nearly his whole time, withdrawing his attention from his profession. The death of his wife's father, John R. Bleecker, of Albany, soon afterwards added to his cares in the management of property, and substantially withdrew him from all professional pursuits. The new duties devolved upon him tended to sharpen his faculties in matters of business, and led to great readiness in his understanding and elucidating practical questions of business and finance. In these few, if any, excel him. Like his ancestors, he is a Democrat, not in name merely, but because he sympathizes with that party, and heartily endorses its principles. He sees that they rest on the true theory of self-government. They give the citizen protection for his person, character and property, and allow him to pursue happiness in his own way. A Government based upon such principles is unseen and unfelt except in the protection of the citizen. At 1841, at the age of thirty, he consented to the use of his name for Member of Assembly, and was triumphantly elected. On taking his seat, notwithstanding his retiring and modest deportment, he was compelled, by circumstances, to act a leading part upon the more important questions of the session. Among his associates in that body were Michael Hoffman, John A. Dix, George R. Davis, and Lemuel Stetson. The great measure of the session was Mr. Hoffman's bill for regulating the finances of the State, which had become greatly deranged. Its credit-stocks-was then selling at a heavy depreciation, bringing only seventy-eight cents on the dollar, and not in demand at that price, when the State wished to raise money. In the discussions on this bill, Mr. Seymour took an active part, proving himself to be a clear-headed financier, and an able and ready debater. This bill became a law, and, in 1846, was substantially incorporated into the amended constitution of the State.

Although Utica continued a whig city, Mr. Seymour was personally so popular that he was elected Mayor in the spring of 1842, and in the fall re-elected to the Assembly. During the session of 1844 the question of the re-election of Governor Bouck was in different ways involved, Mr. Seymour and Mr. Hoffman occupying different sides. Mr. Seymour's constituents were satisfied with his support of the Governor, and re-elected him in the fall.

Mr. Seymour was, at the opening of the session, elected Speaker of the Assembly. He presided with great dignity, impartiality, and success. He sustained Daniel S. Dickinson for United States Senator. He has not since been a member of any legislative body. He resumed the practice of the law in Utica, and devoted himself to the duties of his profession, engaging but little in political matters. But when in 1850, the legislature passed a law for the enlargement and improvement of the Erie Canal, in violation of the provisions of the Constitution, he made earnest and stubborn resistence. His strenuous opposition to that unconstitutional measure induced the Democrats to nominate him for Governor, to run against Washington Hunt. He failed in his election by only 262 votes. He was re-nominated in 1852, and was elected over Hunt by 24,385, and over him and Minthorne Tompkins, by a majority of 5,086. This was a signal triumph. His administration was popular, and the affairs of the State were conducted with ability, tact, and good judgment. It was during this term that he vetoed the notorious Maine law. The correctness of his views as to the constitutional power of the Legislature to pass sumptuary laws, has since been fully established by a formal decision of the New York Court of Appeals.

In 1854 Mr. Seymour was nominated for re-election by the Democracy. The Republicans nominated Myron H. Clark, the Americans, Daniel Ullman, and the hard-shell Democrats, Greene C. Bronson. The Democratic party being divided, Mr. Seymour was defeated. Mr. Clark was elected only by a plurality of 309. Mr. Seymour, by this defeat, lost nothing in the estimation of his friends. Had the Democratic party been united, his success would have been certain. Although he took a deep interest in whatever concerned the Democratic party, and the interests and welfare of his native State, Mr. Seymour was measurably withdrawn from political life, and resumed his professional pursuits with zeal and ardor, and intending to continue in them.

The Democracy of New York, however, in 1862 put him again in nomination for Governor, running against General Wadsworth. He was elected by a majority of 10,752. He entered upon his duties on the first of January, 1863. It was during this term of