The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-10-17
OBITUARY.
Hon. William n. Seward,

OF his physical powers. His mind. how
ever, was bright and vigorous, aud he
engaged in literay labors until very short
period before his death. Since his return
from his journey around the world he
has confined himself principally to his
residence, where he engaged himself in
writing memories of his busy and event
ful lille, as we'll as a narrative of his recen ut
tour Latterly his system became SO
weakened that he became bedfast, and.
gradually sinking, he breathed his last at
twenty minutes past three o'clock Thurs
| day afternoon.
Hon. William Fl. Seward was born in
Florida, Orange county, New York, May
10, 1901, and was the son of Judge
Samuel S. Seward He had three bro.
theirs, the two eldest of whom, Benjamin
j. and Edwin Polydore, are dead, and the
youngest, George w. Seward, resides in
Georgia. He had also two sisters, both
OF whom have been dead for some years.
Graduating at Union College, Sche-
nec.ady, in 1920, he studied law under
John Duer and Ogden Hoffman, and was
admitted TO the bar in 1922. In the
following year he removed to Auburn,
where he has resided ever since, and
entered upon mis- career as lawyer He
soon rose in his profession, and made his
mark as an able and thorough jurist
In 1880 he was elected to the State
Senate for four years. and in 1884 he was
nominated on the Wing ticket for Gov
crnor, but was defeated He was again
nominated for the same office in 1888,
and being elected, he entered upon the
discharge of his duties in 1889. During
his administration lie devoted himself with
energy to the prosecution of internal i'm
provements, aud to reforming the public
school system of the State. Mr.. Seward
held the Office of Governor for four years,
and on the expiration of his second term
he declined a re election, and returned to
the practice of his profession. In March,
1919, he was chosen United States Senator,
and held the position until he was invited
TO enter the Cabinet of Mr. Lincoln, in
March, 1861.
During his Senatorial career Mr.
Seward became the acknowledged leader
of the new Republican party, and for
many years he was the foremost man in
its ranks. On The 25th of October, 1858,
at Rochester, New York, he delivered
speech, III which he laid down so
thoroughly and clearly the principles in
volved in the ''irrepressible conflict" be
tween freedom and slavery, that it be
came the key note to that conflict until
the war of words was ended by an appeal
to the sword. When the National Re-
publican Covention assembled at Chicago
in May, 1860, he was regarded as the
most formidable candidate for the nomin-
alton. On the first ballot he received
1881 votes, Mr.. Lincoln receiving but
l02, the whole number being 465, and
233 necessary to choice. On the second
ballot the vote stood for Seward, 1S44,
and for Lincoln, Isl on the third ballot,
for Seward, $50, and for Lincoln, 23I&,
within y votes of the number required.
On the Inauguration of Mr. Lincoln he
received the first position in the Cabinet,
and one for which he was eminently fitted.
His course as Secretary of State is still
flesh in the memory of his countrymen,
and his efficient services in the conduct
of our foreign relations had no small effect
upon the grand result of the war. But
for his sasacity aud good management
there is little doubt that foreign war
would have been precipitated upon the
country when such an event would have
undoubtedly secured the independence
of the Southern States. His conduct of
the case of Mason and Slidell, was marked
by broad and statesmanlike views, and
calculated to advance his reputation as
diplomatist.
On October II, 1861, Messrs Mason
and Slidell embarked for Europe, the for
mer as Confederate commissioner to Eng-
land the latter in like capacity to France.
On the 24th the party arrived at Havana,
where they embarked, on November Z,
on the Royal English mail steamer Trent.
On the following day, Admiral, then
Captain Wilkes, 10 command of the
United States man Of war San Jdcinto,
oyerhauled the Trent 10 the Bahama
Channel, and seized the two commits
sioners and their secretaries, in defiance
of the protest of the commader of the
Trent and Of the English mail agent,
Williams Admiral Wilkes
carried his prisoners to New York, whence
they were re moved to Fort Warren, in
the harbor of Boston, by order of Secre-
tary Seward.
Finding war with Great Britain the
inevitable result of persistence in hold
ing these persons. and justly forseeing its
disastrous effect to the cause Of the nation
at such time, although the general drift
of popular sentiment in the United States
was at first in favor Of holding on to the
four rebel diplomats. Secretary Seward
coatriyed, by hs- adsoitness, to satisfy the
sense OF national honor, and, by the
course Of his argument, even placed the
British Government in a humillating