Presidential Candidates and Aspirants [pp. 92-103]

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND ASPIRANTS.
wide and marked influence over the national councils, and was regarded with consideration by all parties. Few men had greater influence in the House. As speaker he exhibited rare qualifications. It
was our fortune to associate intimately with Col. Orr during much of
this period, and the impressions made by that intercourse inclines us
always to regret that he is alienated from the affections of the dominant party of his State, and his usefulness thus materially impaired.
Though we may not agree with him in many things, we gladly pay a
just tribute to the excellence of his character, the goodness of his
heart, and his elevated public spirit.
JOHN M. REED, of Pennsylvania. We dismiss this gentleman
summarily. " He has not appeared in Congress, or served in the
Cabinet, or represented this country in the courts of Europe."
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, of New-York. This author of the "higher
law" and "irrepressible conflict," though, it seems, after all, he but
borrowed the latter idea from Lincoln, was born in 1801, and after
serving his State in various capacities, and winning high reputation
as a lawyer, took his seat in the Senate in 1849, and is there to this
day. He is one of the most dangerous, and is by far the ablest of the
Republican, or what is much the same thing, abolition leaders. His
policy is rule or ruin, and the aim and drift of his doctrines
have been well shown on several occasions by our correspondent,
"Python." Mr. Seward, though not technically an orator, has
issued from the Senate chamber "speeches," which, for ability,
polish, and effect, must be regarded masterly. We incline to think
him the ablest man in that body. His remarks upon the death of
our poor friend, Rusk, of Texas, which we heard, were regarded as
one of the best specimens of "mortuary eloquence" ever listened to in
the Senate.
HORATIO SEYMOUR, of New-York, was born in 1811. It is recently reported that he declines the candidacy, and is, therefore, to be
regarded as out of the ring. He, the last of" the Democratic governors
of New-York, and, in the estimation of a majority of her people, the
first of her living statesmen-is to-day the unquestioned leader of the
Democracy of the State. Nor is his leadership won by the management of politicians, or retained by the packing of conventions. It
was conferred in the days of trouble and divided counsels as a mark of
confidence and a means of safety, and it is continued in calmer times
in gratitude for favors past and as an earnest of prouder things to
come, when the hopes of the party shall have been realized, and the
State restored to its ancient influence in the councils of the National
Democracy."
JomaN SLIDELL, of Louisiana, is stated in the book to have been
born in 1793, but he must be several years older. As a politician he
is practised and wily, and has long exercised controlling power in
the State. His abilities are moderate, but his zeal and energies
unflagging. Ne'ver having been of his political family, our judgment
of him may be open to cavil. It puzzles us beyond measure to ascertain the grounds upon which he is named for the Presidency. He
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