CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR...

..PAGE Xiii

The Seward Family-Removal of Samuel S. Seward to Orange County, New

York-His Marriage with Mary Jennings-Birth of WILLIAM H. SEWARD-HIS

Early Habits and Love of Learning-Narrow Escape from Drowning-Enters

Union College, Schenectady-Visits the South as a Teacher-Returns to College-

Position among the Students-Graduates-Studies Law with John Duer and Og-

den Hoffman-Removes to Auburn-Character as a Citizen and Lawyer-Opinions

on Slavery-Political Prepossessions-Prepares the Address of a Republican Con-

vention-Chosen President of the Young Men's Convention at Utica in 1828-Ten-

dered a Nomination as Candidate for Member of Congress-Elected Senator of the

State-Position and Speeches in the Senate-His Course in the Presidential Elec-

tion of 1832-Visits Europe-Returns and Resumes his Seat in the Senate-Mem-

ber of the Court of Errors-Nominated for Governor-Appointed Agent of the

Holland Land Company-Misrepresentations of his Course-Letter to Citizens of

Chautauque, and Complete Vindication—Advocates the New York and Erie Rail-

road-Second Nomination for Governor, and Election-His Efforts while Governor

in behalf of Agriculture, Education, Law Reform, Election Reforms, Militia Re-

forms, Free Banking, Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt, Adjustment of Anti-Rent

Difficulties, Improvement in Prison Management, Removal of Last Vestige of Sla-

very, Enlargement of Erie Canal, Construction of Lateral Canals, New York and

Erie, Hudson River, Northern, and other Railroads-His Course in the M'Leod

Case and Virginia Controversy-Reasons for Refusing to Pardon Benjamin Rath-

bun, John C. Colt and Others-His General Course as to Pardons-The Case of

James Watson Webb-His Exercise of the Veto Power-Madame D'Hauteville's

Case-Suppressed Veto of the New York Registry Law-Slavery and its Inci-

dents-Virginia Controversy-Retires from Office-Mr. Clay's Nomination-Re-

sumes his Profession-Libel, Law of-Freeman's Trial-Fugitive Slave Case-Patent

Causes-Detroit Case-Constitutional Convention-Gen. Taylor-Elected Senator

-State of Parties-President Taylor-Review of his Speeches in the Senate-

Conclusion.

SPEECHES IN THE SENATE OF NEW YORK...

1

The Militia Bill-Election of Mayors by the People-Removal of the Deposits-

The Six Million Loan Bill.

SPEECHES IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.....

51

[Freedom in the New Territories-Admission of California-The Compromise Bill

-Freedom in the District of Columbia-Freedom in New Mexico-Indemnities

for French Spoliations-The Public Domain-Welcome to Kossuth-Liberation of

the Irish Patriots-Freedom in Europe-Intervention-American Steam Naviga-

tion-The Collins Steamers-Survey of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans-The Whale

Fisheries-The American Fisheries-Newfoundland, &c.-Contested Seat of Hon.

Archibald Dixon.

DEBATES IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

284

Reception of Rev. Theobald Mathew-Discipline in the Navy-The Right of Peti-

tion-On Granting Land to Emigrants-The Census-Search for Sir John Franklin

-Internal Improvements in New States-The Patent Laws-Peon Slavery-The

Compromise Bill-Reception of Amin Bey-Pre-emption to Emigrants-Mining

Privileges to Emigrants in California-Commerce in the Pacific-A Mint in New

York The Senatorial Term-Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott-Cheap Postage-Reve-

nues of California-Improvement of Rivers and Harbors-Contested Seat of Sena-

tor Yulee The Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law-Pension to Widow of General

Worth-The Collins Steamers-Steamers to Hamburgh-On the Printing of Louis

Kossuth's Letter-Duties on Gifts-Expedition to Japan-St. Marie's Canal-Ap-

portionment of Representatives to California-The Patent Laws-War Steamers

for Harbor Defence-The Purchase of Catlin's Indian Gallery-The Fisheries-

The Treaty of Nicaragua and John M. Clayton-Eulogium on the Death of Hon.

William S. Upham, Senator from Vermont.

FORENSIC ARGUMENTS.

