GOVERNOR SEWARD AND THE COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK.
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Title
GOVERNOR SEWARD AND THE COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK.
Subject
Correspondence between U. B. Vidall, Timothy Seaman, and Dr. James M'Cune Smith and Governor Seward
Description
newspaper
Source
National Anti-Slavery Standard
Publisher
Accessible Archives
Date
1843-01-26
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 1]
From the New-York Tribune. GOVERNOR SEWARD AND THE COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK. At a public meeting of the colored citizens of the city of New-York, held December 19th, 1842, at Union Hall, pursuant to notice, for the purpose of " "expressing the high consideration which they entertain for his excellency Governor William H. Seward, for his noble and generous acts since he has filled the high office of governor- - governor--especially towards the colored citizens"--the - the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas, His excellency, Wm. H. Seward, governor of the State of New-York, has signified his intention to retire to private life, by declining a re-nomination for that office; and whereas, we, the colored citizens of the city of New-York, entertain a high regard for him as a chief magistrate; ; and as in his official acts he has shown himself an able statesman, a just magistrate, and a sincere and consistent friend of the oppressed: : therefore, Resolved, That we tender to his excellency, Wm. H. Seward, our heartfelt thanks, for his oft-repeated expression of opinion in favor of our rights. Resolved, That in his approval of the act establishing the right of trial by jury, and the repeal of the nine months' law, he has shown himself a worthy descendant of the patriots of the revolution. Resolved, That his excellency, Wm. H. Seward, in the noble and patriotic stand which he has taken in the controversy with the governor of Virginia, in denying the right of property in man, has afforded another noble proof of the triumph of republican principles over the false doctrines which lie at the foundation of slavery, and are directly opposed to the very existence of the liberties of the people of this republic. Resolved, That in the view of this meeting, Governor Seward merits a high rank among the friends of humanity, for his unflinching firmness in carrying out just principles. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to address the governor, expressive of the views of this meeting. Messrs. U. B. Vidall, Timothy Seaman, and Dr. James M'Cune Smith, were appointed a committee, in accordance with the above resolution. The meeting then adjourned. DANIEL J. ELSTON, } Secretaries. GEO. LAWRENCE, Jr. Secretaries
[PAGE 2]
LETTER. To his Excellency, William H. Seward, Governor of the State of New-York: : Sir: The undersigned, in behalf of the colored citizens of the city and county of New-York, York, cannot suffer the term of your excellency's official connection with their native State to expire, without expressing, , in their humble way, the high admiration with which your conduct during the last four years has inspired them. Four years ago, the voice of your fellow-citizens citizens committed to your keeping the rights, the destinies, and the vast relations of the two millions of freemen, men, occupying a proud distinction, , an enlightened and powerful confederacy, and a high vantage ground among the nations of the earth. The responsibilities attached to this distinguished trust, were great, but they found in your excellency a great man equal to their weight, and to their every emergency. Your excellency was elected to the office of governor of the State of New New-York, by a triumphant majority, constituting a large and powerful political party; ; and, according to received political doctrine, to carry out the maxims, and accomplish, , so far as in you lay, the wishes of that party; ; always strictly mindful of good faith, whether pledged or implied, it was your excellency's admirable course to separate the principles from the prejudices of political partisanship, and to carry out the former with the firmness and decision of the one whom no political elevation could raise above responsibility to his conscience science and his God. Once in the chair of State, your excellency presented the spectacle of a man, no longer the mere favorite of a triumphant majority, but the "head and front" of more than two millions of human beings, (in a high state of civilization,) vigorously pursuing that line of conduct which might best contribute tribute to increase the social comfort, and effect the affect of moral advancement of the whole. It is true, that in almost every instance, the acts of your excellency were in accordance with the principles of the party with whom you are identified; ; but occasionally, when what appeared the right, came in contact with received party notions, your excellency, by an inflexible adherence to principles admirably expounded by you, showed that your conduct was based on a loftier and more stable basis than the hopes or fears connected with a re-election election to office. In connection with this fact, it is a matter of high satisfaction to the undersigned, and a reason for in increased confidence in the institutions, (only a portion of which they are at present permitted to enjoy,) that there is found a man of vast acquirements, high abilities, and of a lofty moral integrity, willingly occupying an office in the gift of the multitude; ; and that that that multitude-of of whom it is said that they alone will alone endure the rule of a fawning, flat-tering, flattering, time-serving demagogue- -- have only ceased re-electing that man when a long long-continued sacrifice of his personal interests in public service has compelled him to seek, as a private citizen, to ad advance those interests which the genius of our institutions that has so carefully separated from the high political trusts. In according to your excellency this humble tribute of respect and admiration, the undersigned would add, that they are not moved to it by a preference for any political creed; ; but on the contrary, isolated from the ferment of political strife, , they have calmly viewed the course of your excellency in relation to to certain great principles, laid down, indeed, deed, in the Constitution of our State, but which, , until the occurrence of your executive career, had long remained as a dead letter; ; principles, towards the carrying out of which, your excellency has done so much; ; principles, the full practice of which, by making New New-York a free State, indeed - no portion of her inhabitants being proscribed for physical peculiarity, or for cherished views - would enable her to advance with unfettered strides in her glorious career. Trusting that the day is not far distant, when your excellency will obey the voice of your fellow fellow-citizens, again calling upon you to occupy your present, sent, or to enter upon a more exalted station in the gift of the people, We have the honor to be, Your excellency's ob't servants, ULYSSES B. VIDAL, JAMES McCUNE SMITH, TIMOTHY SEAMAN. New New-York City, Dec. 26, 1842.
