The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-16

devoTed apon him 50 great responsibilities
ia connection with the settlement OF the
! family estate rs to require the most of his
time and attention, obliging him, much
against his wish, to relinquish the practice
Of his profession. The death of his wife's
father. the late John r. Blocker, occurring
about the same time, added to his numerous
cares in the adjustment Of important proper
= interests. Some OF the best years OF MIR.
Seymour'g life were absorbed in this work
but no doubt his mind was being schooled,
as it could not otherwise have been, for the
/ grave responsibilities and duties that were to
come IL after life. Up to this time Mr..
Seymour had acted no prominent part IL
: political Hfa, although from his youth, as
: were bis ancestors before lin, he had always
been strongly attached, through sympathy
and taste. to the Democratic party. In the
fail Of 1s4l, when not thirty gears Of age,
Mr. Seymour consented to the use of his
name as a Democratic candidate for member
Of Assembly. Although the Wings were at
! that time largely in the ascendancy IN Utica,
, Mr.. Seymour was triumphantly elected by a
large majority. In the Legislature Mr.. Sey-
mour at once took a commanding position
upon the great questions involving the IN
teresta Of the State, engaging in the leading
debates with great fervencY and assisting
I largely IL shaping the legislation OF the Ses-
sion. Among his legislative associa es were
John a. Dix, Michael Hoffman, David K
Floyd Jones, George r Davis. Lemuel Stet-
son and Calvin T. Hul5urd. The Democrats
st that time were in the ascendency in both
branches Of the legislature, and the great
measure ofthe session was Michael lloffman's
celebrated bin III relation to finances, which
was supported and passed by the Democrats
Ia the success Of this measure, Which was
destined to restore the deprecated financial
credit of the State, MIR. Seymour took an
active and sympathetic interest, display ing
for the first time the forensic ability and
oratOgical powers that have since distin-
gui,hed MIN.
II the spring of 1912 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 a member of the lower House OF the
Legislature, and was reelected to, and
served in the same position during the ses-
siCus of 1874 and sis. The session OF
1914 was an important and exciting one,
the Assembly being agtated with acrImo-
NOUS contests, chiefly springiug from con
tcmplated opposition to the administration
Of Governor B5uck. The leaders in the
debates Of the session were Mr.. Seymour and
Nj. Hoffman, the recognized leader OF the
Legislature in 1912, and a Formidable an
tagonist in debate. but Mr.. Seymour appears
10 have coped with him successfully, and
to have won not only the plauditS of his
political associates but the praises CT his
constituents likewise. The session of l845
opened with a 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
eut"r the con test for Speakership, TO which
position be was triumphantiy elected, de-
spite a violent faCtioual fight, which serious
iy threatened his prospects. One of the
prominent aud important events of this ses.
sion was the election of Daniel S. Dickinson
to the United States Senate, in which Mr.
Seymour took leading AMI active part.
lie also engaged with fervent spirit in the
discussion relative to the call for a conven-
ton TO amend the Constitution, but voted
against the bill providing for that measure.
With this session Mr.. Seymour's legislative
career was brought to a close.
For the succeeding five years Mr.. Seymour
was not prominent in public life, havin g
resumed the practice of law in the City of
Utica. BY the action of the Legislature Of
1850, providing for the enlargement and
Improvement of the Erie Canal, s,and appro-
priating the revenue Of the State in contra
ventou to the provisions Of the constitution
Mr.. Seymour again assumed leading posi-
tion in State politics, and most earnestly
resisted this effort to override the provisions
of, q constitution so recently adopted. On
account of his strenuous opposition to that
measure, be was that year (l85O). for the
6rst time, placed in nomination tor Cover
nor of this State, in opposition to Washing
IA. ~. 1
fer Seymour, 2l4, 1852 votes for Hunt. PA,
6l4. MIR. Seymour having been defeated
by 262 votes.
In 1852, MIR. Seymour was again placed
in nomination by tie Democratic party, in
opposition 10 Washington Hunt (Whig) and
Minthorne Tompkins Gree Soi) with the
following esult:
Seymour . 264I2l Tompkins 10 ,29g
Hunt ....... 239 1876
Mr.. Seymour was triumrhantly elected
over two competitors as the chief executive
officer Of the Stae. His administration of
State affairs, as generally conceded, was
rendered by ability, tact. and good jGdg
ment. While occupying the gubernatorial
chair in 1852, he vetoed the notorious
Maine law. aad the correctness of his views
as to the power of the Legislature to pass
sumptuary laws was subsequently fully es
tablisbed by formal decision of the Court
Of Appeals.
In 1854 Mr.. Seymour was nominated by
the Democracy for reelection. with Myron
II. Clark (Republican), Dan' Ullman Hard
Shell DemocratJ as opponents. The follow
ing was the result of the election
Seymour I56, ,495 Ullman .. I22 ,2s2
Clark. .... l56, ,8l4 Bronson,.... 1850
Although this election resulted in Mr.
Seymour's defeat. it demonstrated very sat
isfactoriy 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 his
profession at Utica. In every thing apper-
tanning to the success Of the Democracy he
took an active and sympathetic interest.
He attended National and State Conventions
with great regularity. and was always ac-
corded a leading position in the councils of
the same At the National Democratic
Convention Of Charleston, in 1860, he was
proposed by the Southern delegates as a
com promise candidate between Douglas and
Breckenridge. but owing to the opposition
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