The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-17

troops were absent from the State the draft
was ordered to be enforced, an New York
City on July % On the 9th of July General
John Z. Wool. commanding the Depart
ment of the East, addressed letter to Gov
ernor Seymour, setting forth that the city of
New York was in a defenselesS condition,
and asked to be furnished with four extra
companies of infantry. These companies
Wool telegraphed: "Please countermand
militia that is ordered to this place" The
same day the draft riots began.
The Governor Immediately went to New
York, where, on the 14th of July, 1863 he is
sued two proclamations, one calling on the
rioters to disperse and the other declaring
the city in a state of instruction. He
divided it into districts which were placed
under the control of military men, who were
directed to organize the citizens, and three
thousand stands of arms were issued to these
and other organizations. Boats were char
tered to convey policemen and soldiers to
any point on the shores of the island where
disturbances were threatened. The Cover
nor visited all the riotOus districts in person,
and by persuasion, as well as by judicious
use of the force of his command, aided in
quelling the disturbance. Governor Sey-
mour's courage and decision saved great
many lives and millions OF dollars worth of
property.
During his term Governor Seymour COM
missioned more than thirteen thousand Of
fcers in the volunteer service of the United
States.
PAYMENT OF STATE BOMBS IN GOLD.
In 1864 he addressed message to the Leg
islature advocating the payment of the in
terest on the State bonds in gold The re-
fusal of the Legislature to adopt this policy
greatly deprecated the value of the bonds.
In August, 1864, he presided over the
Democratic National Convention at Chicago,
which nominated Little Mac" for the Presi-
dency He also presided over the cOnven-
ton OF 1868, held in New York.
HIS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY.
Governor Seymour declinded to permit
the use of his name as candidate, but on
the twenty-second ballot the Ohio delega-
ton, to fOrestall threatened movement in
favor of Salmon p. Chase, cast their united
vote for Horatio Seymour. Other States fol-
lowed Immediately and Governor Seymour
was declared the unanimous choice of the
convention. General Francis P. Blair Jr.,
was associated on the ticket with him.
At the election Seymour and Blair re-
2,703 600 votes against 3,013,1 us votes for
Grant and Colfax. In spite of Grants great
military prestige and popularity, Governor
Seymour carried New York by 10, 900 ma
Jority. The verdict of approval from ones
neighbOrs is the highest tribute public
man can receive.
During the late years of his life Governor
Seymour lived on a large and extensively
cultivated farm at Deerfeld, about three
miles from Utica. He was President of.the
National DairymenS Association, and has
delivered many addresses before agricultural
societies.
Governor Seymour had a large, warm
heart, and'he was always glad to receive and
entertain his friends.
In 1874, when the Democrats had a major
ity in the Legislature, Mr.. Seymour absolute
ly declined to permit the use of his name in
- - IL l.
have been assured if he had consented to ac-
cept the nomination of his party, but he re-
manned firm in his determination not to
again be candidate for public Office, and
Francis Herman was subsequently chosen
HIS KEENEsT POLITICAL PANG.
Probably the keenest political disappoint-
ment Governor Seymour experienced was in
the nomination of Horace Greeley By the
Democratic party in 1872. Governor Sey-
mOurs disappointment was not of a personal
nature although, according to custom aud
past services he was entitled to receive the
nomination. He believed, however that the
party was making fatal mistake in taking
up with Mr.. Greeley. His disappointment
at Greeley's nomination probably had much
to do with his firm determination to keep out
of public life. but at the same time il was no
doubt the means of prolonging his life.
When Governor Seymour withdrew per
manently from public life his advice and
suggestions welded a powerful influence in
the councils of his party up to the time of
his death. His literary publications consist
ed chiefly of State papers and numerous ad-
dresses on agriculture and transportation.
The subject of transportation interested Gov
ernor Seymour very deeply. He believed
that the settlement of this question might
become 4 more serious cause for dispute than
the slavery problem. 1t was the one prin-
ciple thing that kept the interests of the
country divided-made the East anxious for
certain class of legislation, while the West
would be working for something directly OPP
pOsite and the South and Pacific coast anx-
ious for something inimical TO both of these
sections. The growing power of railroads
and monOpolies was, to Governor Seymour,
a serious cause of apprehension. Unless they
were held in check he believed that they GER
tainly would undermine the foundations OF
our Government. Mr.. Seymour was Dem
ocrat to the core. Everything that had a
tendency to abridge the rights and liberties
of the people received his strongest condem-
nation.