New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19


out Of che risk Of conacation The doekysrds esounted
by night ~ well as by day win TIC nng Of hamm'r..
TO assemble the most Available troops Tor mmoaists
ombarkatlon 10 the points in America closest upon
promptly assomDled.i -Four dispatches wsrs
drawn up on the same Day the $,th o. Noyem
Wasbugton, Lord Lyons, and one 70 the LORD. Commis
patio immediate rupture, and made provision for the
event One OF these very carefully preparel Instructed
tic Secretary OF State should not voluntarily Oaer
redress by delivery oithe men; 70 make demand Of
permit OF delay OF Affirmative aBswer beg ond
seven days Should no such answer appear within that
time his Lordshp was formally instructed 10 withdraw
with ali his legation and Oh tho archives OF the sg1-
fourth letter addressed to the Admiraty Contained No
struGtiOns TO prepare all the naval officers stationed
America for the breaking out OF hostilties. 4.
MR. SEWARD SAVED THE DIGNITY or TTE COUNTRY.
Looking at these proceeding as calmly as can from
our pre- ent point OF view It seems impossible fr ne 10
doubt that tho issue OF this poramptory demand had al
ready been preudged By Her Maestys Ministers. They
did not them selves believe that would be re-
stored Hence what seems to mo the needess ofeosve-
violence OF the popular feehng which would iosIst
an VIZ bss H hsen IndSed proSeS 10 aT for E
DAYS tho reception Of official Intelligence, then It's
way from Washington, these gentlemen would have
learned from Mr.. Seward that they were precpilate
their action at least, and Wholly without pass ~ pre-
sumng evil intentions. Moreover, they would have bad
an assurance that the act without authority aqdtt
Government ready 10 listen % any reasonable
mi Her Mlesty's Goyernent had placed themselves
at tue outset false position, neediessy orendve and
emptpry nature Of the overture, however clothed ia
moderate terms, merely complicated the difficulty n
responding IN tone that would at al quet the
cited temper OF the American people IL wac the wiling
of that preliminary dispatch that saved the dignity .
his action when finally taken, bad not been prompted
by Multiplication Ihe pree ltate BTsn course had no
had been ready 70 and discuss the question Impair
nally and solely on 3 merits; SUI INC PEOPLE o. me
/ Ifnftp al lau
They were satis1 WIN In, tne iInClel g,Sy on
ton the smallest recantatiOD. AZ TO the demand foe
the surrender VI the men, the thing Was not " Do
thought Of They must be retained at any hazard such
was the universal sense, aud IL Is this which generally
controls action Of those who hold ONCE IN popular
government. Yet the fact was TO me- clear from the
first the act was not Justlnable Many OF the most
enlightened neutral nations l,ld ,Snn 20 as mIoa N
method OF retreat with Great Britain 10 nam
tain an psound Pr1stPsII Rele 6 SaSs
ended In a triumph OF the Rebellion and permanent
disruption Of the Union, furnishing ever after new e
ample with which ." to pont moral ana adorh Iale
When the time for the assembly OF the Cabinet 10
decide upon answer to Great Britain, not sign
had been given by the PRESIDENT OK any oI ths
who had been charged Win ,hS S ,hn eS5 q
biity of preparing mis- able argument upon which de-
Ss9 nave essd 70 wSde WEIGHT q Se pS
dlgnatiOn, had il proved formidable II have been
rightly informed when read, IL met with but Few com
ments aud less appreciation. Oh the other hand ileTs
was resistance. Silence gave consent. ~ vas tho
act Of Mr. Seward and his was 10 be chiefly assO
ciated with it, whether for good or Tor evil That name
will stand signed at the foot OF the dispatch In
il was ike the fable OF the Roman Curtus, who lepet
into abyss which could have been closed 10 no o'hr
way The people acquiesed rather than approved aud
10 This day they have never manifested anJ san oil ssF
THE DECLINING YEARS.
