Oullf'tin or The U nMin r-'ado.ttal Life Fo und ~ t ton • • • Dr. R. Ct-nld M"-Murtry. &ditor Publi.-, b ~ u~h nsonlh by Th~ Llneoln Nad onal U (e ln...unnce Com JNlny, Fort 'Waynf', Jndil•n• Number 1565 Fort Wayne, Indiana July, 1968 Seward's Western Tour CAMP AIGN OF 1860 Senator William H. Seward of New York, the "con· ca's resources, the importance of free labor, the evolve. summate politician." took the blow of Abraham Lincoln's ment of American democrae3>• and a gre.nt deal about nomination for the Presidency as a champion. Yet he was slaver)•. According to Glyndon G. Van Deusen in his humiliated, mortified, dejected and bitter. With a whim­ new book, lVilUam. H~mry Seward, Oxford University sical sense of humor he said he thought it was fortunate Press, 1967, the Senator thought that "the ultimate that he did not keep a diary, "for if he had there would center of American power would be near the head of be a record of all his cursing and swearing on the day navigation of the Mississippi for Canada and Alaska after the news came." eventually would be part of tbe American Union." Van Several months later, however, thinking the Republi­ Deusen also pointed out that Seward had little to say can party might need his leadership, with Lincoln at about the economic aspects of the Republican platform the helm, he plunged into active campaigning. He made (protection, internal improvements, a homestead act, a a barnstorming trip through New England making some railroad to the Pacific). seven or eighe speeches in Again we might reiter­ support of the Republican ate that Seward had very ticket. little to say about Lincoln. Meanwhile, Seward ac­ Perhaps this statement cepted an invitation to should be qualified by speak in Minnesota. This pointing out that he failed Jed to other invitations to mention his name in from many western cities. seven of the cit ies where One inv-itation came from he made speeches and in Springfield, Illinois, sec­ the ten addresses that Lin­ onded by Lincoln, to speak coln's name was men­ in that city on August 8th tioned, tbe total amount (rally to celebrate Lin­ of wordage accorded to the coln's nomination), but candidate was quite limit­ Seward declined because ed in relation to the total of a previous commitment wordage of the whole in New England. speech. His topics have such Nevertheless, a western 14 tour began to shape up for titles as The National early September with a Divergence and R.eturn," uswing through Michigan uoestiny of the united and into Wisconsin and States," "The West: Its Minnesota. then down into Destiny and Its Duty," ulrrepressibJe Confl ict Re­ Iowa and Kansas, back 11 through lllinois and home affirmed.'' and Duty and by way of Cleveland." Responsibility of the Seward was accompanied, Northwest." once the trip got under­ The New York Senator way, by an entourage made spoke in Detroit (2 up or his daughter Fanny speeches), Lansing, Madi· and her friend Ellen Perry. son (2 speeches), La Charles Francis Adams Crosse, St. Paul, Dubuque, and his son Charles Fran­ Lawrence, Leavenworth, cis, Jr., George E. Baker, Atchison, St. Joseph, St. George W. Patterson and Louis, Springfield, Chi­ General James N ye who cago, Cleveland and Buffa.. was likewise accompanied to. It was at Buffalo that by his seventeen year old he gave his constituency daughter. However, some a general report of his five of the above - mentioned William H. Seward weeks' speaking tour. travelers did not last out On September 4, 1860 at the entire journey. Detroit Seward mentioned Like most political speaking tours, Seward made some the Republictln nominee, " ... I fee) well assured that major addresses and some whistle stop talks. Still suf­ Abraham Lincoln wiH not fai1 to re.-inaugurate the an­ fering a personal pique over his loss of the nomina­ cient Constitutional policy in the administration of the tion at Chicago, he had more to say about the Republi­ government successfolly because the Republican party, can party and its principles than about Lincoln and after ample experience, 1nas at last acquired the courage Hamlin and their qualifications. and the constancy necessary to sustain him and because The Lincoln National Life Foundation has in its library l am satisfied that the people at last fuity convinced a bound collection of seventeen Seward speeches made of the wisdom and necessity of the proposed refonnation, on this western trip. Seward's topics dealt largely are prepared to sustain and g-ive it effect." with the foreign born and their development of Ameri· That same evening at Detroit Seward said in a speech 2 LINCOLN