The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-10-18

which he delivered speeches, and
was everywhere received in an en-
thusiastic manner. The election re-
suited in the success Of the Republi-
can party. Soon after the meeting
of the Electoral College, Mr., Lincoln
rendered the chief place in hisCabin-
ct to Mr.. Seward, and on March 4,
1861, he entered upon the duties of
Secretary Of State.
Mr.. Stewards policy as Secretary
of State during the war was to pre-
serve friendly relations with foreign
States, or at least to carefully avoid
giving an opportunity for unfriendly
Intervention in our affairs until the
rebellion should be crushed. His
management of our foreign relations
was triumph of diplomacy, keeping
friendly powers closely attached to
us during the national troubles, and
skillfully preventing any plausible
pretext for belligereney on the part
of wouId-be unfriendly powers. Mr..
Seward secured for the United States
the respect ofall foreign governments
and won for himsef a great reputation
as skillful diplomatist and the es-
TEEN of all the governments with
which he had been in correspond
ence. His firm attitude towards
France at the close of the war, com
PEELED Napoleon to withdraw the
French troops from Mexico and
caused the downfall of the Franco
Mexican empire.
On the night of the assassination
of President Lincoln, April IA, 1865,
while confined to his bed by serious
illness, an attempt was made to take
the life of Mr.. Seward also. The
assassin, Payne, inflicted a severe
wound with knife, from the effects
of which, after much suffering, he
finally recovered and resumed his
duties in the Cabinet, where he re-
mained throughout the administra-
ton of President johnson. On the
the termination of that administra-
ton Mr.Seward returned TO Auburn,
where he remained in seclusion from
public affairs. Several months since
he entered on a tour around the
world, national ship being placed
at his disposal. He crossed tue con
tinent, visited the leading Asiatic
points, and passed through the lead
ing countries of Europe, being every
where received with distinguished
honors, governments and people do
ing their utmost to show their res
pect for the distinguished American
statesman. After his return he re-
manned in strict retirement atAuburn
until his death.
In 1859 Mr.. Seward made q second
visit to Europe, and extended his
travels to Egypt and the Holy Land.
His studies have not been exclusive
ly of statesman, politician or law
yer. His published works bear ample
testimony to his general scholarship
and literary attainments. We can
here only refer to his orations on
John Quincy Adams, O'Connell and
Lafayette; his addresses at the ded-
ication of he university at Colum-
bus, Ohio, before the American insti-
tute in New York, to the Phi Beta
Kappa society of Yale College, and
on forefather's day at Plymouth; and
other occasional speeches on agri-
culture, education, and internal i'm
provements. He has also contributed
historical essay, entitled "Notes on
New York." to the great work on the
natural history of the State, to which
it forms the introduction. After the
decease of Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster, Mr.. Seward, in the Senate,
delivered a tribute to the memory of
each Of those illustrious STATE iaen /;
and of these and of the funeral eu-
logums more recently pronounced by
him on Senators Clayton, Rusk and
Broderick, it has been said that our
language affords few better speci-
mems of obituary eloquence.
In 1849 he prepared a life of John
Quincy Adams in a popular form,
which had an immense sale. He
has also written a biography of De-
Witt Clinton, an abstaact of which
he prepared for this cyclOp@dia.
The "Works of William H. Seward"
4 vols. Svo., New York, 1S53-6I I
include his orations and addresses,
senatorial, occasional and political
speeches, messages and official cor
respondence while Governor, his
forensic arguments, and miscellane-
Gus writings, with a biographical
memoir and his historical notes.