Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 William Henry Seward: Futurist and Change Agent By John R. Vincenti

William Henry Seward is best in 1760. Henry, as he was called then, remembered for the purchase of was the fourth of six children (Seward/ Alaska. At the time, he was much crit- Mapes Homestead Restoration). icized and ridiculed for spearheading this transaction with Russia, which the His father, Samuel, a businessman, press dubbed “Seward’s Folly”. educator, and doctor, was also active in politics and served as First Judge on the New York Court of Orange County. A William Henry’s secondary school he founded still exists today as the S.S. Seward Institute, a grandfather was public secondary school in the Florida John R. Vincenti a colonel in the Union Free School District in Orange County, New York (“S. S. Seward John Vincenti was a public school New Jersey Militia teacher for 16 years, teaching history, Institute”). government, and economics in grades during the 7-12 in State College, Pennsylvania. He The Seward family owned three then held a staff position at Penn State Revolutionary slaves, who lived in the loft of the University in the College of Engineering, Seward home. (Slavery continued in Mechanical and Nuclear Department for War. New York until it was abolished in 23 years, serving as Coordinator of Special Projects 1827.) As a youngster, Henry loved to The outcry over this historical event listen to the slaves tell stories. He came Since his retirement, he has served as a SCORE mentor for small business unfortunately overshadowed the man’s to think of them not as slaves, but as development and is a first responder. savvy and intuitiveness. Seward’s deep- people; though never an abolitionist, John and his wife, Cyndi, live in State seated concerns regarding social jus- he found slavery morally oppressive College and are avid travelers with an tice, the abolition of slavery, diplomacy, and later in life supported the rights of emphasis on history. A tour they took in money and banking, the law, and busi- African Americans (“Seward House”). Alaska did much to deepen his interest in ness development eventually created This conviction would have a pro- Seward’s life. transformative change in American found impact on his life and others. His paper was presented to the Central society. He was also a man of principle Pennsylvania Torch Club on January 13, who supported a president and his Henry’s schooling began at the 2016. He can be reached at johnrvincenti@ office that he hoped to have occupied Farmers’ Hall Academy in Goshen, comcast.net or 814-234-1794. himself. He deserves a prominent place Orange County, New York. At the age in the national memory. of 15, he was accepted into Union College, but his progress to graduation * * * was circuitous: between his entrance The Seward family emigrated to the and graduation Henry left school and colonies from Wales. William Henry’s moved to Georgia where he taught grandfather was a colonel in the New school. What he saw of life in the South Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary further added to his conviction that War. William Henry was born in 1801 slavery was wrong (“William H. to Mary Jennings and Samuel Sweezy Seward”). Seward in Florida, New York, a small village about sixty miles north of New He ultimately graduated from Union York City in Orange County, New York, College in 1820, earning a spot in Phi founded by Anglo-European colonists Beta Kappa. The Schaffer Library at

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Union College notes that Henry to the power then in the White House— leading figure in national politics. “impressed classmates with his remark- in 1833, President Andrew Jackson Joining the Republican Party, created able assiduity and capacity of acquire- used executive power to deny the in 1854, added to his stature. Seward’s ments” (Schaffer Library). Seward was renewal of the charter of the Second strong belief in the Constitution and admitted to the bar in 1822 and became Bank of the United States and remove his anti-slavery stance and actions a partner in the law office of Judge from it all federal monies, a decision came to a head when the question Elijah Miller in Auburn, New York. that earned him the censure of before the United States was whether Congress. this would be a slave-holding or a * * * free-labor nation. During 1860 prior to Seward was 23 when he married Seward also served as governor of the presidential election, Seward was 19-year-old Frances Adeline Miller, New York from 1839 to 1843 as a mem- considered a promising candidate daughter of Judge Elijah Miller, in ber of the Whig Party. As governor, he (Office of the Historian). 1824. Frances had attended the Troy championed fair and better treatment Female Seminary. Upon marriage, of “prisoners, the insane, debtors and As the election process neared, Seward moved into the home of his immigrants” (Schaffer Library). Seward’s slavery and immigrant views in-laws in Auburn, New York, as part of and close ties to New York political boss her father’s marriage agreement. The and publisher, Thurlow Weed, con- home in Auburn, built by Frances’s Lincoln’s cerned the Republican party, so the father, remained Seward’s home until nomination as party chose (Civil his death (Civil War Women). War Trust). Lincoln’s nomination as the party’s the party’s presidential candidate Between 1826 and 1844, Henry and presidential almost drove Seward into retiring to Frances had five children. Small pox private life. However, a visit with killed one daughter, Cornelia, at five candidate almost Lincoln at his home in Springfield, months of age in 1837, and Fanny, the Illinois, changed his mind as he became