Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-11
fOh Iva EAt
]. W. ELDRIDGE.
nEArH oF Ex.sECRETARY SEWARD.

@.s-....--.-..--....----.
DEATH OF Ex-sECRETARY SEWARD.
William II. Seward, who became ia
nous as Lincoln's Secretary OF State,
during the late war between the States,
died at Auburn, New York, at three
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Sew
ards history is closely blended with that
Of his country, which he had served in
various capacities for the past thirty
years. In 1925 he served as State Sen
ator of New York, and in 1888 was
elected Governor of his native State.
He was sent to the United States Sem
ate in lS49, and in 1858 delivered his
famous Rochester speech on the ire
pressible conflict between freedom and
slavery. In 1861 he accepted the posi-
ton of Secretary of State from Abra-
ham Lincoln, and in this position
acquired fame and celebrity as
an intense war man, who crushed
out every movement in the North
that looked toward compromise or set
Element of the difficulties between the
North and the South by any other tribu-
nal than tie arbitrament of the sword.
During his official career he was the Bis
marck or Talleyrand of America-an
autocratic Republican who welded al
most despotic power. The little bell, "
so famous in war days, and which was
located within reach of his arm, tinkled
over the network of Geographic wires
from Maine to California, and at its
sound hundreds of citizens were arrested
and hurried of to the dungeons Of the
American Bastiles, where they Ian
guished for months, and years, without
hearing or hope of release. Many a
groan of despair and sigh for relief re-
sounded through the corridors of the
numerous prisons, wherein were en-
tombed for political reasons many OF
the best men Of the North. He was
one of the fathers Of the Abolition
Republican and Radical parties, man
of unquestionable ability, varied infor-
nation and accomplishment as literary
scholar. he continued his career in
the Cabinet Of Andrew johnson, and
distinguished himself, as indeed he al
ways did, by his purely and intensely
American, yet statesmanlike, views of
political affairs. he was probably the
ablest Secretary of State that ever held
the high and honorable position, and he
commanded the respect Of the powerful
Cabinets of Europe. During the past
two years he travelled extensively in
Europe and Asia, made voyage around
the world and was treated everywhere
with that marked courtesy and respect
due to a man who had left his mark upon
the history of America. Belonging to
the purely Northern school Of politics
he was ever arrayed in antago
nism to the Southern school Of
politicians, and between the two
schools warfare ragged hercely, but nc
one placed the controversy on higher
grounds than did the subject Of this no
tice. Mr.. Seward possessed persona
and political integrity, an obstinacy anC
frmness of purpose, and was in ever.
respect a patriotic American. He be
longed to that race Of distinguished
statesmen that, unhappily for the coun
try, is fast disappearing from the land
and which race is being rapidly sue
ceeded by political cbarlatans, dema
gogues and ofice-hunters. Not only il
the North, but in the South, his death /
deeply regretted; because in both sec
tons Of the country his great ability an
purity Of political character have bee
recognized and admitted His deaf
cannot be considered in any other hgt
than as an irreparable loss TO our con
mon country.