LORE at S<!nator Chandler's lodgings: "Believe me sincere when I say that if it had devolved upon me to select !rom all uThe fact of the convention was the defeat of men in the United States a man to whom 1 should con· Seward, rather than the nomination of Lineoln. fide the standard of the cause - which is the object for It was the triumph of a presumption of avail­ which J have lived and for which J would be willing ability over pre-eminence in intellect and un .. to die - that man would have been Abraham Lincoln." l'ivaled fame - a success of the ruder qua1ities At La Crosse on September 14th Seward mentioned of manhood and the more homely attributes of the nominee: 14That is the only argument left - that popularity, over the arts of a consummate poli­ the Union \Viii be dissolved if we succeed in electing the tician, and the splendor of accomplished states­ honorable statesman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. manship." Well I propose to address a few words to you on the Murat Halstead, correspondent subject~ and to examine how imminent that danger is :for the Cincinnati Com1nercial at with which we are menaced. The Union is to be dis.. the Republican National Convention solved, certainly, why no~ if Abraham Lincoln, or the in Chicago, May, 1860. Congress of the United o::;tates acting with him, shall commit any overt act that shall be unjust or oppressive to the slave states or to any partion of the Union? But they will not wait for that. and they are very wise in in the region of his capacious mouth, must always make not waitin.g for it, because if they put their threats on him friends. He dresses in the ordinary style of western that condition they would, in the first place, have no lawyers, black cloth swallow-tailed coat. and pants fitting argument against Mr. Lincoln's election. and in the next tightly to his long bony frame; the inevitable black satin place they would have to wait until after the election vest, open low down and displaying a broad field of shirt before they raised the argument. So it must be on the bosom, the co1Jar being turned down over a black silk condition, pure and simple'uthat Abraham Lincoln shall be electea President of the nited States ... if Abraham neckerchief. Lincoln shall be elected lawfully and constitutionally, ''The crowd commenced to vociferate for Seward and then the government is to come down ... , if we like finally succeeded in getting him out to the platform. Abraham Lincoln as I am sure you do - don't you? After alluding to the extent of his trip he said: ui am (Aye, aye) if all the people of the United States like happy to express, on behalf of the party with whom I him better than they like John Sell, Stephen A Douglas am traveling, our gratitude and acknowledgments for or Mr. Breckinridge, how can we help his being elected." this kind and generous reception at the home of your distinguished fellow-citizen, our excellent and honored At St. Paul on September 18th Seward said, "This candidate for the Chief Magistracy of the United States. battle is !ought and this victory is won, provided that lf there is in any part of the country a deeper inter­ you stand determined to maintain the. great Republican est felt for his election than there is in any other party under !ts great and glorious leader Abraham part, it must of course be here, where he has lived a Lincoln, in inaugurating its principles into the admini­ life of usefulness; where he is surrounded by the com­ stration of the government, and provided you stand by panions of his labors and of his public services. We him in his administration if it shall be, as I trust it are happy to report to you, although we have traveled shall, a wise and just, and good one. untH the adversary over a large part of the country, we have found no shall find out that he has b<len beaten and shall volun­ doubtful states. tarily retire from the field." H 'You would naturally expect that I should say some­ At St. Louis Seward said that uwhatever lies in my thing about the temper and disposition of the State of power to do to bring into successful and practical oper­ New York. The State of New York will give a generous ation the great principle that this government is a and cheerful and effective support to your neighbor, government for free. men and not for slaves or slave­ Abraham Lincoln. I have heard about combinations and llolden, and this country is to be the home of the coalitions there, and I have been urged from the begin­ exile !rom every land, I shall do as you are going to ning to abandon this journey and turn back on my foot.