The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 12, July 1908 - April, 1909 Page: 98

                                
Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

called upon Mr. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State, at his own
residence, opposite Lafayette Square, that course having a few
days before been suggested to me by his son as the best mode of
having some conversation with him, when he would not be pressed
with business.
Mr. Epperson and I both intimated that we would like to hear
his views. He talked for an hour with a great deal of apparent
freedom.
He said that he had never allowed himself to get in a passion
or to be without hope for the country, either before the war or
during the war, or since the end of the war. That we had got
mad and fought, and others had got mad and fought with us, and
after the fighting was over others had got mad and wanted to pun-
ish us. And now they must go on until they got in a good humor.
What they would be able to do or would do he could not say. They
now refuse to let you into Congress because they believe you are
disloyal. No explanation you can make will satisfy them. I told
the people at St. Louis that the South was now more loyal to the
government than those of the North. If they will not believe me,
who have always been with them, how can they believe you, that
have been against them. They don't want to believe it, and won't
believe it, while their temper lasts. But that can't last always;
and if you do not irritate it, it will subside the sooner. You will
have to bear whatever comes and be patient. If they won't let
you come into Congress, stay out. Come here; I will recognize
you, and sooner or later they will recognize you on some terms
or other. You will get your pay whether you stay in or out. Send
in your credentials and let them see that you are here. Talk with
them, but exhibit no great anxiety about it. I want you to be
anxious, he said, for that is evidence of loyalty, but they would
not so construe it now.
This, in substance, and much more in the same strain, is what
he said. When we left he invited us very cordially to call at the
office and see him.
We had called the day before on the Attorney General, Stan-
bery, who conversed freely and courteously with us on business.
His manner is a happy admixture of familiarity and dignity, mak-
ing him the most approachable and winning man I have met with
among the public functionaries at the capitol.