LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 30, 2014, as William H. Seward Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, It is with noble admiration and pride that this Legislative
Body joyfully pays just recognition to the life and work of William H.
Seward, one of its great leaders; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 30, 2014, as William H. Seward Day in
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Born in Florida, New York, on May 16, 1801, William H. Seward
was the son of Mary Jennings and Samuel Sweezy Seward; he attended Farm-
ers' Hall Academy before graduating at the top of his class from Union
College in 1820; and
WHEREAS, After graduation, William H. Seward became the junior partner
of Judge Elijah Miller, and on October 20, 1824, married the Judge's
daughter, Frances; the couple then moved into the Miller family home in
Auburn, New York; and
WHEREAS, William H. Seward served as a Senator in the New York State
Legislature from 1830-1834, prior to being elected the 12th Governor of
New York State in 1839, serving until 1842; and
WHEREAS, William H. Seward was then elected to the United States
Senate where he represented New York State from 1849-1861, becoming one
of the nation's most ardent opponents of slavery; and
WHEREAS, In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln named William H. Seward
Secretary of State; he served in this capacity through the adminis-
trations of Presidents Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, helping to guide the
nation through the Civil War and surviving an assassination attempt the
very night President Lincoln was murdered; and
WHEREAS, William H. Seward's foreign policy isolating the Confederacy
from foreign allies was and continues to be highly praised; and
WHEREAS, As Secretary of State, William H. Seward played an integral
role in negotiating the Lyons-Seward Treaty of 1862, which set forth
strong measures by which the United States and Great Britain agreed to
enforce an end to the Atlantic slave trade; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Senator Seward negotiated the purchase of the
territory of Alaska from Russia in 1867; the territory encompassed
586,412 miles, which he was able to purchase for approximately two cents
per acre, and remains one of the most resource-rich and environmentally
pristine areas in the world; and
WHEREAS, William H. Seward III willed the William H. Seward House in
Auburn, New York, to the Fred L. Emerson Foundation to be operated as a
public museum in 1951; and
WHEREAS, The William H. Seward House became a museum chartered by New
York State in 2008, and continues to preserve and honor William H.
Seward's collection and legacy; and
WHEREAS, The William H. Seward House museum's collection includes many
priceless artifacts, including "Portage Falls on Genesee," an oil-paint-
ing done by famed artist Thomas Cole in 1839, and given to then-Governor
Seward as a gift; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 30, 2014, as
William H. Seward Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.