Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-02-18
SEYMOUR Is AT REST.
New YOrk's Ex-Governor and States
man Dies Peacefully at His
Home In Utica.
His Illness Brief and the Result Not
Unexpected An Eventful
Life Ended.

brother-in-law, ex-senator Roscoe Conkling, in
Utica, N. Y, ON the evening Of the 18th inst He
passed away peacefully and without pain.
From the dispatches we CLEAN the following
particulars of his death: Mrs. Seymour was
30 Frustrated that she had to be carried to and
from the room. Those who stood around the
deathbed were Mrs. Conkling, tho Senator'S
sister; Mrs. Nelson, the Govo nors wife sis er,
Of New Brunswick, n. j.. and Dr. FCrl aud
wife. 1t is greatly feared that Mrs, Sc IN Iur
will not survive the terrible shock. Tho Gov
ernors health was pretty good during the Ill,
but a short time previous t. Jan. MS. Sey-
mour was taken down with a painful illness
which alarmed and distressed the Governor,
and since that time he had been failing. About
ten days ago he left his farm at Deerfield and
came here to visit his sister, Mrs. Conkling.
Almost Immediately he was attacked with
bilious trouble but was not deemed to be seri-
ously i'll. Last Sunday he became restless, and
that night was able to obtain little sleep. Mon
day he had no appetite, and suffered from
nausea. Tuesday he went out for a ride. He
said that he was not particularly sick, but had
feeling OF exhaustion which he had not oXpe-
renced before. Tuesday night he slept better,
until toward morning when he had an attack of
nausea and distress, complaining OF pain in the
head. Wednesday the first sickness developed
9hat had n serious look. Thursday he complained
OF feeling of great exhaustion, and said that
he thought he ought to die; that he had lived
long enough, and ought to have died when sick
before, and he did not know why friends did
anything to bring him around again. This was
all said in q cheerful tone and manner. His
emotions were somewhat disturbed by weak
ness, but his intellect seemed calm This was the
third day that he had not partaken of sufficient
food, but he had not vomited much during the
last twenty-four hours. He obtained more
sloep last night, but did not seem refreshed by
1t, and was perceptibly weaker to-day. Yester-
day he was able to raise and move himself in
ped TO such an extent as to cause belief that
his vitality was not being exhausted very
rapidly"
Horatio Seymour, "the farmer statesman"
was born in May, 1870 His birthplace Pom
pey, little village which overlooked the site OF
Syracuse, N. Y. Then Central New York was
almost wilderness, its sturdy inhabitants
hghting with the wild beasts for possession of
the soil. The infant Horatio first saw the light
deep in the backwoods, shut out from civiliZa-
tion, but he lived to be the leader of great
political party. He was born in "the days Of
vital piety, sound Democracy, and pure liquor"
He was reared in community which recognized
that one man at his birth is as good as another
Social exclusiveness was not mark of di stinc-
tion in his day In his village inn all classes of
men met on equal footing and discussed public
affairs. Under such conditions he passed his
youth.
In his boyhood he was sickly and weak, and
in consequence, not 80 advanced in his studies
as other boys, but he was keen observer and
picked up vast store of information without
effort At 10 years of age he was sent to the
Oxford Academy, and from there to Hobart Col
lege. but his health continued delicate, and he
was sent to military school in Middletown
Conn. Here he gained health and strength
When 16 years old he and the other cadets Wis
tied Washington, and Mr.. Seymour always had
capital. The cadets were received by President
John Quincy Adams and the members Of Con-
gress. Young Seymour was most favorably inn
pressed with Henry Clay, whom he has de-
scrbed as tall in stature, graceful in action and
most winning in speech" On this visit he saw
Washington remains removed from their first
to their present tomb. He was allowed to place
his hands ON the coffin, and he ever afterward
spoke CT the occurrence as one of the greatest
events OF his life.
When he left the military academy he studied
law in Utica N. Y, and was admitted to the ar
At about this time he married Miss Mary
the c OF OF AiDany afer ne was made one OF
York, and in time he became his confidential
friend. While with Governor Marcy he became
familiar with the workings OF legislative bodies
and when, in 1912 he was elected to the State
Assembly, by the Democrats of Oneida, he a
once took prominent position That Legislat
ture was composed of men Of more than ordina-
ny ability, and it was surprise even to his
friends that Mr.. Seymour should hold the place
he did.
Returning to Utica, no was elected Mayor.
and in the following winter again chosen for
Representative. The session of 1s45 was the
most exciting and inn ortant one in the history
Of New York Assemblies. The bitter debates
which grew out Of the opposition to Governor
Boucks administration led at last to national
Democratic defeat Mr.. Seymour OWNED this.
and advised moderation. but his warnings were
laughed at, and he was called an alGrmist A
year before the Democrats had achieved their
greatest and most decisive victory over the
Wings. In New York the Wings had been
buried out of sight by great Democratic
majorities, and Henry Clay, the hero
of the Whig party, the idol of his friends, had
been defeated for the Presidency by the
obscure james n. Polk. In view of this it was
considered madness i'm Seymour to prophesy
ultimate defeat He was elected Speaker of tho
House in 1Si5, after bitter contest, by the
"Hunker" wing of the Democrats. He acted with
them on party questions yainst the Barn
burner" faction of the party. The split in tho
Democracy grew wider, tho "Banbumers"
finally joined the Wings ON State question,
the Democracy was defeated, and the trouble
eliminated in the election OF Taylor to the Pres
idency and the overthrow Of the National Dem
ocratic party. Mr.. Seymour's predictions wero
fulfilled.
For FIVE years after this Assembly he was in
retirement. He then in 1850, accepted tho
Democratic nomination for Governor, and was
defeated. But he made n strong fight, and two
years later again headed the Democratic ticket.
This time he was successful, after an exciting
campaign. He became Governor in n critical
period Of the States history. The Legislature
succumbed to the clamor OF the temperance
party and passed most st ingent liquor law.
Gov. Seymour vetoed the BILL md his message
on that subject has been much quoted. This
drew upon him the wrath of the pulpit and he
was denounced as an apostle of drunkenness.
His every public act was looked upon with sus-
picion, and thanksgiving proclamation which
he issued was characterized by religious paper
as n "disgraceful production, evidently written
by man Of nhdel tendencies" 1t happened
that q learned and pious minister Of the gospel
had written the proclamation for the Governor.
He was again candidate for Governor in
1854 and was defeated by Myron II. Clark, the
Whig and temperance candidate.
In 1862, at the expiration of the term OF Edwin
d. Morgan, the Republican War Governor of
New York, Mr.. Seymour was elected Governor
by the Democrats. There were many who be-
lieved that he would not support the war meas
ures of the General Government, but no
sponded to every call for troops, although never
in accord with President Lincoln.
In 1868 he presided over the Democratic con-
yention in New York which nominated him for
President against his wish. He accepted the
nomination, however, and in 80 doing made. as
he has said, the greatest mistake of his life. He
received but eighty electoral votes, suffering q
painful defeat He was never again prominent
in public life. Speaking Of his retirement no
has said:
Il have made up my mind that no man should
cheat himself out of the repose of his old age.
In his last days, IL his life had not been barren
one, IL seems to me that every man should have
much TO think of that he should doyo.e him.
self to such thought and such usefulness in his
private circle he might be fltted for. II is for
these reasons that have refused in my age to
accept public station"
GEORGE w. CHILDs sent 800 to the
N