Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-24

ed complications with local interests
and rival iealousies which render per-
severance in purely local struggles such
a tbankless labor. 1t was this error
which for long time impaired the gen
eral usefulness of another great states
man of New York, Dewitt Clinton.
From this date Seward remained several
wears in private life, steadily pursuing
his profession.
AS UNITED STATES SENATOR.
Passing rapidly over the election and
death of Gen. Harrison and President
Folks administration, Mr.. Adams pre-
sents the subject of his Grafton as
United States Senator, transferred SIM
ultaneously with Gen. Taylors electlon
from the field of state to tina OF nation
al affuirs. 1t was critical movement
in the great struggle, out OF when the
government was to issue either as an OIL
igarchy controlling all things in the IN
terest of class of masters OF slaves, or
else in fuller development in harmony
with the declared objects of its first con-
struction. The immediate question was
upon the admission of the newly ac-
quired territory of California into the
Union as a free state. And now for the
first time, Seward came forth in the
great national arena to try his strength
against his formidable competitor.
Three successive speeches-onc on the
18th of March, the next on the I'd OF
July and the last on the 18th of Sep
TENDER of the year 1850-displayed in
the clearest light his whole policy on
this vital subject. At the very outset
he declared himself opposed to COM
promise in any and all forms in which
it had been proposed, and he followed
up the words with close argument
against each of those FORMS He then
went on to grapple boldly with the of
ten repeated threats of disunion as
consequence of emancipation in man
ner rarely heard before in that hall.
Mr.. Fillmore succeeded. From this
moment the course of things rapidly as
sumed a more natural and consistent
shape the new administration was
soon found to be entirely under the con-
troll of the ultra Shareholders, and the
policy of forcing slavery into the unoc-
upied regions of the West was unscrup-
ulously pushed with their connivance.
James Buchanan's election followed.
The reaction in the North and West set
in
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
Representing the anti-slavery opposition,
and Mr. Seward now, for the first time,
enjoyed the great advantage--of being
perfectly free from embarrassments
springing out of union with paraliz-
ing associates in the same party. He
speeches which he made both in the
Senate and before the people remain to
testify to his powers and success. That
he was not subsequently nominated at
Chicago in 1860, Mr.. Adams ascribes to
the element of bargains and manage
ment manipulated by adopts at intrigue.
He undoubtedly keenly felt the failure
to recognise his services. A few days
later, Mr.. Seward called in his carriage
upon him (Adams) at Washington, and
invited him to ride. Mr.. Seward en-
tered into the canvass in behalf of his
rival with the utmost energy. / was
myself witness and companion through
a large part of his journey in the West.
After Lincon's election, Seward con-
suited with him (Adams) as to whether
he should accept the position of Secre-
tary of State, and he advised him to do
so without hesitation. Though he came
into position with very limited expert
ence, the marvellous fertility of his pen
spread itself at once over every import
ant point on the globe, and the lofty
firmness of his tone infused a spirit of
unity of action such as had never been
witnessed before. From a state of ut
ter Generalization, the foreign service
rapidly became the most energetic and
united organization thus far made
abroad. He likewise distinguished HIM
self in other departments, and wholly
subordinated his ambition to Preaident
Lincoln. He deliberately stifed every
sensation left in him of aspiration in
the future. He removed all grounds of
misunderstanding by establishing a dis
tinct und, rstanding with the President
HIS SACRIFICES.
Then followed a successor to the chair,
sadly wanting in the happiest qualities
of his predecessor, but readily moulded
to the very same policy which had been
inaugurated by him. In his earnestness
to save it Mr.. Seward subordinated him
self just as before. But the change of
person proved little less disastrous to his
hopes that it had sixteen years before
in the case of Gen. Taylor Neverthe-
less, he steadily and bravely adhered to
the chief, for the sake of the policy, to
the last, and quietly bore the odium of
failure he had no power to avert.
Mr.. Adams next alluded to some of
the peculiar qualities of Mr.. Seward in
his well-known defense of the idiot
negro murderer, William Freeman, at
Auburn, showing his indomitable corr-
age. The press on all sides Numbered
its .denunciations over his head. The
elections all went one way. The Dem
ocratic party came sweeping into the
ascendency, and all about the life of
negro idiot. He never swerved, how
ever from his determination, and the
post norton examination of seven ply
siclans showed that Mr.. Seward had
been right from the start in main !
tanning that Freeman was an idiot, and
in defending him as such.
Mr.. Stewards decision to return Mason