The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-20
Secretary SeWard-His Condition
Prospects of His Recovery
HIS Views-MP. Frederick Sew.
0rd-The COnSpiF acy.

~ and rapidly. Indeed, his system is a
sound, and his general health as good, q
ever. His wounds do not pain him now
and the gashes upon his face and throa
have healed. Owing to the long delay il
setting the bones of his broken jaw. which
was caused by the subsequent assault, tn
healing there has been slow. and is still i'm
perfect. He has worn the ingenious aDt
serviceable steel frame, by which his jaw
is kept in place, now for about week ant
Is getting used TO it somewhat. At first Il
prevented his sleeping, 80 that he gained
very little strength. and grew nervous, but
he now sleeps soundly with it and only feel
it..as an inconyenienceanda annoyance. Ash,
includes two or three large articles. KEEP,
course interferes somewhat with his artic.
ulation; and "a it prevents him from TAX.
ing any food except in liquid form, fed
to him in a teaspoon, !: Ia scaycelyto be ex-
peatei tina. he should regain strength very
rapidly. Nevertheless, he talks a great
deal. walks about the house, goes up and
down stairs without assistance, and takes
with him over Two hours on Monday. u1-
der the hot sun at midday, across the Ana
costa Bridge. and over the rough roads Of
the Maryland side Of the Potomac; and I
think was more fatigued when We re-
turned than he was.
Mr.. Seward talks freely Of the assassina-
ton and of all its circumstances aud ante.
cedents. do not think he was in the
least surprised at it. Indeed, he has more
in conversation that we should never
emerge from this great war without p0lit-
icxl assassisaiions. They might be at
tempted In the hope Of aiding the rebel.
lion, or for the purpose of reveDging ita
defeat; but they were morally certain to
come. For mis- own part, know that he
had made his personal arrangements with
his own career. He never was insensible
of the extent to which the great body Of
the slaveholding oligarchy held him re.
sponeible for the political and moral chan.
ges which prompted the rebellion. And
may AZ we'll add that they knew much bet.
tel. than some ofour own people, tbe fact that
from the very beginning Of this war to Ia
end, his counsel and advice has always
been for the boldest and most vigorous
measures for its prosecution.
Mr.. Seward talks very freely OF public
Affairs. He has now. as he always haS had
since he knew him in the Senate, the
profoundest confidence in Andrew John.
son. It was very easy, he said, to tell IN
the Senate, by their tones and bearing,
what men were not; and he never had .
moments doubt concerning johnson.
since the assault upon him, in public af-
fairs, although he has supervised, to GER
tain extent, the action of the State Depart
nleut; but think that, unless something
should retard the knitting together of the
bones of his jaw, he will, at the end of two
or three weeks, he fully competent for Its
highest duties. And am also confident
moment, thought of placing those duties in
0nv Ofhar hQn6S
OF Mr.. Frederick Stewards prospective
recovery, can not speak with much con.
fidence. He is not yet considered, by his
surgeons, out OF danger, though there 10 q
perceptible improvement in his condition.
It seems that one of the blows, from the
pistol in the assassin's hand, ruptured q
blood-vessel, lying along the upper sur-
use the ordinary appliances Of surgery
The bleeding WAS stopped, therefore, with
the finger, until coagulation Of the blood
served the same purpose; and the aim 81
tho surgeons now Is to Keep it In this con.
dition until the ruptured artery heals. II
has given way once or twice already, but
success Is hoped for still. He il perfectly
lowed TO speak at all. nor to move, and al
visitors are rigidly excluded. 1t is hoped
that with this perfect quiet, and with moth
ing whatever to accelerate the circulation
tho requisite healing may take place.
It has already been stated that the per.
son known as Payne has confessed the al.
tempt upon Mr.. Stewards life. he says
that he had never seen him, that he had
nothing against him. aud that he attempt
ed to kill him only because he had sworn
TO do Il. The whole affair, he has said, wai
a gigantic failure-oniv two Booth and
hinlself) of the whole number concerned
having kept their 0aths. II j, had sue,
ceeded, he says, the actors in it would new.
er have been known. This seems at frs,
sight inconsistent with the open exposure
made Of himself oy Booth after the assas-
sination of Mr.. Lincoln. Bat have been
told that it was part Of the plan to- turn of
the gas ID the theater the instant the pistol
shot was nea.d, end that the ,nan wss
fonnd at the controlling stop-cock 10 whom
that duty had been assigned, out that he
failed 20 hear the signal. Payne is not a,
all communicative. He refuses to disclose
the names Of his associates, or to say any
thing Of his own antece.sents. Il il not De.
lieved that he has given his real name, noI
10 it known ~ what part of the connt,y he
belongs. He looks young. not over TWEEN
ty.one or two; has square, hard face; q
clear, firm eye, which returns, even now,
unflinchingly, the siernest and steadfas1
gaze; is very athletic in his frame; has
white, soft hands, evidently unused Il
work, anu, alIho0gh utterly u0movo0 Oy
threats or Dy harsnness, gives indications
of sensibility to acts and words Of kind.
ness. He u man of more than ordinary
mark. He says that when he fed from
Mr.. Stewards room he knew that he had
failed, and expected 70 find the hall below
full Of men, summoned by the cries q
murder raised by the colored boy, wLs
had rushed into the street, which cries hi
himself had distinctly heard. But he va,
prepared and determined u cut his WAY
through them Ill. and was surprised TO fine
himself uuopposed.
General Can't, Of Arkansas. formerly
. rebel officer, hut recently public speak
or In defense of the Union, has addressed
letter to Hon. w. u. Kelley, uf Ph;ladei.
phia, ON reconstruction. He thinks thai
In ali the States Of the South, excepting
those which have been partially reorgan.
lied, ~ Louisiana, Tennessee and Aaba.
ma, military Governors should be appoint.
Ell and the principal places garr.soned.
When the people show signs of loyalty an
enrolment of those entitled 70 vote should
he ordered. To be thus enrolled the appli.
cant should be required TO take an oath ia
support the Constitution and solemnly and
publicly renounce secession and slavery,
the causes of the rebellion. This would
forever bar the designs Of rebel reaction.