[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, William Henry Seward was born in Florida, 
Orange County, New York on May 16, 1801; two-hundred years ago.
  The son of Samuel Sweezy Seward and Mary (Jennings) Seward, he 
graduated from Union College in 1820, studied law and was admitted to 
the bar in 1822. In 1823, he moved to Auburn, New York, where he 
entered Judge Elijah Miller's law office and, one year later, married 
Frances Adeline Miller, the daughter of Judge Miller.
  Seward was interested in politics early in his career and became 
actively involved in the Anti-Masonic movement after 1828. With the 
backing of Thurlow Weed, the Whig newspaper editor, he was elected to 
the New York State Senate in 1830 where he served for four years. He 
was nominated by the Whigs for governor in 1834, but was defeated by 
William L. Marcy. From 1834 to 1838 he practiced law and served as an 
agent for the Holland Land Company, settling settlers' claims in 
Chautauqua County.
  In 1838 Seward was elected governor of New York State and again in 
1840. He favored internal improvements, public support of Catholic 
schools, and began to favor free soil and abolition positions. From 
1842 to 1848 he again practiced law, first in the court of chancery and 
later in patent cases. He also defended cases involving fugitive slave 
laws.
  In 1849 Seward was elected to the United States Senate, and 
increasingly built a reputation as an anti-slavery senator. After 1855, 
the Whig party merged into the Republican party, and Seward became one 
of the leading Republicans. He was passed over as the presidential 
nominee in 1856 and, though he was the front runner in 1860, Lincoln 
was given the nomination.
  After Lincoln's election, Seward was appointed to the post of 
Secretary of State, a position he held until 1869 serving under both 
presidents Lincoln and Johnson.
  As Secretary of State Seward was a central force in the 
administration. The major issues he dealt with during the Civil War 
years were the possibility of European intervention, the outfitting of 
Confederate cruisers in British ports, the Trent affair and the French 
invasion of Mexico. Seward was also interested in territorial 
expansion, and in 1867 negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
  Seward was seriously wounded in the Lincoln assassination conspiracy, 
and after 1865 his health was not good. He retired from public life 
upon Grant's election, and despite his poor health, took a trip around 
the world in 1871. William Henry Seward died in Auburn on October 10, 
1872.

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