 
Assembly Resolution No. 853
 
BY: M. of A. Brabenec
 
        COMMEMORATING  the  217th  Birthday  of William H.
        Seward, former New York State  Senator,  former  New
        York  State  Governor, former United States Senator,
        former  United  States  Secretary  of   State,   and
        purchaser of Florida, New York
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commemorate the
217th  Birthday  of  William  H.  Seward, former New York State Senator,
former New York State Governor, former  United  States  Senator,  former
United  States  Secretary  of State, and purchaser of Florida, New York;
and
 
  WHEREAS, To observe  this  auspicious  occasion,  a  special  event,
"William  Henry Seward's Birthday Celebration" will be held on Saturday,
May 19, 2018; on this day, the school children and town are involved  in
a  host  of  activities  including  a  wreath  laying  at  his monument,
pictures,  media  events,  presentations,  and  speeches  from   elected
officials, as well as a birthday cake; and
 
  WHEREAS,  William  Henry Seward was born in Florida on May 16, 1801,
and died in Auburn, New York, on October 12, 1872, where he  spent  much
of his adult life; and
 
  WHEREAS,  William  Henry  Seward  made  a  monumental  impact in the
histories of not only Orange County, but New York State and  the  entire
country,  serving  in  numerous  leadership  capacities such as New York
Senator, New York Governor, United States Senator and Secretary of State
for both the Lincoln and Johnson administrations; and
 
  WHEREAS, Sympathetic to the plights of runaway slaves, William Henry
Seward offered his home in Auburn as a stop on the Underground Railroad,
where he hid slaves on their way to Canada; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1867, William  Henry  Seward  acquired  Alaska  for  the
United  States  from  Russia;  through  the  years  he  tried in vain to
purchase Hawaii and the Dutch West Indies, as well as build a  canal  in
Panama; all of which came to fruition long after his death; and
 
  WHEREAS,  After  a  failed  presidential  bid in 1860, William Henry
Seward served as President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State; in this
capacity, he  was  instrumental  in  the  passage  of  the  Emancipation
Proclamation; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Bound  to his roots, William Henry Seward was a vital part
of the S.S. Seward Institute in Florida, New York, a  school  which  his
father founded in 1846; and
 
  WHEREAS,  William  Henry  Seward  will forever be remembered for his
achievements in office, and for his foresight in anticipating the future
needs of the United States; and
 
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have  this  opportunity
to  express its highest admiration for William Henry Seward, and for all
 
of the individuals who have worked  to  bring  proper  attention  to  an
individual  and  time  which merits recognition in the grand panorama of
the history of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 217th Birthday of William H.  Seward,  former  New  York
State  Senator,  former  New  York  State Governor, former United States
Senator, former United States  Secretary  of  State,  and  purchaser  of
Florida, New York; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Florida Historical Society.
Commemorating the 217th Birthday of William H. Seward

What's Happening

Why It Matters
