The New York herald., 1872-10-11

Nv order ef sho trusteea
WIILiAM TURNER, Secretary.
After year spent In the south Mr. seward re-
turned 70 college, and graduated In isso. taking
rank with the most distinguished scholars Of his
class. He then began the study OF the Law with
John Arthon, OF New YORK, but completed his legal
preparation in the once OF Judge Duer and Ogden
HOFFMAN, at Goshen and was admitted 10 the har
OF the Supreme Court, ss Utica, In ls12 The next
year he began the practice OF his profession ~
Auburn, forming business connection with Judge
Miller whose youngest daughter, Francis Adeiine,
he subsequently married. Mrs. Seward lived To be
the mother OF q numerous and happy family and 20
see her husband at the height OF his career She
died while he was Secretary OF state. AT the Bar
Mr.. Seward at once took leading position. In his
management OF Q cause he early showed Q
disposition TO rely upon the equity OF his case
rather than on the recorded rulings OF Courts,
and It Is said OF him that during the whole
course OF his practice he has never acted ior
man against woman, and never but once
against an accused party; and that was an IN
stance Of gross outrage upon young woman by
man.
Mr.. SEWARD AZ STATE SENATOR.
Politics naturally engaged the attention OF the
was in 1924, when he prepared an address for
federal convention, In which he boldly and
scathiAgly denounced the Albany Regency. In
1928 he supported John quincy Adams for the
Presidency but he took no prominent part In the
political movements OF the day till 1890, when he
was elected TO the State Senate the candidate OF
the anti Masonic party. The opposition to Masonry.
growing out OF the alleged abduction OF Morgan
from Batavia In 1929, had become powerful cle-
ment In politics. and so intense was the feeling
that Mr. Seward received q majority OF 1900 votes
in district which had previously given large ad-
verse vote. But the Jackson party held and con-
tinued to hold unlimited sway; so that, while Mr.
Seward during the four years he sat in the Senate
at Albany, became noted for the able manner In
which he advocated the abolition Of Imprisonment
for debt, improvement in prison discipline, the
election OF various officers by the people in.
stead OF their appointment by the Governor
and Senate and the interests Of popu-
lar education and internal improvements,
it was chiefly by his great speech
against the removal OF tho deposits In 1884
that he first gained distinction throughout the
State and nation. Joint resolutions had been In
troduced into the Legislature and were passed by
the Assembly without dissenting voice approx
ing Of General Jackson's action. In the Senate,
however, they met with different reception, and
Mr.. Stewards vigorous and earnest EFFORT, which
occupied two days In its delivery, not only en-
hanced the reputation of the rising young states
man. but exerted q decided influence throughout
the country.
HE BECOMES GOVERNOR OF TIE STATE.
The financial revusion OF 1887 opened the way
for Mr.. Seward's election as Governor OF the State
in 1888. He had been q candidate four years be.
fore, but was beaten by william L. Marcy In spite
of vehement opposition he had a majority OF
10000, and with the exception OF De Witt Clinton
was the first Governor of the State elected In 0ppo
sition to the Albany Regency Governor Seward's
policy was in keeping with the policy pursued by
Governor Clinton and during his administration
he upheld the system OF internal improvements,
Of which De Witt Clinton was the strenuous advo.
cate But many difficulties surrounded his ad-
ministraton. The business OF the country had
been prostrated by the financial revusion of 1887.
and it was this condition Of affairs which opened
the way for his election the next year. In the
political slang Of the day. the contest was between
Small BIZ Seward and Big Bill Marcy, these pseu-
donyms having reference to the currency OF the
State. An act had previously been passed by a
democratic Legislature restricting the circulation
OF bank notes under So. After the suspension Of
specie payments the State was flooded with the
small notes Of New England banks, and there was
clamOr for the repeal OF the small bill law. This
was not very broad financial policy, and though
it was effective in aiding Mr.. Stewards election 1t
is seldom referred to by his panegyrlsts as an evil
dence OF his craftsmanship. In other respects he
showed more comprehensive wisdom, and among
the measures to which he early directed his atten-
ton, besides the relief OF the finances and the
vigorous prosecution OF the public works. including
the enlargement OF the Erie Canal, were the exten-
sion Of popular education, the removal OF
the legal disabilities imposed upon foreigners
and the Adjustment OF Imprisonment for
debt His efforts to secure the diGuson
Of common school education among the chill
dren OF all classes and crecds, especially those
of foreign parentage in large cities, by pro rata
distribution Of the school fund among all the
schools, was vigorously opposed and vehemcntly
denounced by the Protestant clergy, and though
the controversy continued throughout his entire
administration the result was our present public
school system. HIS efforts for the codifcation of
the laws and in behalf Of judicial reformn also
led to the radical changes which were subsequently
made in the State constitution; but it is doubtful
whether "the prohity, techncaiities and expen-
siveness Of the British Courts" were not cheaper
and better than the practice under the code.
Governor Seward'was reelected In 1910, in conse-
quence, his enemies said, OF the Presidential elec-
ton, which gave him the benefit OF the log cabin
debauchery and coonskin mummery" Of the
Harrison campaign. 1t was during his second
term that the famous controversy arose with
the Governor OF Virginia in regard to slavery and
the rendition OF fugitive slaves In this corre-
spondence Governor Seward maintained that no
State could force a requistion upon another State
when such requistion was founded on an act
which was only criminal by local legislation, and
his opposition finally led to the enactment OF the
Fugitive Slave law by Congress. Governor Seward
declined to be again candidate in 1543, and his
uarty went ont OF power with him.
SEWARD. WEED AND GREELEY"
One Of the singular episodes OF the politics OF
that time was the formation, In 1887, or the part
nership Of Seward, Weed and Greeley. MIR. Weed
was four years older than Mr.. Seward, and Mr..
Greeley was by ten years his junior. All OF them
were men Of ability but Mr.. Greeley was the least
known Of the triumvrate, and he was chosen by
the other two to edit q campaign paper at Albany
advocating Sewards election. In his famous let