The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-28
MIR. Seward to be the Next Prcsidcn-
tial Candidate OF the South.

tfaI Candidate OF tho South.
The following we take from the
Washington correspondence of the
Cincinnati Gazette:
The very emphatic manner in
which Mr.. Seward affirmed, y few
evenings since, that he originated the
lately published policy of President
Johnson, has set many men to think
ing here; and the fact that, coupled
with this statement, Mr.. Seward
made use of some very contemptu-
Gus expressions i'll speaking of Mr..
johnson, added new complications to
the matter. This conversation was
related to the President, and although
he was 10th to believe it, it doubtless
excited his suspicious that his Secre-
tary was playing false With him-pos-
slbly using him for purposes of his
own. At any rate, Mr. Seward,
through his friends, is now attempt
ing to deny the reports made in re-
gard to his conversation; but it can
neither be denied, nor its point blank
statements explained away. The
purpose of proclaiming himself as
the originator of this plan, and his
haste to deny having spoken con-
temptuously of the President, will
appear in q clearer light in connection
with some other matters, and especial
attention is asked for the facts which
are now presented
The following conversation oc-
CURED in Demopolis, Alabama, in
November last, which, in view of the
late events, assumes 4 deep signifi-
canoe. The parties to this conversa-
ton were one of the prominent poll
tlcians Of the South, who, before the
war, was o member ci the Cincinnati
and Baltimore Democratic Conven-
tions, and, during the war, a staff
officer high in position in the Con-
federate army; and the other was n
Union officer, we'll known in the
West, who had gone South to Dur-
chase a plantation, and was ut first
mistaken for Southern man:
The conversation turned upon what
course the South would pursue since
the failure of their arms The first
named party, stated that the matter
had already been earnestly considered
by Southern politicians, and they
had come to this conclusion-thatt the
South must bend all her energies to
securing the next President; that
they must submit to any abuse or
examinations, and only perform such
acts as seemed absolutely necessary to
satisfy the North It had been de-
cided that the South could not elect
Southern man, and that to make
the success sure, they must have a
man who could carry either Pennsyl- |
vania or New York; and they had
concluded that of these two States,
New York was the most available for
their purpose, and the most easily |
bought. If, then, they could find a |
man who could carry New York, even
when put forward as a Southern can
dldate, they were perfectly sure to
succeed; and that, in case they did |
succeed in getting back into power,
they would soon settle their accounts |
with the North. 1t was stated,
further, that they had fixed upon the |
man; that negotiations had already
been opened with him, and looked
very promising; and, finally, it came
out that William H. Seward was the |
man. To the objection, that the
author of the irrepressible conflict,
and a lifelong anti-slavery man,
could not possibly receive the votes
of the South, it was replied, that the
South was a unit for any man who
could carry New York, and who
would give proper pledges before
hand.
Such, in brief, is the substance of a
statement made in November last,
and the names of the parties, and all
the circumstances connected with the
matter, can be given, if needed. The
facts have been in possession of one
of our most prominent Congressman
since the beginning of the session,
but they made little impression until
the late remarkable conduct of Mr..
Seward called them to mind The
person who heard this conversation
was SO impressed by the manner of
the speaker, by his position, and all
the circumstances connected with the
occasion, that he besought the Con-
gresham to whom he related it to
keep q close watch of Mr.. Stewards
actions, as he was thoroughly con-
vinced that the conversation was a
exposure of the plan upon
which rebel politicians were then
Mr.. Seward has stated privately,
within short time, that he is to be