The Washington critic., 1886-01-30
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

In October, 1866, Hon. Charles Gay.
ARE of Louisiana, the distinguished
historian and jurist, was in Wash
ington and had an interview with Mr..
Seward relative to the existing poiti-
cal situation which at that time was Il
source of great solicitudc, owing to the
strained relations between the Prcsi-
dent and Congress. Mr.. Gayarre de.
sired to impart such information as he
possessed concerning affairs in Louisi-
ana, and in return was anxious to carry
home with him something, as he ex-
pressed it, "consoatory and encourage
ing" from the administration, indica.
tive of the attitude which the people
of his State should take in the pending
crisis. A full sketch of the interview
is contributed by Mr.. Gayarre to the
February number of the Southern
BirOUdc. Said Mr.. Seward Congress
and the Administration are at variance,
as you are aware. Our main object
has always been reconstruction. On
that subject we have never devated or
equivocated. We want the union of
all the States. TO arrive at it we have
asked of you four things, which we
thought matters of absolute necessity :
First, the abolition of slavery. Second,
the reputation of the doctrine of
secession. Third, the adoption
of the Federal debt. Fourth,
the reputation of the Confederate
dcbt;you have acceded to that; we have
no more to ask of you. We have no
advice to give, no blame or approba.
ton TO express as to any particular
course of policy which you of the
South may pursue within the law and
the Constitution. The Constitutional
amendments are proposed by Congress,
not by us. We will not, therefore,
urge you either to accept or reject
them; it is matter entirely between
you and Congress. Let Congress pur-
sue their course; we will pursue ours?
Let us see what they will do; it will
then be time enough to act They talk
of impeaching the President. 1t would
be again changing the issue, as they
have done once already by their Con.
stitutional amendments. The other
issue would be the destruction of the
Government. Let them make that issue
and other false issues, not us. / have
always said the same thing, and shall
never unsay what | have said, nor say
now what ! have not said from the be.
ginning. Sir, although | suppose |
might be hung at the North for the
sentiment, j have no hesitation in de
claring that there was no time, either
during or after the war, when | would
not have preferred seeing Jefferson
Davis himself in the Senate to seeing
the South out of the Union" Mr..
Gayarre here called attention to the
difficulty of finding reputable men in
Louisiana, who had not given aid and
comfort to the rebellion, Hence the
impossibility of a proper representa-
ton in Congress. THAT is an argu-
ment," said Mr.. Seward, (Which can.
not be discussed, j want the Union,
no matter how; ! want all the States in
the Capitol, without taking into con,
sideration what you call your dignity
and your honor" Here he became
somewhat excited. 81 want" he con.
tinued, mot only the main trunk of
my body, but also all my limbs with
out exception. | say to you what |
have said to the Southern men whom
! first saw after the war, and who asked
for my views: You must make your
selves rs small as you can; you must
stoop and humble yourselves rs low
down rs may be necessary; You must
roll in the dust; you must eat dirt II
need be. 1t Is very hard, ! confess,
but 1t is necessity; and | will say ia
the North: BE magnanimous. The best
thing you can do is to get inside of the
Capitol as fast as you can, even if you
have to creep for it on your belly,
Better for you to eat dirt and to be
represented by asses, jackasses, jackals
and scoundrels, than not to be repre-.
sented at all. II will not last, and II
will open the door, after little while
to better men, more deserving Of youl
confidence"
w.
Representative O'Neill of Missouri
the indefatigable chairman of the
Labor Committee, and a gentleman who
is very attentive to the interests of his
constituents, recently made a specia
effort, as a VoHd correspondent tell,
the story, TO obtain Department posi-
tion for one McGrath, an aged Irish
American citizen, and with success, A
few days ago McGrath was notified OF
his Congressman's success, and went
up to the Department. II am the gin
tleman that Mr.. 0'Neill got a place