apple of Henry’s eye, was ill most of her drove Seward impressed with Mr. Lincoln. life and died of tuberculosis at age 22, into retiring to in 1866. The sons went on to have dis- Nonetheless, the two men differed. tinguished careers. William H. Seward, private life. Seward favored compromise with the Jr., served as a Brigadier General during South; Lincoln did not (Lehrman the Civil War. Augustus Henry Seward In 1846, after his governorship, Institute). Lincoln’s victory and his was also a career officer in the U.S. Seward once again found himself in inaugural address was a concern to Army, and Fredrick William Seward the role of a private citizen practicing Seward. Henry was also upset with twice served as Assistant Secretary of law. In a now famous trial that changed Lincoln’s selection of his Cabinet. State (Civil War Women). capital punishment cases in the United However, in a private meeting on States, he was the first to use the “insan- December 12, 1860, Vice-President- Frances was raised a Quaker, and her ity defense” (Spiegel and Spiegel). elect , on Lincoln’s family had strong anti-slavery feelings. behalf, offered Seward the opportunity Frances and her sister, Lazette Worden, Seward’s push for a law to rescue free to be Secretary of State. He accepted played an active role in the local under- African Americans kidnapped into on December 28 (“William H. ground railroad. In 1850, the Seward slavery (a practice depicted in the Seward”). home in Auburn served as a safe house recent film Twelve Years a Slave) drew for fugitive slaves (Civil War Women). contempt from Southerners, who Once the Civil War began, disagree- Abolition, it turned out, was to play a labeled him a radical. Henry also sup- ments broke out between Lincoln and significant role in her husband’s career. ported equal educational opportunity Seward over how to deal with the dif- for Irish Catholic children, something ferent factions within the country and * * * not desired by nativists at that time in international governments. Seward, Six years into his marriage, William the North (“William H. Seward”). though, proved to be one of President Henry Seward began his political career Lincoln’s most faithful and most relied with his election as state senator in In 1849, Seward was elected a U.S. upon allies for his protocol and social 1830. As a state senator, he was outspo- Senator by the New York state legisla- skills. Seward was not liked by fellow ken about the need for sound paper ture. His advocacy against slavery was cabinet members, as many thought he currency and country’s national bank, noticed (especially by Southerners), meddled in their department matters, which made him part of the opposition and his re-election in 1855 made him a but Lincoln respected Henry’s years of

28 Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 political office and experience Seward (“Assassination”). Considering and Frances. All survived. Seward, (“Lincoln’s Cabinet”). that the nation was at a crossroads, and however, was in a coma for six days given Seward’s goals and aspirations, after the attack, but recovered and con- Seward’s role as a diplomat was sig- the assassination attempt of Henry, tinued as Secretary of State (“President nificant. His diplomacy thwarted had it been successful, may have Lincoln Shot”). Britain’s potential plans for attacking drastically changed America’s future in New York. As relations improved with business and international commerce. Frances Adeline Miller Seward, who France and Britain, the Confederacy had suffered from illness throughout was declared belligerent by interna- Lewis Thornton Powell, also known her adult life, never recovered from the tional law. At one point, Maryland was as Lewis Paine, was assigned by Booth shock and anxiety caused by witness- considering leaving the Union, but to kill Seward. Powell had fought in the ing the assassination attempt on her Seward thwarted that plan through his Civil War and was wounded in Gettys- husband. She died on June 21, 1865 use of a detective named Alan Pinkerton burg. Once a member of Mosby’s from a heart attack. (“Arrest”). Rangers, Powell met Booth while working with the Confederate Secret * * * Service in Maryland (“Lewis Powell”). Following Lincoln’s death, Vice As relations President was sworn Seward was at home that evening, in as president. A war Democrat, improved having been injured in a carriage acci- Johnson was a state’s rights advocate with France dent on April 5th before the attack. who took a moderate approach to When Powell arrived, supposedly to reconstruction and clashed with radi- and Britain, deliver medicine, Seward’s son Fredrick, cal Republicans. Seward, once again, then Assistant Secretary of State, and found himself at odds with the new the Confederacy others attempted to stop him. Fredrick president and his cabinet, but nonethe- was declared was nearly killed. Powell was forceful less got a great deal accomplished, and rushed into Seward’s bedroom, especially in international relations. belligerent by where he found Seward with his international daughter Fanny by his side. Powell stabbed Seward in the face and neck law. five times. Initially, Seward was believed The surrender to be dead (Morgan). A metal jaw brace that Seward was wearing at the time, by Robert E. Lee As the Civil War continued and the because of his accident, probably saved on April 9, 1865, South saw itself in an increasingly his life (“Attempted Assassination”). hopeless situation following the Battle was a turning of Gettysburg in 1863, plots to kill Powell escaped, but his assistant point that would Lincoln and those who surrounded David Herold, who was holding the him became more real than not. The horses outside, fled