391

Case of Cooper vs. Greeley & McElrath, Law of Libel-Defence of William Free-

man, Auburn, 1846-Case of Jones vs. Van Zandt, in Supreme Court of the United

States, Fugitive Slave Law of 1793-Case of Many vs. Treadwell, Invention--

Defence of Abel F. Fitch and Others, Detroit, 1851.

(See Index on page 539.)

CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX TO THE MEMOIR.

PAGE.

1795

The ancestors of Wm. H. Seward natives of Wales..
His father, S. S. Seward, removes to Orange County, New York...
His mother, Mary Jennings, of Irish extraction.

xiii

xiv

1801

XV

xvi

xvii

1816 15

WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD born at Florida, Orange Co., N. Y....
His early habits and love of learning.

Enters Union College, Schenectady...

1819 18
1820 19

1824 23
1827 26

1828 27

Spends six months at the South as a Teacher.
Returns to College-position among the Students..
Graduates-Address to Tompkins-Relations with Dr. Nott..
1822 21 Admitted to the Bar-John Duer and Ogden Hoffman..
1823 22 Removes to Auburn-Associated with Judge Miller.
Character as a Citizen and a Lawyer-Auburn..
Opinions on Slavery-Political Prepossessions...
Prepares the Address of a Republican Convention.
Delivers a Speech for Greece, at Auburn.............
Chosen President of the Young Men's Convention.
Tendered a Nomination for Congress and Declines.
Elected to the State Senate by the Anti-Masons..
Position and Speeches in the Senate..
Mr. Clay and Mr. Wirt Candidates for the Presidency.
Visits Europe and Writes a Series of Letters..
Returns and Resumes his Seat in the Senate.
Makes a great Speech on the Removal of the Deposits..
His Position as Member of the Court of Errors.....
33 Nominated for Governor..

1830 29

1832 31
1833
32

1834

Appointed Agent for the Holland Land Company.
Favors the New York and Erie Railroad....

1838 37 Second Nomination for Governor.

Letter to the Abolitionists.....

1839 38 Inaugurated Governor.

Proposes a Plan to Extend the Blessings of Education..
Urges a System of Law Reform....

Advocates, Successfully, the Plan of Free Banks..

A.D. AET.

1840 39 Effects the Entire Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt....

Attempts to Settle the Anti-rent Difficulties..
Advocates Reforms in the Election Laws...

His Course in the M'Leod Case.....

Enlargement of Erie Canal-Construction of Lateral Canals.
Positions of the two Parties on Improvements. . . ....
Gov. Seward Opposes the Suspension of the Public Works....
Advocates the Erie, Central, Northern, and Hudson Railroads..
Refuses to Pardon Benjamin Rathbun and John C. Colt....
Grants a Conditional Pardon to James Watson Webb.
Vetoes a Bill in relation to Madame D'Hauteville..
Suppresses a Veto of the New York Registry Law.
Urges the Repeal of all Acts favorable to Slavery.
Recommends a Jury Trial for Fugitive Slaves...
Recommends the Extension of the Right of Suffrage.
Controversy with the Executive of Virginia relating to Fugitives...
41 Signifies his intention to retire from Office, Reasons therefor....
Mr. Clay Proposed for the Presidency-Mr. Seward's Views......
1843 42 John Quincy Adams Visits Auburn-Mr. Seward's Address..
Resumes the Practice of his Profession......
His Disinterestedness, Zeal, and Sacrifices as a Lawyer..
1846 44 Libel Suit, Cooper vs. Greeley-Fugitive Slave Case.
Trial of Wyatt and Freeman, Great Excitement.

1842

1846 45
1848 47
1849

48

........

His Experience as Counsel-Patent Cases-Detroit Case.
His Course towards Mr. Clay in the Election of 1844.
Advocates a Convention to form a New Constitution..
Gen. Taylor's Election, Mr. Seward's Views and Course.
Elected Senator-State of Parties-Freedom.....
His Relation with President Taylor......

1850 49 Speeches in the Senate-California-The Higher Law.
Compromise, District of Columbia, New Mexico...
Public Lands-Kossuth, O'Brien, Meagher..
Vindication of John Quincy Adams-Gen. Cass..
Pacific Railroad-John M. Clayton-A. H. Buell.
1853 52 Duties on Railroad Iron-Texas Creditors. ...
CONCLUSION.

1852 51

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR

OF

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.