fellow citizens a. the democratic nominee for the
ONCE OF mayor OF the city Of Uucs. Although that
city had been one of the 4fmest whig str0ngholds
he was elected by a fair majority, a. much owing
though to tine feeling OF dissatisfaction with the
This election took place in lS42. before he
had quite attained his thrty-nrs year. During the
same year he was elected to the lower house Of the
State Legislature, and served until 1S45 when ne de-
clined reelection His ability a. q legislator
brought him considerable reputation and had the
effect OF extending his popularity, which. had
hitherto been confined to rather limited extent OF
territory
From 1916 to 1850 Mr. Seymour does not appear to
have held any political office, although he took an
active part in politics. stumping the State for other
candidates and doing all that he could to further the
interests and insure the success OF the democracy
During the latter year, however, he had attained to
suflicent prominence to warrant his nomina-
ton for the office Of Governor. His opponent
was Washington Hunt. and after q very exciting con-
test Mr.. Hunt was elected by majority OF 1872, in
total Of 42 966 votes cast The balance OF the demo-
cratic ticket was elected and this fact had the effect
Of temporarily obscuring Mr. SeymOur's prospects.
Still he soon recovered from this reverse of fortune,
and In 1852 was renomnated for the same onice As
before his competitor was Mr.. Hunt, whom lie de-
feated, after an exciting Canvass, by q majority Of
"a 1856 total vote OF sos s5T. This victory added
considerably to his popularity, as 1t was believed
to presage a long lease Of power to the
democratic party. His administration was
distinguished by his veto of the Maine
Liquor Law bill, which had passed both houses
Of the Legislature and which action on the part OF
the Governor was regarded at the time a. bold
stroke OF policy But 1t was not fated that the dem
0cratic party should longer remain In power In
1854 four candidates for gubernatorial hOnors ap-
peared in the ned-Horatio Seymour, regular DEM
Ocrat; @. g. Bronson hard shell democrat; Myron H.
Clark. republican, and D. Gilman, Know Nothing.
The split in the democratic party resulted in its de-
feat BY remarkably small majority. Nearly half
million votes were cast Of which Mr.. Clark and Mr.
Seymour received the highest, the former being
elected BY 800 majority.
After this defeat Mr.. Seymour returned to private
life. NOR was his name mentioned again in connec-
ton with public Offices until 1860, when he was
spoken OF a. one OF the possible candidates Of the
democracy for the Presidency The movement,
however, came to nothing He still took an active
part in politics, far vigorous support of all
democratic candidates was concerned. When the
rebellion broke out Mr. Seymour took an active part
In furtherng its suppression and served as chairman
OF the War Committee In his county, aiding IN for
wardng troops to the seat or war. In 1882 he
was once more nominated by the democrats
for the once Of Governor, and was elected by
q majority OF over ten thousand. During
his administration he had quite an angry con-
trOversy with the general government the
subject OF the draf, he claiming that the quota OF
troops from the southern portion OF the State which
gives immense democratic majorities, was larger in
proportion to the voting population tn that Of the
northern or republican sections. The matter was
finally settled by revision OF the draft list In 1853
the draft riots broke out In New York city and Mr.
Seymour Immediately LEFT Albany for this place. Ar
irving here he addressed the rioters, urging them to
dispense and 60 home quietly and promising to DO
all that he could to stay the execution OF the law At
the time he organized force OF citizens, which
ha mad and mt tha nj Oft
from Pennsylvania restored order. In 1854 he was
for the nth time nominated for the once Of Governor
and was defeated by Mr.. Fenton by majority OF
over eight thousand
since the close OF the war Mr.. Seymour has taken
an active part in politics. although he has never
been candidate. In personal appearance he Is
quite dgnined and Is said to be very socable and
hospitable gentleman. As public speaker he Ia
fluent eloquent and argumentative, and wherever
he takes the stump he is always received by large
crowds. Until yesterday he positively asserted that
he would not accept the nomination OF the demo-
cracy for the Presidency; but n Is natural to suppose
that he will reconsider this resolution after the
unanimous vote by which he was nominated
General Francis Pressss Blair, Sr.
This gentleman, the democratic nominee for the
vice Presidency ia q native Of Lexington, KY.
where he was born in 1921 He received an excel
lent education at Princeton College, N. j., and
after graduation returned to his home at st. Louis
NO.. where he became actively engaged In poll
tics He was the political associate or Thomas Ben
ton, and was the first man In Missouri TO denounce
the institution Of slavery In his State Being elected
the State Legislature he soon became distinguished
for his opposition to all measures tending
to benefit slavery, and did much towards
notwithstanding public sentiment In st. Louis,
where ne resided. In 1866 he was elected to
Congress as q republican, and was reelected by in
creased majorities in 1s5s and 1860. Throughout
these years he never ceased his efforts against the
peculiar institution" and the Kansas Territory
dhiculty found him an earnest advocate OF free
soil doctrines. At the commencement OF the rebel.
lion of 1861 he was among the first to organize