The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-07-24

1
cal power that have since distinguished
him. safeI
In the spring of 1849 Mr.. Seymour was
elected Mayor of the city of Utica, despite
the continued hostility and opposition of
the Wings. In the fall of 1913, he was
again elected member of the lower House
of the Legislature, and was reelected to,
and served in the same position during the
sessions of 1874 and 1916. The session Of
1914 was an important and exciting one.
the Assembly being agitated with acrimo-
MUS contests, chiefly springing from con-
templated opposition to the administration
of Governor Bouck The leaders in the de-
bates of the session were,Mr. Seymour and
Mr.. Hoffman, the recognized leader of the
Legislature in 1872 and a formidable an
tagonist in debate, but Mr., Seymour ap-
pears to have COPIED 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 triumphant
ly elected, despite 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
active part. He also engaged with fervent
spirit in the discussion relative to the call
for convention to amend the Constitu-
| ton, but voted against the bill providing
| for that measure. With this session Mr..
Seymout's Legislative career war brought to
! q close. -
For the succeeding five years Mr.. Sey-
mour was not prominent in public life,
having resumed the practice of law in the
city OF Utica. By the action of the Legis-
lature of 1850, providing for the enlarge
ment and Improvement of the Erie Canal
and appropriating the revenue of the State
in CONFIRMATION to the provisions of the
constitution, Mr.. Seymour again assumed
leading position in State politics, and most
earnestly resisted this effort to override the
provisions of q constitution so recently
adopted. On account of his strenuous OPP
position to that measure, he was that year
1880, for the first time, placed in nomina-
ton for Governor of this State, in opposi-
ton to Washington Hunt. The result of
the election was, for Seymour, 214,352
votes for Hunt, 214,614. Mr.. Seymour
having been defeated by 262 votes.
In 1859, Mr.. Seymour was again placed
in nomination by the Democratic party, in
opposition to Washington Hunt (Whig1
and Minthorne Tompkins Gree Soil) with
the following result
Seymour =. 1854, 1871 Tompkins. 1920
Hunt ;. 239,735
Mr.. Seymour was triumphantly elected
over two competitors as the chief execu-
tive officer of the State. His administra-
ton of State affairs, as generally conceded,
was rendered by ability, tact, and good
Judgment. While occupying the guberna-
torial chair in 1869, he vetoed the notori-
GUS Maine law, and the correctness of his
views as to the power of the Legislature to
pass sumptuary laws was subsequently fully
established by formal decision of the
Court of Appeals. af.5a
In 1854 Mr.. Seymour was nominated by
the Democracy for re- election, with Myron
H. Clark Republican), Daniel Ulman
(American), and Greene G.. Bronson lizard
Shell Democrat) as opponents. The fol-
lowing was the result of the election
Seymour 156,495 / Ulman 122,2se
Clark :. 156,S04 Bronson $3.50
Although this election resulted in Mr.. Sey-
mour's defeat, it demonstrated very salts
factorily his unwaning popularity with the
people, and his certainty of success with
the party united and working for one can
didate. At the conclusion of this contest,
Mr.. Seymour again resumed the work of
h ar,ff. OF
pertaining to the success of the Democracy
he took an active and sympathetic inter
est. He attended National and State Con
ventionswith great regularity, and was al
ways accorded leading position in the
councils of the same. At the National
Democratic Convention at Charleston, in
1850, he was proposed by the Southern
delegates as crompromise candidate be-
tween Douglas and Breckenridge, but ow-
ing to the opposition of the New York
delegation his name was Withdrawn.
In 1862 Mr.. Seymours%as for the fourth
time placed in nomination for Governor of
this State by the Democrats, against Gen.
Wadsworth, the Republican nominee
The result of the election was as follows:
seymour 306,649
'---'' -~>-'I'- = - - 49, = =. ~SotSo'
\ Mr.. Seymour was thus for the second
time elected Governor of this State by the
handsome majority of 10,752. After an
able administration of two years he was,
in 1864, nomination for reelection, this
time against Reuben P. Fenton, by whom
he was defeated.
At the National Democratic Convention
held in Chicago in 1854, Mr.. Seymour was
with great unanimity chosen its President,
and how ably and efficiently he discharged
the duties of that important position, the
records and history of the Convention will
indisputably show. Since that time Mr..
Seymour has delivered many powerful
Democratic speeches in various parts of
the country, entering each successive cam
paign in this State with his accustomed
vigor, fearlessness and efficiency. a i
At his home in Utica, as well as through
out the State, he is esteemed and respected
with that fervor that springs only from true
friendship. He has been from early boy
hood a faithful and energetic member ofthe
Protestant Episcopal Church, the interest
of which be iabored earnestly to promote,
both as an individual member and leader
in her legislative councils He takes espe-
cial interest in educational establishments
and in the Sunday school, whose useful
ness and influence he labors zealously to
promote and advance.