MEMOIR OF HON. W. W. SEATON. 83 



teristic, had at first hesitated to accept a post on which so much depended for 

 his party, but every one who knew him will believe that when he had consented 

 to lead the attack on the stronghold of federalism at Halifax, he brought to the 

 service precisely those qualities Avhich were requisite for its success — firmness 

 of purpose, consistency of principle, courtesy to opponents, fairness as Avell as 

 force in discussion. It is claimed for him in fact that mainly through his well 

 directed exertions the reign of federalism was subverted in that part of the State 

 where he labored, and the ascendency fully transferred to those rules of consti- 

 tutional construction which were then known alike by the name of democratic 

 and republicayi. 



We next find Mr. Seaton, scarcely twenty year? of age, established at 

 Raleigh, and associated with Joseph Gales, senior, in the editorship of the 

 Register, the most influential journal of the State. It was in the family of Mr. 

 Gales that two incidents bearing with (he most important results on the future 

 career and welfare of Mr. Seaton occurred. It was here that he met with the 

 late Joseph Gales, junior, son of the former, with whom he was destined to 

 maintain in the sequel an editorial connection of nearly fifty years, a connec- 

 tion which has inseparably associated their names, and whot^e fruits, as em- 

 bodied in the columns of the National Intelligencer, will ever constitute an 

 invaluable monument of the history and policy of their times. It was in the 

 bosom of the same family also that the crowning happiness of his life was real- 

 ized, in his union with Miss Sarah Gales, daughter of his editorial chief, and sis- 

 ter, therefore, of his future associate. " To refrain on this occasion from drawing 

 aside for a moment the veil which covers the sanctity of domestic life, would be 

 to omit the most interesting and graceful chapter of Mr. Seaton's personal his- 

 tory. His union with the honored partner of his life was marked by a mutual 

 tenderness so seldom paralleled, by a devotion so chiyalrous on the one part, a 

 reliance so trustful and unhesitating on the other, that it must ever be referred 

 to as the crown and complement of his earthly existence. The loveliness and 

 good report of this conjugal example were treasured, it may be said, as a per- 

 sonal pride and possession by the community in which, for fifty-four years, the 

 virtues, the talents, the ineffcible grace of true womanhood, as exhibited in the 

 person of Mrs. Seaton, sustained and cheered the toils of her husband in his ar- 

 duous career." 



In the mean time, Joseph Gales the younger had been forming himself, under 

 the skilful guidance of his father, for the duties of a profession in which he was 

 destined to attain an eminence that few have approached, and eventually be- 

 came the proprietor of the National Intelligencer, then established at Washing- 

 ton. 'In this enterprise he Avas subsequently joined by his brother-in-law, Mr. 

 Seaton, nor at the time of his accession did their united talents want for occupa- 

 tion in the exasperated state of party feeling and the imperilled condition of the 

 country. It was iu 1812, and hostilities had already been declared against 

 Great Britain. Without entering into the questions which then convulsed the 

 public mind, it is suflScient to say that the Intelligencer gave its earnest and able- 

 support to the party which regarded the declaration of war necessary to maintain 



