The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-14

served me Alright, and I begged pardr
E II was mistaken, a man by the nan
VI zen. zachary Taylor was at la
emitted TO recognition for irving tn !
: MS duty on the Mexican battlefields
AS [ sat down the assemblv arnsa
BODY and the building shook with a,
: piause- Every chair and glass ~.
smashed / n the uproar. Of course the,
was not bitterness; all was All,
kindly spirit, but the event. being
was discussed among th
admirers Of Gen. TAYLOR evervwhare
think MS brother was at the Dime
w at my rate Gen. Taylor was imue
dlateiy informed Of the episode.
d WARMLY RECEIVED AT WHITE
HOUSE.
Now to return TO my interview :
tne White House. II is not surprisin.
that received a warm reception whe,
called on the president that evenin:
al tfe White House. After a few no
hents OF friendly conversation | baya,
70 explain to him that Seward. Sunne
and Chase and others whose fdalirr
was questioned would be loyal TO him
and were already his friends. notyirh
standing all the talk and rumors to m.
contrary. | told the president thai
not only knew what | was saving, br,
that | was authorized By Seward II
state that he was a Wing and wuull
support the president and his admins.
tfatlon TO the end. He seemed greatly
surprised when added that | had lust
come from Mr.. Seward in PHILADELPHIA:
mat came 10 the White House direct
~ bearing his personal message TO he
executive.
Of course, while it was a compliment
TO me, sending me to see the president
in behalf of the party in New York il
was. nevertheless, a part Of the politics
OF the day. Mr.. Weed had heard n,
about my speech for Gen. TAYLOR. at me
Gen. Wool dinners, and he knew that I
would be received without reserve. In
this instance did for Mr.. Seward what
Weed did in the after years. when he
urged the martyr president to put him
into the cabinet as a sure means OF
Strengthening his administration, an
particularly because it was carr:lu.
he traditions Of politics to give /
defeated rival the highest opposition n
the cabinet.
President Taylor said that he was 50
much pleased with the message | had
brought him hal he would at once call
Il cabinet meeting and, with my per
mission, lay before them what l had
said as coming directly from Mr.. Sc
ward. On returning to Wizards H0-
tel that night | found Reverdy John
son, the Attorney General, awaiting
me. He was elated with the result OF
my mission and said ne would be at
the cabinet meeting on the morrow.
On the following day, Immediately af-
ter the meeting of the cabinet he again
came with a smiling face and extended
hands, saying: You have won," and
the list OF names previously prepared
was set aside and Mr.. Stewards APP
pOintment substituted.
1t was a great victory for Mr.. Eewarl
and his powerful friends in the parry
and it put an end to the feuds between
the Wings, north and south, while it
was Of no little benefit to me.
RUSSELL SAGE IN CONGRESS,
In 1852 and again in 1854 l was elect
to congress, where | served out lay
full terms. On returning home my
old friend, Thurlow Weed, the political
leader of the state, wanted me to ruiz
for state controller. Ea said l had d
for finance, and he hoped would
&c, my way to serve The Wing party
and my friends. ! thanked him sin
but said that my natural taste
WIS for business; that | had gone tt
congress chiefly to make a study Of the
science and form of government and
having returned to civil life. | wished
to devote by energies entirely to bust
ness.
Mr.. Weed, who controlled men in his
party absolutely, seemed surprised, and
expressed great Disappointment because
| did not accept, but l was determined,
and since that day l have continued in
business.
brought me into close contact with the
political leaders Of the time, but never
once did l swere from my original in
tention Of making everything subordl-
nate to my business, and to keep out
of office except when it was necessary
to me as a means Of education. With
the exception of my two terms in con-
gress and the holding Of a few local
offices | declined all ventures Of honor
in hat direction. But l have always
made 1t a point IN life TO devote a lie"
weeks or a month in each year to The
campaign as a means OF rec
reation, instruction and diversion.
KEEP OUT OF WALL STREET."
| do not believe that there was ever
n more vigorous campaign waged than
when | ran for congress. | had toe
support of both Seward and Weed. Yes,
| spent money most literally. l do not
believe that as much had ever been
spent in my district to ~enlighten the
people as TO how they should vote for
CONGRESSMAN. Weed Seward continued
nv friends until the end. Those We're
days, and the men | have referred
to have gone into history with fame
and honor.
But to return TO business. | was lucky
And kept getting deeper q
deeper into things and making more
and more money, till finally some 10 or