Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-11
The Oath of wm. H Seward

PARTICULARS Of HIS LAST ILLNESS, AND
SKETCH OF HIS PUBLIC SERVICES.
Hon. VIM. II. Seward. an announcemsntot
whose death appeared in The STAR of yester-
day, having taken cold and been somewhat
ailing TOT day or t~o, was on the evening OF
the 9TH inst, seized with severe chill. He had
been during the summer in his ordinary good
health, suffering only from the inconvenience o
muscular palsy OF his arms, and had been en-
geg-d in preparing for the press his account
OF his recent journey around the world. i he
emu was that or the ordinary tertian ague,
accompanied by harasSing catarrh cough. IL
was followed by fever and delirium, which
lasted till late in the night. On Sunday he was
up in the afternoon, took dinner, and passed a
comfortable light. Msndav, with the execution
OF his cough, he was comfortable, and dictated
a usual 10 his assistants in the completion O.
bis book. He played whist Monday evening
but at 10 p. m. chill occurred, followed by
de!irIum and fever, with an aggravated ca
tarrahal disturbance OF tie chest all night.
Tuesday morning, after some sleep, he WAS
again better, and drove out in the afternoon,
bat fever, deiirtum, and restleSSneSs returned
with the cough Tuesday night. On Wednesday
he drove out for two hours, and dictated to his
amanuensis as usual, though harasSed all DAY
with cough and catarrhal effJsion in the chest.
Wednesday evening his cough abated for a
while, and there seemed promise of a good
night, but the fever, cough. and restlessness
returned at bedtime. He was nearly sleepless
until o'clock Thursday morning. lie slept
after pretty well until IL a. m. yesterday,
though his fever kept up without any real re-
mission. AT half-past one he was seized with
great difficulty OF breathing, caused by a sud
den catarrhal effusion in the lungs, commence
ing with the right lung and soon involving the
lett also, which ocCasiOned his death in about
two hours. MT. Stewards intellectual faculties
were clear and vigorous 10 the last, save when
disturbed by the paroNysms OF fever. j sst after
the eftusion from the lungs yesterday, and think
ing II would relieve his breathing, he was, AZ his
own desire, placed upon q lounge and bOlstered
up, and moved from his adjoinlng bedroom into
his study, where, in the midst OF his books aud
his literary and other papers, and surrounded
Iu a loft tnvu rrfn gN1 L.,
dependents, he breathed his last. For the last
hours of his life, as the powers Of nature were
giving way, his condition became easy, and he
spent the time in affectionate leave-taklngs OF
his relatives and dependents, and finally sank
quietly TO his last rest as if going to sleep.
Mr.. Seward WIS born in Florida, Orange
county, New York, May IS, 1901. He graduated
at Union College, New York, and spent six
months a teacher in Georgia. He was a l.
mitted 10 the bar OF New York in IS22, begin
ning practice at Auburn In 1889 he was ele cted
to the state senate of New York as an anti
Mason by q majority of some 2,0GO. In 1884 be
was nominated for Governor by the WING party
but was defeated by the election OF VIM. L.
Marcy, although in every county he led his
ticket. In 1883 he was more successful, having
beaten his former competitor, Governor M4rcy,
ana Deeh elected TO the goveTnorslip by A ma
jOTlty Ct over 1900. He held this Office IL.
two terms, having been reelected in 154l.
During his tenure OF the gJvcrnorship the cor
resIondence known as the Virginia cores
pondence" was widely published in re alton to
slavery and the rendition OF fHgitiveS from JUS
tice. IL February, 1919, he was elected to the
United States Senate. II was in his speech in
the Senate on the admission OF California in 1870
that he introduced the phrase "higher law"
In 1853 he made an elect;Oneeriug speech in
Rochester, New York, In which he spoke OF the
collision between the systems of free and slave
labor in the United States As an ''irTepTes lille
conflict" and indicating that the United States
must become either entirely savehOlding OF
entirely free labor. His second term in tue
Senate closed March 3, 1851. 10 1850 large
portion of the republican party favored hs
nomination for the Presidency, and in the cor
ventlon on the first ballot he received 1I3 votes
and Mr.. Lincoln the next highest, l03. while 253
were necessary for a choice. ON the final ballot
MIR. Lincoln was nominated. On being elected
Mr.. Lincoln offered him the CHIEF place of his
cabinet, aud he entered upon the duties OF Sec
rotary OF State March 4, 1861. His career during
the war, his attempted assassination, aud bis
services As Secretary under President johnson
are fresh IN public recollection. MT. seward
was statesman and lawyer, finished orator
and man OF general scholarship ami literary
attachments
The State department was to-day dr.pad in
mourning III respect TO the memory OF the de
ceased Secretary.