Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25
DEATH OF nov. uv.u. m. SEW.
.TRD.
ADDRESS OF MIR. IIAsKINs OF BRATTLEBoRo
IN THE W. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
ON SATURDAY, OCT. 10TH,

the earth may he recorded the death of
some great and good man-his praises are
sung, and his virtues are recounted by lips
familiar with his life's history-his immt-
diate relatives and friends sincerely mourn
his loss, but he soon passes from the re-
membrance of all and is forgotten. But
when wise and distinguished statesman,
with reputation, national and world wide,
is stricken from the number of earths chill
dren, the whole people mourn, and II is
not unusual for their Representatives,
whether assembled in State or national
council to commemorate the mournful @.
vent in the manner of the resolutions now
before us.
/ shall attempt no eulogy here, for /
have not the power of speech TO do justice
TO the memory of the llustrous dead. But
it having been suggested that l should
take part in the exercises of this hour, |
cheeriully do 50, for feel that il is an hon
or to be accorded the privilege of doing
honor 70 the memo'y of the good and pat
riotsm finds grateful exercise in recall
iny the obligations under which nation
rests 10 those who have done service to her
as these we now bear, cannot fail to benefit
the living, as we'll as honor the dead, for
they show to those in life what a noble
thing II is to earn name and fame TO
live after death, and grow brighter and
brighter as time rolls on.
The Hon. William II. Seward died at his
home, in Auburn, n. Y, on Thursday,
Oct. 10th, in the seventy-second year of his
age he had outlved his three score years
and ten, and beyond the common lot Of
man. He was born May 10, 1901, and we
learn that after receiving liberal cduca-
ton, he studied law, was admitted TO the
bar in 1922, and at once entered upon Il
successful practice, and an honorable and
illustrious career in the political arena of
his state and the nation. In 1880, he was
elected TO the Senate of the State of New
York and in 1888, he was trihmphantly
elected Governor of his state, over Govern
or Marcy, his successful competitor for the
position four years previous. This office
he held for four years, and, the honorable
course he pursued, and the acceptable man
ner in which he administered the affairs of
his state, during the great financial convul-
sioni of that period, earned for him ma
tionul reputation. In the winter of 1850,
he was elected TO the United States Senate,
and il was there that, on the 11th OF March,
1850, in regard to the speech of Webster,
delivered on the 9TH, he declared his unal-
terable determination to make no further
concessions to the slave power and uttered
those ever III emorable words, "There is a
higher law than the Constitution, which
regulates our authority" On all questions
of public improvement and national inter
est he maintained high and advanced po-
sition. lie served with honor and distinc-
| ton in that body until March !, 1851 when
he was called to a higher and more exalted
field of useful and honorable service. lie
was in fact, one of the principal founders
of the Republican party, and took an in,-
portant part in the political campaigns OF
both the state and the nation. 1t was dur
ing the excitement oil fierce political can
vass that in 1863, ut Rochester, N. Y, he
| likened the two systems of slave-labor and
free labor, as ian Irresponsible conflict be-
tween opposing forces" and made the pre-
di ction, since fully verified, that ''the Unit
ed States must and will, sooner or later, be-
come either entirely aslave-holding nation
or entirely free-labor nation" In 1860
he was perhaps the most prominent repub-
lican candidate throughout the north ioI
the Presidency and on the first ballot, al
the Chicago Convention, received the lar
gest number of votes cast for any one can
didate. But in this contest he lost, and
Abraham Lincoln was placed in nomina-
ton. Notwithstanding this defeat for q
position, the highest in tho gilt of the peo-
pie, and to secure which he had honorably
sought and no doubt expected to receive
he was among the first to yield cordial sup.
port to Mr.. Lincoln's nomination, and en-.
tered with earnestness and vigor upon thai
warmly contested canvass, which resulted
in the triu nphant election of man, pledg
ed TO administer this government in the in.
terest of all, in strict accordance with the
spirit of the Constitution, and the letter o
the Declaration OF Independence.
Upon the accession of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidential office, he rendered to Mr.. Sew
ard the portfolio of the State Department
which lie accepted and continued TO hole
until March 4, 1869. 1t was there that hi
hlaue tue most glorious ana enduring rec
ord of his busy life-a record familiar tC
the whole country, and well understood
among the nations of the old world. Tn,
day before he entered upon his duties o
Secretary of State, in his place in the Sen
ate Chamber, and while Senators from 9th
er States were, without cause, withdraw
ing therefrom, and leaving vacant thei
seats, and the dark and portentious clouds
of n or uel war were gathering thick arount
him, he boil dly made known his own posi-
ton in these patriotic words: "Iavow my
adherence to the Union, with my friends
with my party, with my State, or withou
them, as hcv NAV determine in ever,
o,o.,, az -. 80. -. tn, .- -.