Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-11-02
Biographical Sketch.
VIM. HI. Seward a Sketch --- Of his
N,ife.

Life.
William Henry Seward was born in Flo
rida, Orange county, N. Y, May 18th,
1901. His father, Samuel S. Seward, was
physician, and combined with his profess
sion large mercantile business, in which
he amassed fortune. William Henry re-
ceived liberal education, preparing for
college at an acadamy at Goshen, New
York, and entering upon the sophomore
class at Union College at the aye of fifteen,
being graduated in 1919. During his sen.
ior year in college he taught school for
some six months in Georgia, and while
there his impression of slavery were the
germ of his latter intense hostility to that
institution. After taking his degree he
studied law. was admitted To the bar in
1922, and removed to Auburn to form q
law partnership with Judge Miller, whose
youngest daughter, Francis, he married in
1924. In the same year he took his first
step in political life by preparing an ad-
dress for the Republican Convention de-
claring against the Albany regency" as
the Democratic leaders were then called.
lie first took ground against slavery in
an Grafton at Syracuse in 1925, taking very
advanced steps for those days, though
nearly the same as he took in later years
when the anti-slavery contest became bit
ter. In 1873 he was prominent leader
among the young men, as u supporter of
John Quincy Adams for reelection, and
soon atterward declined a nomination for
| Congress, but two years later, rs an Anti
Mason, he accepted Il nomination for State
Senator, and was elected by 1900 maiori-
ty, completely reversing large adverse
majority of the preceding year. In the
Senate he distinguished himself as an advo-
cate Of reform in the State educational sys-
TEN and as the meliOlatiOn of prison disci
pine. He made rapid tour in Europe in
1888 and published in the Albany Evening
journal the results of his observation. He
was defeated as Wing candidate for Gov
ernor in 1884, although running ahead of
his ticket, but in a hOtly contested election
in 1888 was elected by 10000 majority over
his former competitor, w. l.. Marcy. As
Governor his policy was marked by great
wisdom al period of universal financial
and political complexity. He was rspe-
cially an advocate of IL system OF free
schools and though his policy was vehe-
mently condemned by his political oppo-
nents, it was in later years adopted. His
gubernatorial career was further distin-
guishcd by the laying of the foundation for
reform in the New York State courts
which were divesled Of the drcary techni-
calities of English law, by the geological
survey of the State, the establishment of a
general banking system, the abolition of
imprisonment for debt and, above all, by
the "Nirginia COntruversy'' which arose
between Governor Seward and the Cover
nor Of Virginia in relation to slavery and
the giving up Of criminals charged with alb
ducting slaves, Governor Seward took the
"higher law'' ground, viz : that no local
or State legislation could overcome laws
based on the higher standards of human
justice.
In 1912, Mr. Seward having served as
Governor with singular honor for two
terms, declining denomination and devot-
cd himselfto To the law, acquiring 1t lucrative
practice particularly i'll patent cases. Ills
noble disposition rompted him often not
only to offer his services gratuitOusly in
cases of unjust accusations, but also To fun
nish pccuuiary means for defense, especial
ly in cases involving fugitive slaves. In
1914 he supported with energy Henry Clay
for President, as also Gen. Taylor in 1913.
With the election Of the latter and the pre-
pondOrance of the Wing party in the New
York Legislature, Mr.. Seward was elected
L. ). senator in place of General Dix, bya
vote of III To 30 for all others. In Con-
gress he Immediately became the leader of
the administration party, and both in de-
bale and in his writings he persistenty OPP
posed the aggrcssiens of the shareholders.
In IL speech on the admission of California
in 1850 he first used the phrase "higher
law" which aroused much excited com
mcnt in Congress and the public press. His
speeches in Congress and his views on the
annexation OF Cuba. the Tariff. the bred
Scott decision. the Pacific railroad. the as
sault on Senator Sumner, and other impor-
tant questions, were always theme of gem
eral discussion.
In 1850 the Wing party adopted plat
form iavUring the slavery compromise OF
lS5O and nominated General Scott whom,
as q personal friend Senator Seward en-
dOrsed, without, however, approving the
p atfOrm. From 1850 to 1860 his labors
in opposition to slavery were steady and
consistent and on IA free soil platform he
supported with great zeal, Col. Fremont in
1896. In an election speech at Rochester
in 1858, he declared that the conflict be-
tween the North and South was an "rre-
pressible'' one and involved the question ef
free or slave labor through the whole ma
ton.
Mr.. Seward in 1850 was prominent
candidate ior The Presidency, and at the
National Republican Convention received
on the first ballot l73 votes to lO3 tor Mr..
Lincoln, the successful nominee. In the
succeeding campaign Mr.. Seward vigorous
ly supported Mr.. Lincoln. and on the ac-
cessiOn of the latter TO Office was appoint
ed Secretary of State. This office during
the war he filed with ability and success,
his services being especially noteworthy in
the correspondence with England on the
Trent affair, and in his advice to Mr.. Lin
cola iavoring the Proclamation of Emanci-
patton.
When President Lincoln was assassinat-
ed in April, 1868. Mr.. Seward was contn-
ed to his bed. At nearly the same hour
with the assassination of the President, IA
powerful man, subsequently ascertaued to
be Payne, called at Mr.. Stewards apart
ments and under the pretense of bearing
prescription was shown to tie sick room.
Rushing to the bed he inflicted several
dangerous stabs on his victms's throat.
Surprising that his work was complete, he
turned to leave, when he was met al the
door Of the chamber by Mr.. Frederick
Seward, on whom he also inflicted several
wounds. In his haste, however, the muir
derer failed to complete his work. Mr..
Seward carried his sears to the grave, and