Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25
WILLIAM IN. sBU.ERD.


The death of Hon. William II. Seward.
removes from our midst one of the great
statesmen most closely connected with the
great American conflict, and one to whom
perhaps as much ms any man the country
owes its successful termination. For how
ever high an estimate we may place on the
skill and valor of those generals who won
tho conflict in the field, there was work
of diplomacy 10 be accomplished, not less
important, and requiring, if possible, a
higher order Of talent and greater wisdom
and discretion, than 10 conduct the cam
pagn in tho field, for there we had a
shrewder and more subtle enemy to over
come. To say that Mr.. Seward was found
equal to the emergency, and that he carried
the nation through these complicated diff
culties with no compromise of the national
honor and dignity, is to accord to him the
highest need of praise. That he did not
escape hostile criticism at the time detracts
nothing from the credit due him, but rather
increases it, for this was, perhaps, the
| greatest difficulty he had TO overcome, to
reconcile the American people to q policy
against which our national feeling often
rebelled, but which all now admit was die
tated alike by wisdom and patriotism.
Mr.. Seward was born May 16, 1901, and
was therefore at his death in his seventy
second year. He was descended from
Welsh ancestry on his fathers and Irish on
his mothers side. Originally settling in
Connecticut, the Seward family removed
TO New Jersey, and in the revolutionary
war his grandfather, Col.John Seward, took
prominent part. His father, DR. Samuel
S. Seward, settled in Orange county, n. Y,
there practising his profession and rising
TO the position Of county judge. William
III. Seward was precocious as a child, Civ
ing early promise of those high qualities
that aiterward distinguishes him as man
and statesman, entering Union college in
the sophomore class at the age of fifteen
and graduating at the age of eighteen. He
was out six months during his senior year,
travelling through the South, and there he
gained his first impressions of slavery, n
feeling Of abhorrance he continued to cher
ish 10 the end Of his days. After studying
law with Anthon, Duer and Hoffman, he
was admitted to the bar at the age oftwenty-
one and soon after removed to Auburn,
entering into partnership with Judge
Miller, whose daughter he married two
years latter. lie early entered the arena of
politics, in opposition to the democratic
party, TO which his father belonged, and in
ls2s presided over the young mems con-
Ventit at Utica, in favor of the election of
John Quincy Adams. In 1880 he was. elec-
ted State Senator as an Anti Mason, where
Inc pOntinnC1 n bn &c A.,
drew jackson, gaining for himself much
distinction for his ability. In 1888, the last
year of his service in the State Legislature,
he wrote the address of the Whig party to
the voters of the state, and in 1884 became
the candidate of that party for governor,
but was defeated. The whig party was
also defeated in 1896 by 10, 600 majority, but
in lS}S Mr.. Seward was elected by 10000
majority, thus putting an end TO the Al
bany regency, which had governed the
State for fifty years. Mr. Stewards admin
istration was distinguished for many meas
ures of reform in the government and con-
suiu.ion Of the State, particularly as re
CARDS the rights of the colored race. Among
these were the passage of laws prohibiting
the passage of slaves in transit through the
state, and removing the property qualificl-
ton of colored voters. He denied requi-
silion of the governor of Virginia for the
surrender OF fugitive slave, an act at that
time far in advance of the public sentiment
of the country. In 1912 he declined n re-
election and retired to the practice of his
profession, which he continued for six
years, acquiring in it great celebrity. Dur
ing this time he received visit from John
Quincy Adams, afterward pronouncing his
eulogy and writing his biography, work
that had very extensive circulation. As
defendants counsel in the libel suit of J.
Fenimore Cooper against the Tribune, and
in the trial of John Van Zandt for aiding
runaway slaves, he gained national repu-
tation, though in the latter case he was un-
successful. From this time he became
identified with our national politics, sup
porting Henry Clay in 1874, and Taylor in
1913 and in 1919 he was elected to the Uni
ted States Senate as successor to Gen. Dix.
During the struggle that preceded the great
final contest between slavery and freedom,
he steadily resisted the aggressions of the
slave power, ithe repeal of the Missouri
compromise, the attempt to force slavery
upon Kansas, and other acts of southern
aggression which eliminated in the rebel
lion. In lsG0 he was the most prominent
candidate for the nomination to the presi- |
dency, but by the ways of political conven- |
tions, which are always past finding out, the |
nomination was given to Abraham Lincoln. |
Though disappointed, Mr.. Seward gave to |
Lincoln hearty support in the canvass |
which followed, and on his election, took |
the first place in his cabinet. 1t was there,
as already intimated, that he rendered to
his country the crowning service OF his
life; service that will keep his name in |
grateful remembrance so long as there is |
in the people intelligence to perceive the |
difficulties of his position and how well he |
discharged its duties, and patriotism to ap- |
precate such service. He refused to be |
provoked by the unfriendly acts of Eng |
land and France into any course of con-
duct that could involve us in war, that |
under the circumstances would have been
fatal to our success in the struggle.yet he
maintained position OF firm protest aga
inst the wrongs we suffered, leaving their
settlement TO a time when we should be
prepared to seek and obtain the redress we
demand. When Mr.. Lincoln was assas-
sinated, Mr., Seward narrowly escaped the
same fate, and never fully recovered from
tho wounds he received aud the shock to
his nervous system. Yet, after his retire
ment from Office he made the circuit of the