Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-30
DoHHtaI.
H0RATIO SEYMOUR.
A sketch OF nj, R"slis ,. ana Private

Life.
Horatio Seymour, the slandart-b Of
the democracy In the coning presidential
election, is native Of New York state.
He was born Ia Onondago county, in the
year 1911 His early advantages in school
ing were superior to those OF most Ameri-
cans of the time, and his education from
the beginning has been a most liberal one.
Developing q preference for the law, he
set TO work at aplearly geJto educate him
self for the bar. His keen preception,
quick intellect not less than his constancy
and his perseverance,, enabled him TO ac-
quire an enviable position as a lawyer while
yet young man. He commenced. his
practice in Utica, New York state; and his
professional career was eminently. success
full.
The first prominent office VIII ieh Mr.
Seymour accepted was in the year l542,
when he was little more than 80 years Of
age. He was in that year elected to repre-
sent his district in the legislative assembly;
and he continued to discharge his duties as
a member of the state legislature until 1916.
The democratic party nominated him for
the governorship in 1850. His opponent
was Mr. Washington Hunt, who, indeed,
was elected; but Mr.. Seymour made, by his
own personal efforts, the contest one Of the
sharpest that have ever been recorded in
the political annals of the state, .ts.
At the very next election, IN 1852, the
New York democracy confirmed their faith
in Mr. Seymour BY nominating him again
for the office Of governor, The result
proved that theywere right in their faith,
for Mr., Seymour was elected. by an over
whelming majority. He took his seat as
governor, and his term of Office was char
acterized by many measures of great bene-
fit to the commonwealth. One of the most
noteworthy acts OF his term was his veto Of
the Maine law liquor bill. His foresight
was penetrating enough to discern the evils
that would follow measure that had no
basis of principle upon which to stand.
In 1855, Mr. Seymour's name was prom
inently mentioned in the democratic ma
tional conventionpin connection with the
nomination for the presidency as he was
already regardedas one ofthe ablest states
men and truest democrats in the land: In
1862. he received the nomination for the
governorship of New York in opposition to
Gen. Wadsworth. This contest is memoir
able in the history of the country. Gov.
Seymour met the issue, as he always does,
openly and clearly With heartand will
for the preservation of the Union, which
we're afterwards practically and satisfactor-
ily put to the test, he opposed the corrup-
tion of the party in power with all his
strength.
At his Inauguration as governor Of New
York, on january l, 1858, Mr.. Seymour at
once sprang into national prominence. He
announced himself, in his inaugural, as
being prepared to support at once the con-
stitution Of the United States, and that
of the state Of New York, which, he said,
"do not conflict. The line Of separation
between the responsibilities and obliga-
tons which each imposes is well defined. ="
As an evidence of the interest which
governor Seymour took in his successful
Termination of the war for the Union, his
action at the tiind of the invasion of the
state of Pennsylvania is well worth recita-
ton. It will be remembered that the gov
ernor of Pennsylvania called upon govern
or Seymour for certain number Of troops.
He promptly forwarded more than the
quota of militia demanded.
In November 'of 1854, the presidential
election was approaching, and as will be
recollected, there existed bitterness of
partisanship such as was never before
known. In viaT of this, Governor Sey-
mour applied himself to the labor of pour
ing oil upon tte troubled waters. In q
proclamation which he then issued, there
occurred the following passages:
The existence of terrible civil war, and
the assertion Of the right of military COM
manders in soIne sections to interfere with
elections, have caused fearful and exciting
doubts inthe mindsof many with regard to
the free and untTanmeled exercise OF the
elective franchise. therefore appeal to all
men of political parties to unite with those
holding official positions, in their efforts to
allay undue excitement, soften the harsh
ness Of party prejudice, and to avoid all
measures which tend to strife or disorder.
He concludes these temperate remarks
by commanding sherihs and all other peace
officers to ''see that no military or other
organized forces shall be allowed to show
themselves in the vicinity Of the places
where elections are held, with any view of
intimidating or menacing citizens in atten-
dance thereon"
These passages from the official career
of Gov. Seymour prove his temperate, log
ical, conservative character. Holding cor
rect views of the obligations of one who is
a citizen of state ndof the United States,
he was ever prompt to protect the former
against the sggressions ofthe federal power;
and equally prominentin exacting full obe-
dience on the part Of the state whenit owed
duty to the general government.
In 1854, Mr.. Seymour was renominated
for governor, but was defeated by small
majority. His retirement from the guber-
material chair of New York was the close
of his official career. Since that time, he
has occupied himself with his private af-
fairs, only occasionally appearing inpublic
in order to give utterance to sentiments
having bearing upon the politics or fnan-
ces of the nation.
In the democratic convention Of 1884,
Mr.. Seymour was made permanent chair
man Of the convention. In his speech
upon taking the chair, he arraigned the
dominant party for its usurpations, and
gave utterance to sentiments whose beauty
of diction, patriotism, and inspiration have
rarely been equalled in modern oratory.
The nominee Of the democracy is emf
nently scholar, statesman, and a gentle
man. To his guidance can safely be COM
mitted the task of regeneratinQ the ma