[PAGE 3]
REPLY. ALBANY, Jan. 5, 1843. Gentlemen - I have received, with profound sensibility, the resolutions and address tendered by you, in the name of the colored citizens of New-York. It is a pleasing surprise that the principles and motives which have influenced my public conduct, although misapprehended by y many of those to whom I was responsible, have been fully understood understood and justly appreciated by a class who are excluded and unjustly from political suffrage, and therefore are unable to reward or punish a magistrate. I do not trust myself to reply at length to your eloquent and affecting address; but I may say, without egotism, that I shall cherish among the pleasing recollections of my public life, the remembrance, , that I received the thanks of those, whose protection required a sacrifice of some personal advantage, and a conflict with prejudices, matured by age matured by age, and sustained by political combinations. Believe me, gentlemen, to be as grateful as a generous and ardent man should be, for the tribute I have received at your hands; and assure your constituents that the career of humanity shall continue to have my humble efforts for its advancement. I remain, most respectfully, Your obliged and obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD Messrs. Ulysses B. Vidal, James M' M'Cune Smith, and Timothy Seaman, committee, &c. &c.
From the New-York Tribune. GOVERNOR SEWARD AND THE COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK. At a public meeting of the colored citizens of the city of New-York, held December 19th, 1842, at Union Hall, pursuant to notice, for the purpose of " "expressing the high consideration which they entertain for his excellency Governor William H. Seward, for his noble and generous acts since he has filled the high office of governor- - governor--especially towards the colored citizens"--the - the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas, His excellency, Wm. H. Seward, governor of the State of New-York, has signified his intention to retire to private life, by declining a re-nomination for that office; and whereas, we, the colored citizens of the city of New-York, entertain a high regard for him as a chief magistrate; ; and as in his official acts he has shown himself an able statesman, a just magistrate, and a sincere and consistent friend of the oppressed: : therefore, Resolved, That we tender to his excellency, Wm. H. Seward, our heartfelt thanks, for his oft-repeated expression of opinion in favor of our rights. Resolved, That in his approval of the act establishing the right of trial by jury, and the repeal of the nine months' law, he has shown himself a worthy descendant of the patriots of the revolution. Resolved, That his excellency, Wm. H. Seward, in the noble and patriotic stand which he has taken in the controversy with the governor of Virginia, in denying the right of property in man, has afforded another noble proof of the triumph of republican principles over the false doctrines which lie at the foundation of slavery, and are directly opposed to the very existence of the liberties of the people of this republic. Resolved, That in the view of this meeting, Governor Seward merits a high rank among the friends of humanity, for his unflinching firmness in carrying out just principles. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to address the governor, expressive of the views of this meeting. Messrs. U. B. Vidall, Timothy Seaman, and Dr. James M'Cune Smith, were appointed a committee, in accordance with the above resolution. The meeting then adjourned. DANIEL J. ELSTON, } Secretaries. GEO. LAWRENCE, Jr. Secretaries
[PAGE 2]
LETTER. To his Excellency, William H. Seward, Governor of the State of New-York: : Sir: The undersigned, in behalf of the colored citizens of the city and county of New-York, York, cannot suffer the term of your excellency's official connection with their native State to expire, without expressing, , in their humble way, the high admiration with which your conduct during the last four years has inspired them. Four years ago, the voice of your fellow-citizens citizens committed to your keeping the rights, the destinies, and the vast relations of the two millions of freemen, men, occupying a proud distinction, , an enlightened and powerful confederacy, and a high vantage ground among the nations of the earth. The responsibilities attached to this distinguished trust, were great, but they found in your excellency a great man equal to their weight, and to their every emergency. Your excellency was elected to the office of governor of the State of New New-York, by a triumphant majority, constituting a large and powerful political party; ; and, according to received political doctrine, to carry out the maxims, and accomplish, , so far as in you lay, the wishes of that party; ; always strictly mindful of good faith, whether pledged or implied, it was your excellency's admirable course to separate