New-York tribune., 1872-10-11

ootten his old love of right and his old sympathy
with the suffering He found time, amid partisan
nressure to advocate and establish lunatic asylum
npon a humane plan. lie brought forward reforms
in the penitentiary system and especially milder
forms of punishment, which were subsequently
adopted. Governor of o great producing State' ne
did not forget agricultural interests. Inc norman
schools and school libraries were fostared py hIh'
though he found them partially established he
took liberal ground in behalf of Catholic pupils
which brought him into some trouble with uitra
Protestants. This school controversy was trouble
through his whole administration, but though ne
lost votes by his course it is to be SAID
to his honor that he never wayered
or trimmed upon this point. We must pass
rapidly over his of judicial REFORM ana ms
recommendation, which was acted upon, 10 take tne
appointment of supervisors from the courts ana gave
it to the people. During his administration the
geological survey of the State was completed; the
banking law was revised and improved; ana I'M
prisonment for debt was abolished. lie was
harassed by the Anti Rent troubles which under
him ,yoro composed The Canadian difficulties cul-
mnating in the affair Of the Caroline and the tral Oh
Mel cod in 1e40 were another source Of perpleXity'
The acquttal Of Mcleod, however, alayed puDHc
feeling and vndicated the good sense and sagaclty
of Gov. Seward. Noticeable in the history CT TINS
administration was his general opposition to the
rendition of fugitive slaves except under the STRICT
est legal sanctions. Reelected in 1870, ne early
announced his intention of retiring from oihee at
the end of his term. He then resumed the practice
of the law. On the death of John Quincy Adams,
he delivered. by invitation of the Leglsla-
ture, eulogy upon the character and
services of that distinguished man, which was after
ward enlarged into q popular biography, published
in 1s49 1t is mentioned that OF this work more
than 30 900 copies were sold. In lS43 Gov Seward ad
dressed the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Union College
upon "The Elements of Empire in America" For
six years he mainly devoted himself to the business
of his profession, being frequently engaged, how
ever in causes of public interest. Among these may
be mentioned the case of James Fenimore Cooper
agt. Greeley & McElrath, for libel in The TRIBUNE,
in which he appeared for the defendants. lie de-
Tended, in 1s47 John Van Zandt, charged in Wash.
ington with aiding fugitive slaves. The case Of
William Freeman, indicted for the murder of the
Van Nest family, in which Mr.. Sew
ard appeared for the defense, result
ed in verdict of insanity. He had
previously defended, upon the same grounds Henry
WYATT indicted for the murder of a fellOw-conyict
in the Auburn Prison. The excitement occasioned
by the crime of Freeman was intense, but the hui
name efforts of Gov. Seward were unsuccessful,
though Freeman afterward justified the plea in his
behalf by dying utterly idlotic in prison after new
trial had been granted him. Mr.. Stewards defense
of Abel F. Fitch and forty others for conspiracy
TO DESTROY the property of the Michigan Central
Railroad Company is also notable IN judicial anhas'
Mr. Seward had not approved of the Wing nom-
nation of Mr. Clay in 1874, but he took an actlVe
part in the canvass To the annexation of Texas he
remained an incorporating opponent to the bitter
end During the war with Mexico, however, which
resulted from the cOnsummatiOn of that measure,
his course was patriotic, and he constantly recon-
mended vigorous conduct of hostilities. lie
warmly supported the election of Gen. Taylor IN
1slS. and acted through the canvass with unusual
energy. 1t was now, though not for the first tme
that he announced his idea, since so well known
and so often discussed of the antagonistical
elements of society in America, Freedom and
Slavery This was thoroughly developed in his
great speech at Cleveland, Ohio Mr.. Seward was
elected TO the Senate of the United States in the
place of Mr. Dix in 1S49 there being no serious op-
position to him. He went to the AXAlst Congress
with thirty-three other Whig members and with
one Democrat lie was the friend OF Gen. Taylor,
and that President extended to him full confidence.
He supported the invitation to organize state Gov
ernments extended by the President to California
and New-Mexico. 1t was in a speech In the Senate,
March II. 1850, that he used the phrase Higher
Law which has since become so famous. His OPP
position to the Compromise Measures and his support
of Emancipation in the District of Columbia, mark
the general tenor of his course upon the most
exciting question of the day. He ardently
supported the French Spoiation" bill. He
was prompt in submitting a resolution to
the Senate offering q cordial welcome to
Kossuth, then about to visit this country. In
speech on Mr. Foote'S resolution, he expressed his
sympathy with the exiled Irish patriots, and his
speech on Freedom in Europe" containing mas
terly review of the Hungarian revolution, has been
much admired. He found time for speaking to his
fellow-citzens outside the walls Of the Capitol and
we find him delivering an address before the Agri-
cultural Society of tho State of Vermont, in 1852
On this occasion he extended his tour to Montreal
and Quebec and at the latter place treated with
distinguished consideration by Lord Elgin, the
Goyernor-G General and the other authorities. Presi
dent TAYLOR died in 1850. Mr.. Seward had heartily
opposed the Compromise Measures up to that time,
and he continued his opposition, though his
associates proved less faithful. The main fea-
tures of the bill became law sertattm, and
this was inconsiderately thought to be a
final solution of the problem. Mr. Seward did
not think SO, and refused to say so and
the Slavery question in its different aspects, became
the vital point in the election of 1852. We are ap-
preaching times within the memory of most of our
readers. The Wings had become greatly divided
upon the legislative measures affecting Slavery.
Gen: Scott was supposed to be in some sense the
of the anti-Slavery Wings, and he
received the nomination of the Wing Convention at
Baltimore on the 18th of June. We need not repeat
the story Of that canvass and of the defeat of Gen.
Scott. The Whig party was terribly beaten, aud
nobody rejoiced more than certain Wings in that
defeat Mr.. Seward went back to his seat in the
Senate, and devoted himself to public business as
usual. In 1853 he delivered address at the dedi