The Placer herald., 1868-10-17
SEYMOUR and BLAIR
Sketches of their Lives and Services
Th cir War ReCord-

was afterward sent to the Military School
Middleton, Connecticut, OF which he Is
graduate.
IS APPOINTED ON GOV. MARcY's STAFF.
Before he had arrived at the years
of manhood he was appointed Military
Secretary on Governor Marcy's staff. The
friendship thus commenced between Mr..
Marcy and young Seymour continued I'M
interrupted till closed by the death Of the
former. 1t was from such men as Marcy
and Silas Wright that Horatio Seymour
first learned those great fundamental princi-
pies of Government underlying the Demo
cratic faith of which he is now himself the
world renowned champion and Standard
bearer. Mr.. Seymour commenced at an
early age the practice OF law in the city OF
Utica, and rapidly rose to the head OF his
profession. At the age Of 30 he was elected
Mayor of Utica. He had been an active
Democrat from his youth up and his cleo
ton to the chief Office of o Wing city is
marked instance Of the personal popularity
he has at all times engaged wherever
known.
IS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE.
In 184l he was elected member of
the Legislature, and his career from this
date is one Of great interest and almost
unparalleled usefulness to the State and
nation. An accomplished speaker, ready
debater, courteous gentleman he soon
became leader of the Assembly. He was
reelected for five consecutive terms, two OF
which he served as Speaker In 1874,
owing to excessive expenditures in the
canals, and financial embarrassments i'll
other ways, the State of New York was on
the verge Of bankruptcy. Through the
great ability of Horati6' Seymour, displayed
as q member of the Finance Committee, and
Chairman of the Committee on Canals, the
credit of the En- pire State was saved, the
canal difficulties cleared away, and the
cause of internal Improvements received u
stimulous that is felt to this day. The
principles and policy thus recommended by
State Constitutional Convention, aud re-
ceiving the sanction of the people, are now
part of the organic law.
HIS CELEBRATED CANAL REPORT.
Speaking of Mr.. Seymour's famous Canal
Report, the author of the political His
tory of New York." most impartial work,
writes as follows:
son 23d of April, Mr. Seymour, from
the Committee on Canals in the Assembly,
made report on that part of the Governors
message which related to canals. That
committee consisted of Messrs. Seymour,
M, l.. Harris, Linn s. Cole and Dickinson.
This report was drawn up by Mr.. Seymour,
and occupies seventy-one large octave
pages. We do not hesitate to pronounce it
one of the ablest and best-written docu-
ments ever presented to a legislative body.
We should do injustice to the author OF it
were we to pretend to give skeleton OF it.
From the able and mastery review that it
takes of our system of internal improve
ments, the great mass of well-arranged
facts it contains, its lucid, candid, liberal
and able reasoning, and the brief but intel
ligent picture it presents Of the finances
of the State, it will amply reward any per-
son for the time which the perusal Of it
would occupy.
With such a financier as Mr.. Seymour at
the head of affairs in Washington, the ex-
penditures Of Government and the conse-
quent taxation of the people would proba-
bly, be something less than they are at
present.
HE Is TWICE ELECTED GOVERNOR.
In 1852, Horatio Seymour was tri-
umphantly elected Governor of New York,
over Washington Hunt, the then in
cumbent. His administration is source
of just pride to all his supporters. His
public acts as Governor confirmed the high
opinion of his friends, based upon his career
az legislator. In 1854 he was renominated,
but owing to division in the Democratic
party whereby two candidates were nomi-
mated, he was defeated but his opponents
majority over him was only 200 votes out
of 500, 900. In 1862, he was again renomi-
mated, and though his competitor was the
popular General Wordsworth, he was again
elected Governor by majority Of $4,000.
Full of honors, Horatio Seymour, the latest
of New York's Democratic Governors, and
in the estimation of majority of her peo-
pie, the first of her living statesmen, re-
tired to private life, January l, 1865.
GOVERNOR HORATIo SEYMOUR AND STEPHEN
A. DOUGLAS.
What Stephen A. Douglas was to the De-
mocracy of Illinois, Gov. Seymour has been
u the Democracy Of the Empire State since
looa. Nor 10 his the leadership won by the
MANAGEMENT of politicians or retained BY
the packing Of Conventions. He Is not
and never has been standard bearer of his
own seeking. In his career in the various
nominations he has received, tho 'ofice
has sought tie man." His promotions
S ,s;cOSs Ts. aqs ts the spontaneous and
c co;af ehst for him are reserved tne nlgness
S S,o, Of the Republic has Tor years ?een
non nono Of the creed Of every Democrat In TIC
Empire State.