The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-19

voted himself to II exclusively have not SHADOW
OF doubt ne would nave attained position OF the
cumstances OF the memorable defence OF the friend
less negro, william Freeman, charged with MUIR
eulogy upon Mr.. Stewards oratory, and read an
extract from the argument before the juryl
THE MASON AND sLIDELL COMPLICATIONS
pass from this illustration OF the resolute VIII
and courage OF the man to another OF wholly dier-
ent and still higher kind. shall not weary your
the seizure by our gallant countryman, Admiral
Wilkes, OF the two rebel emissafies, Mason and
slidell by forciby taking them rom British nasn
the high seas to British port, You can
all remember how much delighted everybody
OF the possible consequences as Affecting the
rights Or neutral nations. Some erroneous
precedents were puslished IN the journals which
ately received the official appreciation OF the House
OF Representatives and the Secretary OF the Navy,
hero. &c Crowded public meetings everywhere joined
IN their acclamatons proudly exultant at the gal
liant deed On the other hand, the effect OF the vio-
no one had better opportunity to understand
than myself 1t was at once presumed to have
.en ~ f 70 sS os
suit. s.~''s' s.ssllsss~1.~sr....s"
WAR WITH ENGLAND AvRRrRD -.s~--
War was considered as inevitable; hence pro-
vision was promptly made by many to remove
AM property out Of the risk Of confscatlon
day with the ring OF the hammers, fitting out the
largest ironclads, and orders went forth to assem-
barkation to the points In America closest upon
our northern border. A Cabinet council was
promptly assembled. -Four, dispatches were
Der. three OF them addressed to the British Minis
ter at Washington, Lord Lyons, and one to the
them distinctly anticipated an Immediate rupture
and made provision for the event. Looking at
these proceedings as calmly as l can from our
nrn mi Af wi 0W iOVA aoils TnW
to doubt that the issue OF this peremptOry demand
had been already. prejudged oy Her MaJestys
Ministers. They did not themselves Believe that
the men would be restored. Yet had it been
judged proper to await for few days the reception
OF official intelligence, then on It's way from Wash
ingtOn, these gentlemen would have learned from
Mr. Seward that the act was without authority,
and that the government was ready to listen to
any neutrality-suspicious. that might be forth
coming. 1t was the writing OF that preliminary
despatch that saved the dignity of the country. Mr..
Seward could point to It to prove that his action,
when finally TAKEN had not been prompted by IN
timdation. The precptate British course had be-
trayed the rudeness Of distrust and nothing more.
impartally and solely on its merits. war with
Great Britain to maintain an unsOund principle,
merely because the people made hero Of Admiral
the rebellion and a permanent disruption or the
Union. When the time came Ior the assembly OF
the Cabinet to decide upon an answer to Great
Britain, not sign had been given by the President
or any OF the members favorable to concession. Mr..
Seward, who had been charged with the Official duty
OF furnishing the expected answer, assumed the
responsibility OF preparing his able argument upon
which decision was predicated to surrender the
weight OF the popular Indignation, had it proved
formidable. II have been rightly informed, when
read, It met with but few comments ana less ap-
probation. On the other hand there was no re-
sstance. Silence gave consent. 1t was the act OF
Mr.. Seward and his name was to be chiefly asss-
ciated with it, whether for good or for evil. That
name will ever stand signed at the foot of the
despatch. In my firm belief That act saved the
m w vUh ioh
could have been closed IN no other way. The peO-
pie acquiesced rather than approved. and to this
day they have never manifested any sign Of graft
tude whatever.
In 1869 Mr. Seward returned home to Auburn, the
OF twenty years, and especially those OF the last
eight with the assassin's knife, had told heavily
had been when the gifted partner Of his life and
beloved daughter spread over IL sunshine and JOY,
in peaceful times. Worst Of all the symptoms Of q
subtle disease, creeping slowly from the extrem
ties, came to warn MIN that repose would be
anonymous with decay. Nothing daunted, he de-
took the labori0us task Of journey around the
globe. The turn Of his mind. verindulging IN wide
speculation upon the objects presented to his OBJ
servaton. Is as clearly marked in this as it Is in
any OF his earlier productions. Hence it Is clear
that however IMPAIRED may have been his tcne-
firmly to the last. And now the chief part OF my
work Is done. have tried to test the statesman
His career covers the whole OF what I desig
mated as the second period OF our history,
that, pending which, the heaviest clog to free-
dom, periious legacy from our fOrefathers,
was, after long and severe conflict, at last hap.
PLY removed. In this trial Mr.. Seward played
a great part. His mind, taking In the broadcast
view Of practical popular government never tailed
him in the useful application Of his powers to the
removal Of all adventitious obstructions to its de-
velopment He was never mere theorist
dreamer Of possibilities he could not reach. He
speculated boldly, but he was an actor all the
wnile and erected results II is in this sense that
] think nv narrative has established for him q
Just claim to the high position assigned to him at
my outset: He may net, indeed, rise to the full
stature OF the philosopher statesman, ''equal to
the present, reaching forward to the future"
never seen even In the palmy days OF ancient
stands in the first rank OF these admitted most
nearly to approach 1t.
Thus far have considered him exclusively In his
public life The picture would scarcely seem COM
pete II omitted word about him as a man like
said to have been gifted with the advantage OF an
imposing presence, such as fell to the lot OF Mr..
Calhoun and Mr., Webster Neither in lace nor in
figure would he have attracted particular notice,
and both his voice and power OF articulation were
little favorable to the power OF his elocution; yet
the hearers attention-the surest test OF oratorcai
superiority. His familiar conversation rarely
kept in the dreary round Of commonplace, and
often struck into original and instructive paths
His personal address was easy and careless, some
times rather blunt. 1t lacked something or the
polish OF the most refined society, but there was
often brought enc close to him In moment. At
times. when IN good spirits, there seemed super.
which spent itself in laughter more robust than
could be wholly accounted fer by anything
expressed. And yet 1t had q sympathetic
power over the hearers almost irresistible.
In his domestic relations he was pure and
arectionate-ready to heed the monitisns
by her prudent counsel To his intimate friends ne
was deeply attached. The line or great statesmen
In America may or may not stretch out
In yon bright track that fires the western Skies
to the crack Of doom. But the memory OF him who
guided our course through the most appalling
tempest yet experienced In our annals can scarcely
fail 10 confront all future aspirants In the same
honorable career, as an example which every one
OF them may initiate to his advantage, but which
few can hope to be so fortunate ~ to excel
AT THE CLOSE OF THE GRAFTON
"Integer Vita" was sung by the quartet, and
the 'plessing" was given by Bishop Cox. This
ended the ceremonies Or the day. which will be