The Portland daily press., 1868-07-13

ton called upon him aud performed that duty
Seymour replied, accepting the nomination,
and declaring that it was unsought and I'M
expected, but he found himself unable to resist
the pressure. He endorsed the platform, de-
claring it IN dccorddne aoith has vietos, and
pledglng himself to carry cut its terms in pub
lie or private life. He expressed confidence in
the triumph of the party at the next election
and spoke OF the harmony, patient forbearance
and self-sacrifcing spirit manifested in the
lat. convention. He said he woIld in few
days reply formally by letter as is customary
AT the conclusion of Governor Seymour's
speech General Blair made some remarks ac-
cepting the nomination for Vice Presi Tent,
and pledging himself to alhere to the princi-
pies enunciated in the platform. A few days
ago he made a speech in which, SO far as finan-
cial matters are concerned, no attacked the
platform with bitter inve etives as it de-
serves Chase has hitherto been supposed to
be peerless in infamy among all the dramdtis
person9 of the Democratic Convention, but
really Seymour will be an active competitor
with him for the black laurels. But it need
surprise no one. The following sketch of this
man, from the New York Tribune recalls some
of the events of his life that ought not to be
forgotten:
Governor Seymour's life is more remarkable
for what il lacks than for what it contains
A long catalogue might be made of the pub
lie stations usually filled and official expert
ences enjoyed by politicians before entering
upon the race for the Presidency, and which
are wanting in Mr.. Seymours career. He is
exclusively New York politician, having new
er sat in Congress nor ever held any Federal
office hatever, or been in any way connected
with National affairs Yet though q State
politician his name is identified with no meas
ure OF State policy, as have been those of De
Witt Clinton, Silas Wright Governor Temp
kins, Azariah q. Flagg. Governor Seward in
his earlier career, and other politicians who
won their fame ih the service of the State.
Though Mr. Seymours official positions have
been confined to State officers, his political
capital with the Democratic party has all been
obtained by his views and course on national
| questions, upon which he has always been the
embodiment of timidity solely. II there are
any political crises in which caution or cow
| ardice, favored with duplicity, would be the
highest craftsmanship, Mr.. Seymour might
not prove un equal to such emergencies. But
wherever courage or Executive ability were
required he would be sadly wanting. In this
| as IN all other respects he stands i'm square.
marked, and strong contrast with Gen. Grant
| Two men could have been nominated whose per
| sonal characters and histories would have so
| exactly represented the conflict between the
| Union Republican party and the Democratic
Rebel party during the war as Grant on one
| side and Seymour on the other. Grant never
| held State office, his whole public life being
| identified with the service of the nation at
large. Seymour never held national Office,
| Ii s whole public life being identified with the
| politics of his State. Grants public record is
summed up in the single fact that he saved
| the country in the greatest crisis to which it
| was ever subjected. His part in subduing the
rebellion could have been performed by no
| other person, and it is not too much to say
that without him the rebellion never would
| have been subdued. OF Seymour we can only
| say that he added not by a feathers weight to
| preserve the Union. These contrasting facts
are the gist Of the claims of the two men on
their respec tive parties for the nomination to
the Presidency.
| Passing to his career as Governor, the Trib-
une says:
As Governor, he pursued his characteristic,
timorous course, occupying himself mainly in
that it had been filled instead OF filling it, etc,
until the July riots in this city in opposition
to the draft The object of these riots which
were undertaken while Lees army was still in
PENNSYLVANIA, was to stop the draft, not only
in New York, but in all the States, and SO COM
pei the Government to abandon the war. A
series of vast murderous mObs of many thous-
ands each, swayed wildly through the city,
killing, bu mig and robbing, venting their
vengeance especially on negro orphan asylums,
schools, and tenements, but killing Republi-
cans, soldiers, draft officers police, and who
ever came adversely in their way. From 1000
to l, 800 persons were thus being murdered.
At the time of Governor Seymour's arrival at
the City Hall q large mob of rioters, who had
assembled in front of The Tribune office, and
were being urged by their leaders to make an
assault upon it, hearing that the Governor
wanted to address them, moved en- n.dsse over
to the City Hall, where Seymour delivered to
them the following Speech their ringlcader
$ anding beside him whila he spoke. He
said:
"MY FRIENDs:-I have come down here from
the quiet of the country to see what was the
difficulty, to learn what all this trouble was
concerning the draft. Let me assure you that
l am your friend. lUproarous cheering] You
have been my frieuds-[cres of eyes, ""Yes,"
THAT'S So" "We are, and we will be again.
and now L assure you, my fellOw-citzens,
that am here to show you test of my friend
ship. lCheers. 1 wish TO INFORM YOU THAT I
HAVE SENT MY ADJUTANT-GENERAL To WASH
INGToN TO CONFER WITH THE AUTHORITIES
THERE, AND TO HAVE THIS DRAFT SUSPENDED
AND STOPPED. [Vociferous cheers.] L ask
You as good citizens to wait for his return, and
l assure you that will do all that can to see
that there is no inequality and no wrong d me
to any one. wish you to take good care of
all property as good citizens, and see that ev-
cry person is safe The safe keeping of prop
erJy ana persons rests with you, and charge
you to disturb neither. 1t is your duty to
maintain the good order of the city and I
knoaU that you acM do it. wish you now to
separate as good citizens, and y0u can assemble
again aohereUer you aoish to do so. ask you
to leave all to me now and 1 will see to your
rights. Wait until my Adjutant returns from
Washington and you shall be satisfied. Listen
to me and see that there is 10 harm done to
either persons or property but retire peace
ably"
The draft was not stopped, and SO far Gov
Seymour's promises We're falsified, but its en-
forcement required $4,000 troops to be with
drawn from the Army to New York, at time
when they were most needed to confront the
enemy. Probably no public officer ever more
signally disgraced himself than Gov. Sey-
mour did on this occasion by making prom
ises which he could not perform, to those who
were contending against gov eminent he had
sworn to support. At this time Gov. Sey-
mour prepared the way for Pendleton, by
predicting reputation, by arguing the hostil-
ity between the East and West on the Nation
al debt question, and by advocating taxation
OF the bonds.