before Powell could change history surrender by Robert E. Lee on April 9, exit from the home. Powell was caught 1865, was a turning point that would three days later in a boarding house not just in change history not just in Appomattox, run by Mary Surratt, mother of anoth- Appomattox, but also in Washington, DC. er co-conspirator, John Surratt. Powell was sentenced to death and hung on but also in * * * July 7, 1865 at the age of 21 (“Lewis Washington, The assassination of President Powell”). Abraham Lincoln took place on Friday, D.C. April 14, 1865 at 10:15 p.m. in Ford’s The New York Times reported on Theatre. John Wilkes Booth had Saturday, April 15, 1865, that “Mr. initially planned to kidnap the Seward and Fredrick (his son) were He encouraged and supported president, but the conspirators, hoping both unconscious. It is believed that expansionism. Seward negotiated and to reverse the course of the war, the injuries of the Secretary are not attempted, though unsuccessfully, to eventually decided to assassinate not fatal”. Five people were attacked that acquire the Virgin Islands, parts of the only Lincoln, but also Vice President evening in the Seward home. They Dominican Republic and several other Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State were Henry, Fredrick, August, Fanny islands in the Caribbean. Between

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1865 and 1867, Seward was also in which Russia lost to the alliance of purchase of Alaska, voting 37 to 2. On involved in Mexican affairs that led to France, the United Kingdom, Ottoman May 28, 1867, President Johnson signed the defeat of Austrian archduke Empire and Sardinia caused great eco- the treaty. The land was formally Maximilian who was made Emperor of nomic strain on the economy and transferred to the United States on Mexico in 1862 (Office of the government stability in Russia. Russia October 18, 1867. With all that politi- Historian). Undoubtedly, though, he is and Britain’s strained relationship cal bargaining and action, it was learned best remembered for the purchase of included, at times, alliance, rivalry and later that bribery proved to also be part Alaska. even war, and Russian leadership felt of the voting process. The Russian that Britain might seize Alaska if war ambassador in Washington provided broke out in Europe (Manaev). monetary kickbacks as high as $10,000 to selected congressmen to secure their The Crimean War Secretary of State Seward had an votes (Alaska Humanities Forum; interest in whaling, and the Pacific Kizzia). of the 1850s Northwest was ideal for this business in which Russia development. When Seward heard of Russia’s interest in selling, he lost to the alliance approached Russia’s Washington min- Fishing, game, of France, the ister. Seward also knew that the pur- lumber, and chase would end Russia’s presence in United Kingdom, North America and give the United Alaska’s parks Ottoman Empire and States access to the Pacific northern make our rim. Seward worked with Russian th Sardinia caused Minister in Washington, Edouard de 49 state Stoeckl. The offer was struck on March great economic strain 30, 1867 for $7.2 million in gold. It a true bargain on the economy would take the U.S. Senate to approve considering the and government the treaty of purchase (Manaev). two cents per acre stability in Russia. There were pockets of positive reac- the United States tion to the proposal in different parts of the United States, but Alaska’s arctic paid for it. climate, harsh winters, short-growing Czarist Russia under Peter the Great season, and relative inaccessibility gave sent Vitus Bering to explore Alaskan the news media an opportunity to lam- territory in 1723. (Office of bast the Secretary for attempting the Unfortunately, Secretary Seward did the Historian). During President purchase. Articles titled “Seward’s not live to see his purchase of Alaska’s Buchanan’s administration, the Folly,” “Seward’s Icebox,” and even 375 million acres justified by the unbe- Russians expressed an interest in selling “President Andrew Johnson’s Polar lievable treasure that it would become. the land, but Buchanan’s efforts to Bear Garden” were common in the It took three decades before the territo- make both the South and the North press. Seward, however, put his consid- ry exposed its wealth in gold and other happy under Constitutional law and erable political skills to work to get the mineral resources. Fishing, game, lum- maintain peace meant he had little necessary votes for approval. He need- ber, and Alaska’s parks make our 49th time for other matters. President ed two-thirds of Senate to ratify the state a true bargain considering the two Lincoln had even less time available to treaty. Key support came from cents per acre the United States paid for consider expansion or further negotia- Massachusetts, which desired to limit it. During World War II, Alaska was a tions with the Russians. Besides, Alaska fishing in Alaska’s waters in both the strategic foothold in North America. was a territory that most knew little Pacific and Arctic to enhance New The famous Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease about. England’s fisheries and industry. Airway helped make possible the defeat Seward saw this as the bait, so to speak, the Axis powers during World War II. Russia’s desire to sell Alaska, some for getting votes for approving the pur- historians theorize, came from two chase (Dunham). * * * possible reasons. One was the need for General Ulysses S. Grant was elect- money; the other was the fear of On April 9, 1867, the U.S. Senate ed president in 1868, defeating New Britain. The Crimean War of the 1850s approved the treaty that effected the York Governor .