In 1869 Mr.. Seward returned home 20 Auburn, tho
wreck Of his former SELF The continuous conflicts OF 70
years and especially those OF the last eight with tho
sassns knife had told heavily on his frame That home.
too was longer what it had been, when the gifted
partner Of his life and beloved daughter spread overt
suushne and Joy, In peaceful times. Worst Of all tho
symptoms Of subtle disease, creeping slowly Isvm Ihe
exuemes, came 70 warn nm tnaS Ielo2te SotI , 70
mined 70 tight the enemy the hast lie undertook tho
aborious task of journey around the goOe Nha' 10
mOdesty and sadly or IL himself, Is Ound IN mo
reuy he made 10 tie welcome gwen nun ~ MS neigh
borrs' and friends on his teturn have had long
Journey. which, its inception, seemed u many 10 70
that all neighbOrs aud friends
are now satisfied that it was reasonable found that
in returning home to the occupations which were before
me. was expected to ENJOY rest from la0ofs and
cares which were thought to have been oppreS
siye and severe found mat az age ana IN my con-
diti0n Of health rest was rust ana nothing renanedo
prevent rust but 10 keep IN motion selected lls sV
that would do the least harm, give the least Ohense.
enable acquire the most knowledge and INCREASE
tine power, II any renamed, TO 90 gOOd" Inc volume
from which quote eG GO M gsIa&d very es e5
ever INDUCING wide speculation upon the objects pro
sented his observation, ~ clearly marked IN tb ss
II Is 10 any OF MS earlier lt9uuetos Io0o - -
that impaired may have been MS tenement oi
LAST This book likewise shows, though expressed IN
modest language that the fame of the great states
Of tue Eastern hemisphere. and had won for him
a simple private citizen - Spontaneous Ieeosnuens,
tIrted only by representatives Of those so'ercsaues
And now tho chief part Of my work is done. havo
tried TO test the statesman ~ the highest standard
what designated the second period OF our history
that, pending winch, the heaviest clog to freedom,
Terous legacy from our forefahers, was after long
ana severe conflict, at last happily removed In TINS
trial Mr. Seward played great part His mind. taking
lu the brOadest view practical popular government,
never failed nm in the useful application OF his powers
u the removal all adventurous distractions 10 1s DO
velopment. He never mere theonst or dreamer
of possibilities he could not Reach He speeulated boldly,
but he was actor all the while, and effected results
Ished for him Just claim to the high position
signed TO him at my outset He may not indeed rise TO
the present reaching forward the future never seen
even IN the palmy days OF ancient GreSce; or perap
anywhere else but at least no stands ia the hsJ fanA VI
those admitted most nearly 70 approach H.
MS CHARACTERISTICS IN PRIVATE LIFE.
But thus far have considered him exclusively In his
public ife The picture would scarcely seem complete
If omitted o word about him a like all the reSs
OF U.s. by nature he scarcely be said to have been
gifted with the advantage of an imposing presence.
such as fell 20 the lot Of Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Webster
Neither In face in figure would he have attracted
particular notice and both his voice and power OF arte-
uauon little favorable TO the power OF his elocu
tion. Yet lie had remarkable degree the faculty u
bxDg tho hearers attention the sures test Of oratorc
ureary round OF commonplace, aud often struck INTO
or gipal aud instructive paths. His personal address
was easy and careless sometimes rather blunt 10 aC ked
something the polish OF the most refined society," Dut
there simplicity and heartiness IN his genial hOurs
that Often brought close TO MIN IN moment Az
times, when good spirits, there seemed
superabundant glee sDringing from his thoughts,
which spent itself In laughter rOOlst
than could be wholly accounted Tor by ANYTHING er-
pressed And yet II had sympathetic power over INC
almost Irresistible Ia his domestic relations 10
pure and aiectionateready 10 heed the monitons
of gifted and refined partner and profit by her iiu
dent counsel Unhappily, her lDhrn health breeding