Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-13
WIN. H. SEWARD.
From n speech by VIM. NJ. Evart..

Az tue Close OF tic muyOrb hcCeptauCe,
and after music by the band, including cor
net solo by Levy, William NJ. Evarts step.
ped to the front of the platform, and spoke
as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: When was
asked by the committee to take some part in
the inauguration ceremonies Of to-day,
yielded my consent with alacrity, for it call
ed me to an office of affection and duty.
could not indeed compose myself either 10
the length Of the acquaintance, or in the ia
timacy of the political associations with Gov.
Fish, whose absence you, Mr.. Mayor, have
lamented, and who has followed so closely
Gov. Seward in all the great places that he
filed. Much less could match myself with
the lifelong friend Mr.. Weed, who honors
us with his presence to-day, [applausel who
attended on the first footsteps Of Mr.. Sew
ard in his entrance upon public life, and
was by his side in all the steep ascent Of his
long career, his friend, his admirer, his coun-
selor, his constant mediator between the OBJ
legations Of craftsmanship aud the exactions
of politics. But in the last twenty years OF
Mr.. Stewards life from period dating from
Mr.. Webster's death aud a new leadership in
our politics, transition from the schemes and
frames by which compromise and concilla-
ton had endeavored to smooth the transcen-
dant question OF our politics, the introduce
ton aud the continuance of the irrepressible
conflict by which alone that issue was to be
settled-during that period, which in the
greatness of Mr.. Stewards achievements belit-
ties all that preceded it, eBjoyed his friend
ship was honorcd with his confidence, was
enlightened aud instructed by his compan.
ionship. | may feel therefore that | can
bring something Of personal appreciation to
the view that l may be able to present of
his position in the history of his country, of
his place in the career of great people.
1t does not comport with the proprieties Of
the occasion that should narrato the events
of Mr.. Stewards life or unvail his character
in the presence Of this vast assembly Of his
countrymen. Much less do | need to ex-
plain or justify the conspicuous honor Of this
monumental statue which people, so spar.
ing Of his former glory, has within four
years after his death, in this great state and
10 this great city of the Union, placed as the
sign and signal of the adoption by his couu-
trymen Of the character aud renown OF Sew
ard as one of their greatest possessions.
! Nor is his fame bounded by the limits of
the state, or of the great country in which,
and for which, he lived this life Of public
service, or as the Athienan orator said,
r 1.-The whole world is the tomb Of illustrious
men, and monumental inscription is not all
the record of their virtues"
? The life of Mr.. Seward naturally divides
: itself from the period of his manhood to his
: death into four divisions OF service to the
y country-service always from the beginning
7 to the end. From 1924 to 1886 he was {
| lawyer, then for an interval iD the servic,
o of the Senate of the state. From 1896 t
ls4S he filled prominent part in the ser
=, vice of the state, with intervals in which hi
:. resumed again his place as a lawyer and
citizen. From 1913 to 1860, in the Senat
d Of the United States, he led and filled GU
+ the great progressive movements Of our poll
{ ties, and they are placed in the rolls Of re
- nown. Those records preserve name sec
G ond to none Of those who preceded him
From 1860 to 1872, in the administrator
ID of great affairs in times Of transcendant 10
Al tercst and of gravest difficulty, and then re
i. firing in the complete triumph, both of hi
~, politics aud of his craftsmanship. BY hi
unparalleled ability to govern, he pioneere
Y the country TO smoother seas and calme
or skies, that succeeded the tempest in whic
IN IN he had been the savior of the state Anoth
y. CIR relation of Importance to be noticed is thi
~ that Mr.. Seward divided his life in the serviC
IS of two great parties, in each of which he WI
Sc conspicuous, in the formation, in the develop
IS ment, in the defeat, in the prosperity, an
10 the triumph. From 1886 to 1856, So
Of the rise, the growth, the preGminont powe
Z, the great impression on the politics Of II
sc. country made by his party. From 1856
70 1872 is shown the the rise and progress
m. the Republican party. He had as much {
- anyone to do with its foundation. with i
instruction, with its triumph and with a
the great transactions in which il led. No
where do we look in this career for Mr.. Sew
~. ards part, in the life that he led of ciitze
Of lawyer, of legislator Of the state, Of Go
md ernor, Of Senator, Of diplomist, and manag
ar Of the great nation, as its foreign secretar
and where do we look in the whole for al
=. failure in duty, for any shortcoming in abil
As- ty, for any uncertainty Of faith, Of courag
mp of conscience, or of duty. If he were on
d G- lawyer there would have been more
nous and more learned lawyers in the cou
try. But venture TO say that there is
lawyer, so small a portion of whose life b
really been devoted to the service Of h
profession, that could over.match him
'r- dignity or Importance Of causes, or in Il
noble advocacy that he gave to the rig
without fec or reward. If we're to sele
to from the records Of all lawyers services
this country might find greater argument
more splendid rhetoric, moro skilful strat
gy, more wonderful ability in pleading, a
70 more vast fields Of forensic agitation, but
know Of no one who has done nobler thin
in his profession than William II. Sewal
| would give up all the glory in the wor
to if could do it, to have it said of me, that
Hos defended William Freeman against the VOL
in arms, and saved not him so much as
jurisprudence and the justice of the sta
lnt A Judge of the highest court in the sta
t t5S you will find the same valuable and the sal
effective service to the public. Then
had something OF state rights, when stat
men in their places in the state maintain
zen its honor, its power, its dignity; when tn
Tor did not follow any leader, but determin
md what was the right and the duty Of
state. H
And now We come TO consider his care