Evening journal., 1911-04-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When William H. Seward
Wept in Public
BY "HoIIand.s

General Thomas L. Clingman, who
from 1S4S 10 1855 with the exception
OF one term, represented North Caro-
lima in the lower house Of Congress
and WAS q member of the Senate when
the Civil War, began. resigning that
office to return to North Carolina and
become a Confederate brigadier- gem
eral, used frequently 10 revisit Wash
ington in the late seventies and early
eighties. He did not come upon any po-
litcal .errand, for he eschewed politics
at the CLOSE Of the Civil War. He was
an enthusiastic prophet with respect
to the mineral wealth of his State; the
first man, in fact TO make this wealth
known. If any one were willing TO
chat with him he would sit by the
hour describing the treasures Of plati-
mum and OF precious stones. even dia-
monds, which he was sure were with
in the bowels of the North Carolina
mountains. Notwithstanding his snow
white beard and the wrinkles which
time had.left on his face. he seemed TO
be mentally as active as ever and
there was no falteriDg in his step.
"Of all the great statesmen of the
North that ] have known" once said
General Clingman 10 me, the one |
always recall with the greatest salts
faction is William n. Seward. ! made
his acquaintance before ! entered the
Senate. and that acquaintance, in due
time. ripened into something like
friendship. Did you know that in Sew
ards time, there was no Northern
member of the Senate who was on
more friendly terms with the South
ern members Of Congress generally
And that reminds me of the first and
only time | saw Senator Seward weep
in public.
Seward became a member Of the
Senate in 1S49. Three years before
Texas had sent to the Senate as its
first representatives in that body Sam
Houston and Thomas j. Rusk, who
had stood second to Houston in the
war which had established the inde-
pendence of Texas Between Rush and
Seward there soon sprang up friend
ly relation that gradually ripened into
a real intimacy. and this relation was
a nine days wonder to many, for Sew
ard had then become recognized as the
leading anti-slavery Wing in the Sen
ate, while Rusk represented a slave
State. But strange as this intimacy
seemed. it continued unbroken to the
day of Rusk's death in 1856, when he
committed suicide in a moment of
temporary mental alteration.
"Of course, the customary memorial
services were held in the Senate, and
Seward delivered one of the eulogies. |
In fact. his was the chief eulogy, and
! have always regarded it as classic. |
But the most remarkable thing in con-
nection with its deliverance was that, |
suddenly, Senator Seward broke down. |
He was conyulsed with his grief He !
buried his face i'm his handkerchief
and sohhed II was so affecting that
many OF his colleagues also were
moved 10 tears.
"a few days later. when congratu-
lated Seward on his eulogy of his
friend. ] suggested that there must
have been something of an unusual
character to bring two such men as
himself and Rusk together on terms
OF intimacy.
Shortly after President Pierces
administration hegan,' he told me, i
was Informed that a personal and
very loyal friend for whom | had se-
cured appointment in one of the gov
ernment departments was in danger of
removal ! was very anxious that no
should be retained one day ] mem
toned my apprehension TO Senator
Rusk and told him why was SO an
xious that his friends should he re-
tanned la the department He had been
of great service to me in New York
politics, and al considerable personal
sacrifice I knew. also, that il he were
removed from this place he would be-
I'm actual want
" Senator Rusk begged mo to re-
lieye my mind of all apprehension. II
shall make the retention of this friend
of yours the test of my loyalty to Pres
ident Pierce's administration" he said.
He was as good as his word, and
now YOU understand why l felt so
keenly the passing of Thomas Rusk.'
Copyright. 19i1. by p. j. Edwards All
rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell Of
"How Simon Cameron Stood by 2 Fell
Io.v GnofohuannW