Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-10-17

TIC ""S ooTn III OfduSe Scuuly, ~. i.
May q, 1901 His ancestry was Celtic
Welsh on his fathers and lrish.on his
mothers side His father was wealthy
physician, who died in lS49 At Is Viii
liam Henry entered Union College; at
l9, while still student, he visited Geor-
gia, and taught school there for 8 months.
He then returned to New York, and was
admitted to the bar in 1922 The next
year he changed his residence to Au-
burn, entering law partnership with
Judge Miller, and year later married,
his partners daughter, Miss Frances Ad'
aline Miller In 1924 he began the war
upon the Albany Regency" the leaders
of the Democratic tarty. In 1923 he
presided At Young Mems Convention
held in New York, favoring the election
of John G. Adams to the Presidency, and
in the same year declined nomination
for Congress. la 1880 he was elected to
the State Senate In 1888 he visited
Europe, publishing a series Of letters in
the Albany Erening Journal In 1894
ne was candidate for Governor OF New
York, and was opposed and defeated by
Mr. Marcy, and in 1888 was again nom
mated for the same Office, this time beat.
ing his former opponent While Gov.
ernor, warm correspondence took place
between him and the Governor Of Vir>
ginia upon the question OF the rendition
Of two seamen charged with the abduc-
ton OF slaves from Virginia; in this cor
respondence the general subject Of sla-
very was discussed La 1910 be was re-
elected Governor, and upon retiring, in
1912, resumed the practice OF the law -
He volunteered as counsel for Van
Zandt, accused Of harboring fugitive
slaves in Ohio, and for fifty citizens OF
Michigan, indicted for conspiracy, under
the laws, for the return OF the slaves. -
La 1874 he vigorously supported Henry
Clay, and in 1913 General Taylor, for the
Presidency. The Legislature of New
York, chosen in 1915 elected hr. Sew
ard United States Senator for the term
beginning March 4, lS49. In December,
lS49, he took the lead in Congress OF
those friends of President Taylor who
opposed slavery, and enjoyed the ccni'
dence of the Administration. In the de-
bates that followed, concerning the terri>
tory acquired from Mexico, he took AN
active pnrt, and, 10 March 1850, he made
his celebrated higher law speech. lie
thus introduced that phrase which has
since become historical:
ut is true, indeed that the national
domain is ours 1t is true it was acqulr'
ed by the yalor and with the wealth OF
the whole nation. But we hold, never
theless, no arbitrary power over it. We
hold no arbitrary power or authority
over anything, whether acquired lawful
ly or seized by usurpation. The Consn-
tuition regulates our stewardship; the
| Constitution devotes the domain to union,
TO Justice, 10 defence, to welfare and to
| liberty. But shere is higher law than
the Constitution which regulates our au
thority over the domain, and devotes 1t
to the same noble purposes. The terri
tory ia part, DO uncomfortable part, OF
the common heritage OF mankind, be-
slowed upon them by the crea or OF the
universe. We are hi stewards, and
must SO discharge our trust as tn secure
in the highest attainable degree their
happiness
For this speech Mr. Seward was fierce
| " assaied, at the time, in the debates IN
Congress and in the press OF the coGn-
try During the protracted debates Oh
the Compromise acts of 1880 he bore a
conspicuous part, opposing everything
that seemed TO sanction, justify, or aid
slavery Four years later, he bore a
leading part in the debates on the Kan
sas Nebraska bill. But his attention was
not confined to topics in which slavery
was involved he discussed, with equa!
ability, the whole range OF questions
coming before Congress.
In 1853, in - speech ut Rochester, ne
introduced another phrase which has al
50 become historical; speaking OF the
constant collision between the systems OF
free and slave labor, he declared il to be
an "irrepressible conflict, etween oppos>
lug and enduring forces, aud that, Soon
er or later, the United states must be-
come either entirely slaye-hoiding M
lion, or entirely a free labor nation.
Ina 1850 Mr. Seward was reelected to
the Senate. and, in the session following
Mr.. iIincoln's election, took u hrm STAND
AGAINST any concessions to slavery In
the Chicago Convention of | 90 lie had
been candidate for the nomination, re-
ceiyinu as high as lI3 votes. In the
comrosition of his Cabinet, Mr. Lincoln
amounted him Secretary OF State, ana
luriur the war controlled our relations
with foreign governments. Upon the
death of MIR Lincoln, in 1868, MIR Sew
ard wss continued 10 ofhce bv President
johnson, and remained Secretary OF
State until March 4, 1909, having held
the Office continuously for eight years
MIR Seward was an industrious writer.
His official correspondence rs Secretary
ot Sate vas yoIuminous bis speeches