Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-07-16
4 Table Talk with Seward
,s OPINIONS RESPECTING
a. MATTERS ON THE EVE OF
THE WAR.
RY HON. A. r. BOTELEk.

From tue
rhoss who were in Washington during
~. latter part of the winter OF looonoL
t Iii remember the painful anxleues Whlcn
S T the public mind at that eVentIui
hlleu and which were, probably, more
peIiue and apparent there than at any
Ill., I!'or noint in the country. Beside the
QUIZ. .n,itous fact that the cotton States had
Po.n.ilv seeded and were then arming to
sotond their independence, the angry dis
u.asions i'm Congress. the secret sessions
.Sthe Peace Convention, the sensational
3;sna.ches 10 the press, the whispered ru-
,mors of abolition raids and negro insur-
rections, of
g. Rancorous despite :,
Disloyal treason and heart-burning nate
oil contributed to increase the excitement
I'm that local centre of political agltation'
While some believed that civil war pe-
tween the sections was an lmposslpio ~
tingency. and others that II was ho' oiiiy
inevitable but imminent, there Meio ,"" ny
who, approaching the gravity ;,t;raIT
cr;sis. Gave their energies unremlttihgly
On the duty of Cancellation, and did every
,L;rg in their power to avoid the DREADED
,.ioEitv which extremists, North as well
- south seemed determined TO preclpi-
tate. ~ -. ia, ,,of
<.ctusl efforts in the interests or peace,
tbnre was much sOlicitude to ascertain the
views and purposes OF those Republican
leaders who were expected TO shape the
nolicv Of the incoming administration ana
sspecially to get those of Senator Seward.
SENATOR SCENARIOS SILENCE.
The commanding influence Of that as
I'M then
,Iowinant party, and the certainty that
.hr President elect would accord to him
the highest place in his Cabinet, made 1t
particularly important TO know what
would be his position in regard to the sew
sral measures of compromise which had
been submitted to Congress, i'll the nope
chat thew would afford satisfactory basis
Tor the adjustment of our sectional COM
rIicstions: whether lie would favor the
nolcy of peace or rely upon the logic OF
force. Since the beginning of the session
Mr.. Seward had been unusually reticent,
5nA some who differed from him political
" were disposed 10 accept his silence as a
t ken that, in view of the perilous condi-
zion of the country, he would lend his in
luence TO the cause of Cancellation and
not insist upon coercion. On the other
hand. there were those who did Justice
10 the infexible character of his Convic-
tiOns and to the sincerity of bis decllra-
lions: who saw nothing in his silence TO
make them doubt his determination to
continue the ''irrepressible conflict" at
all hazards and to enforce the doctrines OF
his 'higher law" to their last extremity,
and who even went so far as to believe
thar. if he would frankly express his feel
ings upon the vexed questions that then
~ Ennl1
sav with Marc Antony:
Now let it work Mischief, thou art afoot;
Take thou what course thou Wilt
Toward the middle of February, when
the excitement in Washington was at
fever heat from these anxious doubts,
daily rumOrs and conflicting opinions, L
went out one evening TO dine ut senator
Douglas. The company, which was
large, consisted almost entirely OF gentle
mcn-not more than half dozen ladies be-
ing present-and comprised members OF
The Diplomatic Corps, Senators, Repre-
scntatives and Delegates to the feace
Conference, together with others who
were no less representative men though
not officials Most of them were from
different and distant States, in both Sec
tions of the Union, and were as far apart
I'm their political proclivities as their wide
lv-separated homes. Indeed, the diversi-
" of sentiment which characterized the
assembly was somewhat remarkable, "A
every party and nearly every shade OF po-
]itiCal opinion had its personal represen-
t1iive there that evening. II this was not
accidental, il would seem as if Our genial
and large-hearted host had selected his
guests with laudable view to lessen by
social intercourse the aSperities OF local
prejudice and the bitterness of party
strife; assured that, though he might fal
in his patriotic attempt TO promote perma-
nent harmony among them, ne would nj
least secure truce in their hostiilties.
For, no matter how much the minds of
men may be filled with 'envy, hatred,
malice aud all uncharitablcness" Society
will not tolerate their display on occa-
sons Of festivity, there being no rule In
its recognized ritual more imperative than
that, when hospitality opens its doors,
thoss who assemble beneath its roof must
keep their personal and political anmosi-
ties in allowance. They may hate each
other 10 their hearts content, but they
must do it in all conventional civility.
DINNER Al DOUGLAS.
When dinner was announced and we
were taking our places at the table, as IN
dictated BY the cards upon the plates,
perceived that the seat which had been as
signed TO me was between those OF Sena-
Tor Seward and NJ. MERCER, the French
Minister, who occupied the place Of honor,
81 the right hand Of our beautiful and ac-
complished hostess, she herself being seat
ed midway of the table, opposite her hus-
land, who had Senator Crittenden on his
right. A dinner party is certainly very
delightful affair when the guests are cul-
Iured. Congenial and not too numerous.
Brillat Saverir says in his "Physiologle
du GOut" there should ''not be more than
twelve" the old rule being "not more
than the muses. nor less than the graces."
But when the company is too large for
general conversation it loses the charm
OF social meeting of friends for recipro-
eal enjoyment and frequently becomes
a miscellaneous collection of ill-assorted
couples in forced companionship and III
vain pursuit of prandial pleasure under
difficulties. How far this was the case on
the occasion referred to l cannot under
take TO say but | remember that the pros
pect of my sitting beside Mr.. Seward
through an deliberately served dinner OF
al least a dozen courses. ALB Ovo AID MALAM,
was feature of the entertainment which
] did not anticipate and one which the
distinguished Senator himself would
doubtless have foregone as willingly AS /,
il he could have altered the arrangement
81 the table; but as it was, We were una
voidably committed TO tcte-a-tete for the
entire evening. Ofcourse, j determined,
if possible, to avoid politics and sincerely
hoped that our table-talk would be con-
fined TO such topics US We could COM
iortably discuss 10 our mutual satisfac-
ton. Accordingly. ! took an early OPP
portunity 10 make some suggestive re-
mark upon his recent visit abroad, which
had the desired effect of launching us on
the right tack in the current of converse