30 Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 Though Seward made a major speech toured Europe, the Middle East and Works Cited supporting Grant before the election, Asia including India and China. To Alaska Humanities Forum website. “Governing Grant chose not to retain Seward as his curtail gossip and family problems, Alaska: After the Purchase of Alaska.” Secretary of State. At age 68, Seward Seward adopted Olive in 1870 as his “Arrest of the Maryland Legislature, 1861.” returned to Auburn, New York as a daughter. Seward began to write his Maryland State Archives website. private citizen (Dunham) memoirs, but his travels curtailed that “Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.” Wikipedia. project, and Seward and Olive instead “The Attempted Assassination of Secretary began to write a travel book of their Seward.” History Engine website, University of experiences (“Olive Risley Seward”). Richmond. Seward respected Civil War Trust website. “William H. Seward.” On October 10, 1872, William Henry Civil War Women website. “Frances Seward.” the law, the Seward became ill and called his family Diodato, April. “Shades of Olive: Fredonia to gather around him. His final words Woman Continues to Fascinate a Century Constitution and After Her Death.” Foreveryoungwny.com., preserving the were, “Love one another.” After his November 2014. death, Olive finished the book, William Dunham, Mike. “The Alaska Purchase Is Just Union while H. Seward’s Travels Around the World, One Reason Seward Is Among the Most which became a bestseller. Important Men in US History.” Alaska trying to find Dispatch News, October 8, 2015. * * * “Florida, Orange County, New York.” Wikipedia. compromise in William Henry Seward was like a Kizzia, Tom. “Now It Can Be Told: Seward’s Role in Alaska’s First Political Payoff Scandal.” troubled times gem with many facets. As a youngster, Alaska Dispatch News, Nov. 24, 2012. he saw indignity in a world of slavery. and issues. Lehrman Institute. Mr. Lincoln and Friends. Henry became restless in college and “The Cabinet: William H. Seward.” ran away to gain a life experience in “Lewis Powell.” Wikipedia. another culture. “Lincoln’s Cabinet: From Rivalry to Respect.” In 1866, widower Seward had met Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Olive Risley, then 19 years of age. Like He was passionate about social jus- Museum website. Seward’s late wife, Olive was an ardent tice and public speaking and chose Manaev, Georgy. “Why Did Russia Sell Alaska to abolitionist. She was the daughter of public office as a means of working to the United States?” Russia Beyond the Headlines website, April 20, 2014. Anson A. Risley, a civil servant who change the inequities he perceived in Morgan, David. “Lincoln Assassination: The worked for the Secretary of the society. Seward respected immigrants Other Murder Attempt.” CBS News website. Treasury, and his wife Harriet. She was and the value of fairness and educa- Office of the Historian, State Department also a friend of Seward’s daughter tion. He did not hide his convictions, website. “Biographies of the Secretaries of Fanny before Fanny’s death in 1866 thus becoming an extremist for his State: William Henry Seward (1801-1872)” (Diodato). cause. He was self-confident and chal- and “Purchase of Alaska, 1867.” lenged others; he used his own home as “Olive Risley Seward.” Wikipedia. Olive became Seward’s closest com- a safe house for runaway slaves. “President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin.” New panion. She and her sister Harriet York Times, April 15, 1865. traveled with Seward on a transconti- Seward respected law, the “S. S. Seward Institute.” Wikipedia. nental trip that included Utah, the Constitution and preserving the Union Schaffer Library of Union College website. “William Henry Seward (1801-1972).” Digital Pacific coast, Sitka in Alaska, Oregon, while trying to find compromise in Collections, Notables Archive. California, Mexico and finally Cuba troubled times and issues. He recog- Seward House Museum website. “William before returning home after nine nized the value of a strong currency Henry Seward.” months of travel. and good banking. He wanted to be Seward/Mapes Homestead Restoration president, but respected and allied website. “About William H. Seward.” When Seward traveled to Utah, he himself with the man who became Spiegel, Allen D., and Spiegel, Marc B. “The stopped off in Salt Lake City to visit president; he was a successful collabo- Insanity Plea in Early Nineteenth Century America.” Journal of Community Health 23.3 Brigham Young, leader of the Mormon rator, diplomat and strategist. (June 1998), 227-47. Church. When Young was sixteen “William H. Seward.” Wikipedia. years old, he had been a workman on He loved to travel, smoke cigars, and the Seward home in Auburn. drink brandy, and he knew how to get votes. Above all, William Henry Seward From 1870 through 1871, the three- was America’s futurist and change The publication of this article is funded by some of Seward, Risley, and Risley agent. The Torch Foundation

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