The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 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.

Utica. N Y, on the evening OF the 18th inst. He
passed away peacefully and without pain
From the dispatches CLEAN the following
particulars of mis- 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, the Senator'S
sister; Mrs. Nelson, tho Governors wifes sister,
Of New Brunswick, N. j.. and DIR. Forl and
Wife 1t is greatly feared that Mrs, Sc mour
will not survive the terrible shock. The Gov
ernor's health was pretty good during the fall
but a short time previous 70 Jan. Mrs. sey-
mour was taken down with 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 Deerheld and
came here TO visit his sister. Mrs. Conkling.
Almost Immediately he attacked with
bilious trouble, but was not deemed to be seri-
ously ILL., Last Sunday he became restless, and
that night able to obtain little sleep. Mon
day no had no appetite. and suffered from
nausea. Tuesday he went ont for ride. He
said that he was not particularly sick, but had a
feeling Of exhaustion which he had not expe-
rienced 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 a 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 70 bring him around again. This was
all said in 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
sleep last night, but did not seem refreshed by
it, and was perceptibly weaker to-day Yester-
day he was able 70 raise and move himself in
bed to such an extent as TO cause belief that
his vitality was not being exhausted very
RAPIDLY nrIt;o so,,,onr SOL. ,.. st..o.
was born in May. 1910. His birthplace was Pom
pey, little village which overlooked the site OF
Syracuse, n. Y, Then Central New York was
almost q wilderness, it's sturdy inhabitants.
fighting with the Wild beasts for possession of
the soil. The infant Horatio first saw the light
deep in the backwoods, shut out from civiliZa-
ton, but he lived to be the leader of a great
political party. He was born in -the days of
vital piety, sound Democracy, and pure liquor
He was reared in n community which recognized
that one man at his birth is as good as another.
Social excluS,veness was not n mark OF distinc-
ton 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 consequence, not so advanced in his studies
as other boys but he was a keen observer. and
picked up u vast store of information without
effort At 10 years of age he was sent to the
Oxford Academy and from there TO Hobart Col
1ege, but his health continued delicate, and no
sent to a military school in Middletown,
Conn. Here he gained health and strength
When l6 years old he and the other cadets Wis
tied Washington, and Mr.. Seymour always had
the livelest recollection of his first visit TO the
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-
scribed as rtal i'm 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 wGs allowed Co place
his hands on the coffin, and he ever afterward
spoke Of the occurrence as one Of the greatest
events Of his life
When he left the military academy he studied
law in Utica n. T.. and was admitted to the bar.
At about this time he married Miss Mary
the staff of Governor William l.. Marcy OF New
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 1872 he elected to the Stat
Assembly, by the Democrats OF Oneida, he a
once took prominent Ipos ltion. That Legislat
ture was composed of men of more than ordina-
~ ability, and IL was n surprise even TO his
friends that Mr.. Seymour should hold the place
he did.
Returning TO Utica he was elected Mayor.
and in the following winter again chosen for
Representative. The session of ls45 the
most exciting and important one in the history
Of New York Assemblies. The bitter debates
which grew out Ct the opposition to Governor
Bouek 5 adlnlnlstration lea az last to national
and advised moderation. but his warnings were
laughed at, and he called an alarmist 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
of the Wing party, tie idol of his friends, had
been defeated for the Presidency by the
obscure James r. Polk Ia view-of this it was
considered madness i'm Seymour to prophesy
. ultimate defeat He elected speaker of the
House in 1915, after bitter contest, by the
"Hunker" wing of the Democrats. He acted with
them ON party questions against the Barn
burner faction of the party. The split in the
Democracy grew wider, the "Barnburners-
finally joined the Wings ON q State question,
the DcHocracy 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.. seymours predictions were
fulfilled.
For five years after this Assembly he was in
retirement. he then, in 1850. accepted the
defeated, But he made a.strong fight and two
years later again headed the DenDctst.c ticket.
This time he was successful, after an exciting
campaign He became Governor in a critical
period of the States history. The Legislature
succumbed to the clanor of the temperance
party and passed n most stringent liquor law.
Gov Seymour vetoed the bill, and his message
on that subject has been much quoted. This
drew npon him the wrath of the pulpit and he
was denounced as on apostle of drunkenness.
His every public act was looked upon with sus-
spicion. aud thanksgiving proclamation which
he issued was characterized by religious paper
as a -disgracefui production. evidently written
by man of inhdel tendencies" 1t happened
that a learned and pious minister Of the gospel
had written the proclamation for the Governor.
He was again candidate for Governor in
1894 and was defeated by Myron III. Clark tho
Wing and temperance candidate.
In 1852, at the expiration of the term of Edwin
ID. Morgan, the Republican War Governor OF
New York, Mr. Seymour elected Governor
by the Democrats. There were many who be-
lieved that he would not supportsthe war meas
ures Of the General Government, but he re-
sponded to every call for troops. although never
in accord with President Lincoln.
In 1868 he presided over the Democratic con-
vention in New York which nom mated him for
President against HIS wish. He accepted the
nomination, however, and in doing made, as
he has said, the greatest mistake of his life. He
received but eighty electoral votes. suffering a
painful defeat. He was never again prominent
in public life. Speaking OF his retirement he
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 II his life had not been barren
one, il seems 70 me that every an should have
much to think of that he should devo.o him
self to such thought and such usefulness in his
private circle az he might be fitted for II is for
these reasons that have refused I'm my age to
accept public station"
GEORGE w. CHILDs sent $10e to the