The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-03
SECRETARY SEWARD.

His Experience ns Southern school Teacher.
correspondent of the Rochester cypress re-
latcs the following episode Of Secretary Stewards
carly career, which he had from the statosman's
own lps:-
Spending an evening Mt his house few years
ago, during that strange lull or political maze
that preceded and, as have since often thought
to his practical eye and ear heralded, the four
years storm of blood and fire that for a little
time at least, purified the political atmosphere
80 That the Goddess of Liberty was no longer
believed TO be an African slave, the con-
Nersation at Length turned TO the "irrepres-
siblc subject. | naturally desired, aud
even hoped. to gasher from his wisdom
some possible solution of the difficult prob
lem, 10y other means than the bloody sacrifice.
He had been Governor OF the Empire State, also
United States Senator. Some OF the ablCat
political papers had issued from his pen. He
was believed to be statesman, scholar, aud
a man of thought. But when he showed
the true nature of the difficulties, and their
vast extent and many complications, aud said
honestly that he could see no way TO unite the
Gordian knot, the appalling figure Of the "irre-
pressble conhict'-the death of slavery or the
death of the republic--was present as never
before. ! had perhaps held this as a theOretiC
truth and at times had uttered it as a note of
warnings but now felt what that truth meant.
He spoke with deep and heartfelt sympathy for
the South; and, much rs Southerners hated
Seward he was the only friend that could and
they not been too demented to be helped by any
friend. He showed how the evil had grown up,
till the Southern people could neither endure its
ills nor suffer the application of its only remedy.
Bad as is the condition of the blacks, said he,
''the sCourge is not light elsewhere He then
alluded to the fact that the yellow fever had
existed in New York city under the fostering
care of slavery as then it did in New Orleans,
referring to the deterioration and depreciation
of the soil and universal relapse to barbarism
observed everywhere within slave terri
tory "But worst of ALL" said he 'is
the degradation of the mind and body
of the owner of the soil himself under this
blighting process And then, as if to enliyen
the conversation, he said:-"To Illustrate this
point lswll relate my experience in school teach
ing down South. When | was in my sophomore
year | ran away from college and went to ---
in Georgia., and opened an academy, which soon
prospered under my earnest efforts, and | soon
acquired great popularity, and was enjoying the
new field of labor very much, when my father
found out my hiding-place, and sent for me to
return to college, and ] was compelled to leave
my successful enterprise, to the great sorrow of
my patrons and pupils, who could be recOnciled
to my departure only by my promising them
that | would send them the very best young man
| could find in the college to take my place. |
returned to my studies, and the best | could
do in fulflment of my promise to my new-found
friends in Georgia, sent them my excellent young
friend, Mr.. W. of the senior class, an eX-
cellent scholar and finished gentleman.
"After the close of the Congressional session
which had meddled with the tariff to the great
Indignation of the South, on leaving the Senate
business called me to New Orleans, and when
about to start for home great desire possessed
me to return through Georgia and visit the scene
of my school teaching, and see how the academy
and my talented successor had prospered. My
course in the Senate was known ut the South,
but l felt safe until the cars arrived at -, the
former scene of nay labors rs teacher, when Oh
looking from the window / saw some savage
looking faces, and the first words | heard were,
IN, l. Oo,t nd pfn,ipf hnra fnrs N,t
enjoying this kind of hospitality, still did not
like to come so far out of my way and not effect
my object; got out of the car Every onelooked
so ferOcious / hesitated to inquire my way. |
saw large fat, greasy, dirty man, without coat
or vest, sitting with aimless stupidity on bench.
thought it might be safe to inquire of him;
but, on nearer inspection, he was so repulsve
to look upon that, from disgust, l turned aside
to Il cleanly and decently-dressed negro, and
asked if he could tell me where l could find Mr..
W., of whom | was in search. Casting his eye
about he fastened it upon the lump of obesity |
had just rejected, and with polite bow, point
ing to him, says, That is Mr. W. There
was now no escape for me. On inquiry found
that he was what was left of my successor in the
- Academy. ,
ION IearningVwho I was, he was Cup to the
measure of his capacity right glad to see me
took me up to his hOuse-which was AS tidy a:
its lord-and introduced me to his wife.
learned that he had married plantation, ant
settled down and enjoyed himself many years
free from the petty annoyances of the peda
gogue and the desperate eXcitements and tur
mol of the political arena. But set out to fine
the dear old spot where had taught my frs
school. At last | came upon the place where
the Academy had been. But the Usage orange
that in the days of my principalship had beer
an adornment, had continued to thrive, with nj
hand to check its wanton growth till it haC
completely covered and hidden from view thI
entire building, which was inaccessible to me
School was dismissed, and the schoolmaster wa
--where?"