Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-11
DEATH OF WILLIAM n. SEWARD.

and to his bed for some days, his we'll
worn and lOng-tried physique refusing
to second the promptings of brain that
retained all its wonderful powers Of en-
duranee to the last. Mr.. Seward was a
great statesman-one Of the few this
country has produced that will
come near the standard which must
be reached ere men can lay claim to the
exalted title. His was a mind full OF
resource, equal to all emergencies, an
ticipating. by great measures OF policy
the needs Of a young Republic Of States
destined to occupy the foremost place
among the nations Of the earth. Born
in 1901, only a few years after the adop-
ton Of the constitution, he lived TO see
that instrument tested and violated in
its most vital parts, to see the States be-
come the seat Of the most odious tyran-
ny, and to realize the possibility Of the
election to the Presidency Of Horace
Greeley, who with him did more than
any other TO make the Abolition a tri-
umphant party. He was Of Welsh ex-
traction on his fathers side, and Irish
by his mother, received a liberal educa-
ton at Union College, New York, where
he graduated in 1870, and, studying law
thereafter, was admitted to the barin 1872
In 1928, he entered into partnership with
Judge Miller, whose daughterhe married
in IS24, which year was signalized by
his first political act, the drafting Of an
address for q Republican convention
boldly opposing the Albany regency.
In IS25 at Syracuse he made his first
Grafton, and in ls2s presided over 8
young mems convention, called to favor
the election of John Quincy Adams to
the Presidency. In 1880 be was elected
u the State Senate as an anti-MasOn by
q majority Of two thousand, in which
body he signaIised himself for his adj
v1cacy Of internal improvements, pub
lie education, the abolition Of imprison-
ment for debt and the ameliorauon Of
the condition OF prisoners. He also
originated an opposition to corporate
monopolies, which has since ripened
into a system of general laws. In 1898
he visited Europe snd wrote his i'm
pressIons in letters published in
the Albany Ereniag Journal In 1884
be was the Wing candidate for Cover
nor, but was defeated by ". L. Marcy;
in 1886 he became the agent Of the HoL
land Company, and in 1888 was elected
Governor by a majority Of ten thousand
over his former competitor, Mr.. Mar
cy. The most prominent feature Of his
administration was his advocacy Of the ]
common school law, which, furiOusly
opposed at the time, was ultimately {
adopted in lS47. Healso paved the way Z
for the abolition Of the expensive and '
complicated systemof chancery practice
engrafted from the English code, which Q
was finally accomplished in 1916. He
was reelected Governor in 1910, and o
during hisseeond term engaged with the '
Governor Of Virginia in what was '
known as the Virginia controversy, in '
the course Of which be announced and 2
held to the views on slavery for (
which be afterward became conspicuous. 4
He retired in 1872 to the practice Of his a
profession, and in 1874 entered heartily ?
into the Presidential contest for Clay,
and again for General Taylor in 1s4s. u
In 1919 be was elected to the United G
States Senate. He was recognized as u
[ e friend Of President Taylor, and on q
March Ilth, 1850, made his celebrated o
"higher-law" speech on the question Of 81
admitting California. He took similar "
ground on the compromise question Of y
the repeal Of the Missouri compro- y
and admission Of Kansas, and all "a
lions Of simlar import and charac- ~
t. In 1855 at Rochester, he promul- ~
d his doctrine Of thei rrepressible con- %
and in IS50-6l was conspicuousin all ~
the debates in the Senate on the side Of "
& Union. In 1850 he was a prominent ~
5ate for President before the a.
p Jean Convention, but was "a
g. 1 by Mr.. Lincoln, whose nomi-
e sustained with ardor, being -
a therefor by the position Of -
Of Estate. His conduct Of this Z
mt Of the government was y
lied by q determination that
IL circumstances the Union y
"a De preserved. He acted his part Sc
in Ee most autocratie manner The ei'
t1Hle Of bis little bell was regarded the w
sure and certain signal Of imprisonment ~
Tor those who were offensive to the ad- u
n~inistratiOn, or in sympathy with the -
south; he encouraged, by a letter to 'O
General Mcclellan, the confscation 70 !
reedom Of al negroes calling or com foL
ng within the Union lines" be refused On
% recognize Messrs. Crawford and For 90
yth as ambassadors from the South. Cor
md announced to Governor Hicks, Of sec
Maryland, the policy Of the administra- q
ion adhered TO throughout the war. our
.ot to accept the mediation Of Dol
ny Of the foreign powers. He was ga
Characterised in this high position by pa
Teat zeal and an indefatigable energy. 4
I was through him that complications Ien
With foreign powers were prevented, l0n
nd thatby the adroit use Of the positions VII
such men as Archbishop Hughes, Of 81,
be Catholic, and Bishop Mcnvain, Of r
be Episcopal Church, he co~unteracted Gov
he influence and exertions Of the able zen
o~nfederate agents in Europe. He made diss
aste, upon the demand Of England, 70 q :
AXE apology and reparation for the w,
rest Of Mason and Slidell, on the biQh Fcha
as, aboard s British steamer, and did
50 deity as TO satisfy his country -
.en and the English people. Upon the Coz.
lrrender, be, in direct opposition 10 ever
scretary Stanton, seconded all the rug =
.0vements Of Mr.. Lincoln for recon the
liatiOn and permanent union and STAT
ace. He was with the Ia Gear
ented President at Hampden roads carr!
hen be issued bis executive order ror poop
G assemblaRe Of the Legislature Of y e
.rginia, and affixed his signature 20 it, ID
d afterwards, as leaked out iD Wash DPo
zton, sustained it in Cabinet council.
= continued his position as Secretary -
State in the Cabinet Of Mr.. johnson, a.
ing absent from bis post only a few 90
while recovering from the -
.Unds inflicted by Payne, Of a. ;
Oth's c~O-cOnspirators and assassins. a.
was an ardent supporter Of all -
assures for the restoration Of the -
ties, and gave his adhesion 10 the -
iladelphia movement He linked
name with all the Constitutional
endments originating in the Radical
~ and by 1t deemed necessary guar
Of the perpetuity Of the Union. !
the close Of Mr.. Johnson's o'ioi
"a, be set that gentleman an example
should have followed, instead Of In ~lu q
ting Tennessee with his presence as Am,
ofice-seeker. He visited M,
Pacific coast, and went up to the ter didat,
~ Of Alaska, acquired by him, and ahoBt
IA there wrote several letters indors Go,tb
his action in that respect, and re- Fbav,
ling 10 an almost i~ncredulous public nir;n
treasures Of that hitherto terra in taitb
aNd. he subsequently made q tour are IN
the world, visiting all the mon snirit
IS Of the East and many Of those Of orr ",
ope, by whom be was received with the st.
nguished hOnous, regarded, as he for DO
by them, n Of the most illus tense
n ~ ffwfun Ar,a-5oovu And fhaw