the principles from the prejudices of political partisanship, and to carry out the former with the firmness and decision of the one whom no political elevation could raise above responsibility to his conscience science and his God. Once in the chair of State, your excellency presented the spectacle of a man, no longer the mere favorite of a triumphant majority, but the "head and front" of more than two millions of human beings, (in a high state of civilization,) vigorously pursuing that line of conduct which might best contribute tribute to increase the social comfort, and effect the affect of moral advancement of the whole. It is true, that in almost every instance, the acts of your excellency were in accordance with the principles of the party with whom you are identified; ; but occasionally, when what appeared the right, came in contact with received party notions, your excellency, by an inflexible adherence to principles admirably expounded by you, showed that your conduct was based on a loftier and more stable basis than the hopes or fears connected with a re-election election to office. In connection with this fact, it is a matter of high satisfaction to the undersigned, and a reason for in increased confidence in the institutions, (only a portion of which they are at present permitted to enjoy,) that there is found a man of vast acquirements, high abilities, and of a lofty moral integrity, willingly occupying an office in the gift of the multitude; ; and that that that multitude-of of whom it is said that they alone will alone endure the rule of a fawning, flat-tering, flattering, time-serving demagogue- -- have only ceased re-electing that man when a long long-continued sacrifice of his personal interests in public service has compelled him to seek, as a private citizen, to ad advance those interests which the genius of our institutions that has so carefully separated from the high political trusts. In according to your excellency this humble tribute of respect and admiration, the undersigned would add, that they are not moved to it by a preference for any political creed; ; but on the contrary, isolated from the ferment of political strife, , they have calmly viewed the course of your excellency in relation to to certain great principles, laid down, indeed, deed, in the Constitution of our State, but which, , until the occurrence of your executive career, had long remained as a dead letter; ; principles, towards the carrying out of which, your excellency has done so much; ; principles, the full practice of which, by making New New-York a free State, indeed - no portion of her inhabitants being proscribed for physical peculiarity, or for cherished views - would enable her to advance with unfettered strides in her glorious career. Trusting that the day is not far distant, when your excellency will obey the voice of your fellow fellow-citizens, again calling upon you to occupy your present, sent, or to enter upon a more exalted station in the gift of the people, We have the honor to be, Your excellency's ob't servants, ULYSSES B. VIDAL, JAMES McCUNE SMITH, TIMOTHY SEAMAN. New New-York City, Dec. 26, 1842.
[PAGE 3]
REPLY. ALBANY, Jan. 5, 1843. Gentlemen - I have received, with profound sensibility, the resolutions and address tendered by you, in the name of the colored citizens of New-York. It is a pleasing surprise that the principles and motives which have influenced my public conduct, although misapprehended by y many of those to whom I was responsible, have been fully understood understood and justly appreciated by a class who are excluded and unjustly from political suffrage, and therefore are unable to reward or punish a magistrate. I do not trust myself to reply at length to your eloquent and affecting address; but I may say, without egotism, that I shall cherish among the pleasing recollections of my public life, the remembrance, , that I received the thanks of those, whose protection required a sacrifice of some personal advantage, and a conflict with prejudices, matured by age matured by age, and sustained by political combinations. Believe me, gentlemen, to be as grateful as a generous and ardent man should be, for the tribute I have received at your hands; and assure your constituents that the career of humanity shall continue to have my humble efforts for its advancement. I remain, most respectfully, Your obliged and obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD Messrs. Ulysses B. Vidal, James M' M'Cune Smith, and Timothy Seaman, committee, &c. &c.
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This transcription is the combination of work from more than 4,500 people who volunteered during the 2022 celebration of Douglass Day, held in partnership with Zooniverse.
Event ID
1842.NY-12.19.NEWY
Citation
National Anti-Slavery Standard, “GOVERNOR SEWARD AND THE COLORED CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK.,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1142.