ribution of the public funds among all schools for that purpose.
Imprisonment for debt was abolished, the banking system was improved,
the first lunatic asylum was established, and every vestige of slavery
was cleared from the statute books.

He also became famous through his controversy with the Governor of
Virginia. The latter issued a demand on Mr. Seward, as the Governor of
New York, for the delivery of two men charged with abducting slaves.
Seward maintained that no State could force a requisition upon another
State, founded on an act which was only criminal by its own legislation,
and which compared with general standards was not only innocent, but
humane and praiseworthy. This correspondence between the two executives
known as "The Virginia Controversy" was widely published, and was
largely instrumental in bringing about his triumphant re-election in
1840.

At the close of his second term he once more resumed the practice of
law, becoming a practitioner in the United States Courts. He was also a
great criminal lawyer, and especially aided, not only by gratuitous
service, but money also, in aiding people whom he thought unjustly
accused. Becoming a United States Senator, he announced his purpose to
make no further concessions to the slave power. In his speech on the
admission of California, March 11th, 1850, the judgment of the man, his
ability to forecast events, and his oratorical powers are displayed.
Among other things he said:

"It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true, it is
acquired by the valor, and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we
hold, nevertheless, no arbitrary power over it. We hold no arbitrary
authority over anything, whether acquired lawfully, or seized by
usurpation. The Constitution regulates our stewardship; the Constitution
devotes the domain to union, to justice, to defence, to welfare, and to
liberty."

"But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our
authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes.
The territory is a part, no considerable part, of the common heritage of
mankind, bestowed upon them by the Creator of the universe. We are his
stewards, and must so discharge our trust as to secure in the highest
attainable degree their happiness." In another speech, delivered at
Rochester in 1858, in alluding to the constant collision between the
system, of free and slave labor in the United States, he said:

"It i