Year: 1871

AUBURN, n. Y, October l2.-Secretary


Seward was met at Syracuse by a large
number Of personal friends, who escorted
him to Auburn. where the depot was
crowded with citizens anxious to see and
welcome their distinguished townsman.


Reaching his residence, he was received
by Hon. Michael S. Myers, who made a
Seward responded as follows:


Mr.. Myers and my friends-The words
which you have spoken to me, and the pres
sure of the hand which you have given me,
are what l knew l might expect, and vet
what l would have willingly avoided. l
have taxed my neighbOrs and friends go
often and so long that began to feel that
when 20 away, at least that would like
to steal away from them, and so soften the
sadness of parting, as the nearest domestic
relations do when they part, and when
come back l like to go upon them by sur
prise. and meet them in their actions. walks
and ways rather than to trouble them to
come to me. Still it is always what has
happened to me in the course of so many
years whenever l have had occasion to go
out Of Auburn, sometimes nearer, some
times further, sometimes upon the
trail Of duty, sometimes OF study,
sometimes of labor, sometimes OF
public :mpossibilities, and sometimes of
private interest, l never was suffered to
part from my friends here without demon
stration of their affection. 1t has often
been my lot to come back upon you, some
tines from fields of achievement, which
have excited or ought to have excited envy;
sometimes defeated and with modification;
sometimes with domestic sadness which
can not lightly be spoken of. and sometimes
with public anxiety which could not be
suppressed. and yet l have never come
home without being received as neighbor
and friend. Such neighbors deserve all the
affection and all the gratitude that l
can ,Ip:r. pay then can s only ask you
far and near. there has not been a day or
hour when l have not remembered them
and prayed God that what l might not be
able to do tor their happiness and welfare
might be done by Him through other
agencies.


My friends, we have met together, trust,
not to part again. l have had long
journey, which in its inception seemed to
many to be eccentric; but l trust that all
my neighbors and friends are now satisfied
that it was reasonable. found that at my
age and in my condition of health rest was
rust, and nothing remained to prevent rust
but to keep in motion. selected way
that would do the least harm, give the
least o1fense. enable me to acquire the most
knowledge and most increase OF power, if
any remained. to do good


In the course Of my wanderings l have
seen not all the nations. but some Of the
nations OF every race on the earth. l have
looked the whole human family in the face,
taken by the hand and conversed with my
fellow man in his lowest degradation and
in his highest stage Of civilization. l have
found no nation so distant and no race so
low that the character of an American citi-
zen did not secure to me, not merely safety,
but also respect. consideration and atfec-
ton. You may judge, therefore. whether.
reason to love aud honor it.


My friends and neighbors. have tres
passed beyond your patience and my own
strength in speaking these words to you. l
give you my sincere and heartfelt thanks,
and hope that happiness has been in all
your dwellings, and that ali the enterprises
in which vou are engaged have been
crowned with success.