The New York herald., 1872-10-11

justly accused. In many cases he gave
his services gratuitousiy. the cases Of Van
zanf, charged with harboring fugitive slaves
IN ONO; of the idiot negro Freeman, indicted for
murder. and Of amy citizens Of Michigan, tried for
conspiracy. are among the most celebrated causes
IN which ne vas engaged, and added largely TO his
fame. His learning IN the Law, the vigor Of his
intellect the humanity of his views and his states
manliks and logical powers. we're all exhibited In
these cases. and h not surprising that his EFFORTS
prccures him great fAme and marked him - one OF
Of the country.
rux MCLEOD CASE.
One ef the evidences Of how great . lawyer Cover
nor sewara vss atted 10 become WAS exhibited In
the case of Alexander Mcleod. Q case IN which he
exhibited the ful measure Of has statesmanship and
his regard for the dignity and honor OF the country
Mcleod wss . Canadian rebel. but had been ar
rested In tins state the charge ofbeins concerned
In the burning OF the American steamer Caroline
by party Of British subjects o. schlosser In Canada.
lie 20 be tried In this state but his surrender
was demanded by ths British Minister at wash
ington. President Van Buren refused to comply
with tins demand and communicated his decision
60 Governor seward. This was NJ the close Of Van
Buren's administration. and the negotiations were
not finished either uron his retirement from the
sons death. Harrison. however. had exhibited
signs OF . desire 20 make concessions and Tyler.
his successor. made q demand upon the Governor
for McLeod's surrender. The British claimed him
under the charge Of murder; bat II was asserted
by the state authorities that political homicide
was not murder under the meaning OF the treaties.
Governor seward. having made up hts mind tnat
this was the proper view Of the case.
could not be shaken IN his course by
the urgency of the general government and he
persisted In bringing Mcleod 20 trial. On thor
oughly examining the facts he ascertained that
the threat Of Great Britain was based. not on the
detention OF Mcleod nor yet on hs trial, nor even
on his conviction, hut ON has actual execution.
such an end 10 the trial was not anticipated; for
Governor seward was aware that the evidence
was probably insufficient 10 convict the prisoner,
aud the issue resulted In McLecd's acquittal. After
McLeod's acqaittal he was delivered In the British
territory under military escort; but the disgrace
OF a cowardIy surrender to an arrogant demand
was averted, and the Governor. who, just before
and during the trial. was accused OF wan,only pro-
voking war with Great Britain was then hailed as
wise and sagacious statesman, who could sustain
the honor OF America in the eyes Of the world.
MS POLITICAL viEws-Asri-sLAvERy
Though occupying only private station from
1ss3 20 ls49. Governor seward dd not 10 take
a great interest In public Affairs and he was really
the head OF the nee soil party. During his early
residence In the South he had imbibed a strong
dislike 10 the peculiar institution This was
strengthened by his triumph IN the of the three
colored sailors demanded during his admnstra.
tion by the Governor OF virginia for being con.
cerncd in aiding the escape Of slave u was
this which put him nj the head OF the an'islaveIy
movement, where he maintained his place tin
slavery itself was extinct by the famous proclama-
tion under his own hand. In Isu he sup
ported Henry Clay for the Presidency with
great ardor, and four years later lahorcd
with equal zeal In behalf OF General Taylor believ
ing tnat Taylor's course, n elected, would he favor
able TO the exclusion OF slavery from the territory
acquired In the Mexican war. lie accordingly de-
voted himself with great energy To the canvass In
the States OF New York, Pennsylvania. Ohio aud
Massachusetts,. In the last mentioned campaign
he constantly and decidedly identified himself with
the antelavery wing OF the whlg party, and there
by incurred unpopularity and rebuke IRON has more
conservative and trimming political friends. hut
the whig Legislature elected with General Taylor
in that year chose him TO the Senate Of tho United
States in place OF General Dix, and then he began
In earnest the antislaycry battle, which Il was the
mission Of his life TO pursue.
his CAREER AS A SENATOR.
In March, 1s4e, Mr.. Seward was elected 10 the
Senate OF the United States, and from that time
his career became national. ON the meeting Of
Congress, In December following, the Southern
members, apprchendng the adoption OF an anti
slavery policy, took ground In opposition 10 General
Taylor's administration, while the friends OF free.
dom at that time In the two houses mostly sup
ported it. Seward at once exhibited all the bold
ness and zeal which had ever characterized his
conduct against slavery, and openly and warmly
declared that he would make no further conces-
sions to the slave power In return he bitterly
and vehementy denounced as seditious person
and dangerous agtator. But he breathed lie
1ance in return, and IL is O curious fact in
his history that in the years which have
elapsed since he came prominently before
the country he more than once stood alone
as the advocate OF reforms which, at subsequent
periods have been adopted as the settled policy OF
the whole people. lie was in advance OF his con-
temporaries in his ideas, but nothing could cause
him to dcviate from his convictions. lie took the
ground that "ffccd0m Is national and slavery sec
tional," and that the purpose OF the federal Union
was to establish the blessing OF Justice and hu
manity and not to enlarge the area OF bondage and
OPPRESSION AS early as 1850, In speech on the
admission OF California into the Union, he said =
at IS true, indeed, that the national domain IL
ours. 1t Is true 1t was acquired by the vaor aud
by the wealth OF the whole nation; but we hold,
nevertheless, no arbitrary power over u. We hold
no arbitrary power over anything, whether ac-
QUlreu lawfully OF sclZeu Dy usuTpa'lOn Inc cOn-
stitution regulates our stewardship; the constitu-
tion devotes the domain to union, to defence, 10
welfare and 10 liberty. But there IL higher law
over the national domain and dev0tes IL 10 the
same high purposes. The territory is a part, no
inconsidcrablc part, OF the common heritage OF
mankind, bestowed upon them by the Creator OF
the universe. We are His stewards, and must so
discharge our trust as to secure In the highest at
tanable degree their happiness IL was from
this speech that the Higher Law doctrine took its
origin, and more than any phrase ever uttered
ela al h IN rnn nn
TIE HIGHER LAW DOCTRINE.
The Higher Law doctrine which Mr.. seward an
nounced In phrase was little understood by the
people, and iearlully distorted and magnined bv
the political leaders. But one thing all could see,
ana that was that II meant an unrelenting and
fu OF abolitionists who exerted little real influence
in our politics at any time, was In favor
OF the abolishment Of slavery in the States, and
while MI. Seward's political friends scarcely apoIo-
giZed for his bold utterances In favor Of the higher
law, his enemies not only denounced him, but said