Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, May 3, 1849
xml:
Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, May 3,
1849
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:mjn
student editorTranscriber:spp:msr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1849-05-03
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, May 3, 1849
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Charleston, SC
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: mjn
revision: crb 2017-02-09
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Page
1
Charleston Thursday morning
May, (I have altogether lost my
reckoning of the calendar) 1849.
My Dearest Frances
My journal is without new incidents
unless it be the dinner of yesterday. It was given by Judge
Gilchrist
and whose office here corresponds to Judge Conklings
York. Judge Wayne
and other distinguished Lawyers and Judges. There were no
Ladies. There is certainly nothing peculiarly consoling
to a popularity lover, a demagogue, in the general estimation
which is awarded to me in Charleston & S. Carolina. Abolition
of Slavery, the most atrocious of all creeds in their opinion
has no more inflammatory and dangerous advocate than I
am. And they have never stopped to inquire or consider whether
I was anything more than this vile agitator. Add to this
the New York Herald has enlightened them for a dozen and
more years after the manner in which my traducers at home
defeat me, and no press or person can speak a redeeming
or exculpating word for me — At the same time the good
People of the State alarmed by the progress of the Cause of
Emancipation are actually engaged in organizing a Convention
which the leaders suppose will dissolve the Union or take
Page
2
the preliminary step for such a movement. Coming here with
such a character and at such a junction I might have looked
for the most unkind repulse if I had not known that
genius and learning would make men generous and
hospitable. I have had the most respectful kind and
cordial reception, and the ice is now broken so that
I fear little any popular prejudices against me.
The long cause in which the Court was engaged
when I arrived here is still on, but will close sometime
today, and I shall then bring on my cause. I am deter-
mined if possible to go through with it tomorrow — In that
case I shall leave the city on Saturday. But if I am
not successful then I may be detained until Monday. Neverthe-
less I shall hope to be with you somewhere by the middle
of next week.
Ever your own Henry
h
May 1849
Charleston Thursday morning
May, (I have altogether lost my
reckoning of the calendar) 1849.
My Dearest Frances
My journal is without new incidents
unless it be the dinner of yesterday. It was given by Judge
Gilchrist
Birth: 1809-02-16 Death: 1858-04-29
who is one of the Court
before whom I am to appearand whose office here corresponds to Judge Conklings
Birth: 1789-10-12 Death: 1874-02-05
in NewYork. Judge Wayne
Birth: 1790 Death: 1867-07-05
of course was there and Mr. Pettigru
Birth: 1789-05-10 Death: 1863-03-09
and other distinguished Lawyers and Judges. There were no
Ladies. There is certainly nothing peculiarly consoling
to a popularity lover, a demagogue, in the general estimation
which is awarded to me in Charleston & S. Carolina. Abolition
of Slavery, the most atrocious of all creeds in their opinion
has no more inflammatory and dangerous advocate than I
am. And they have never stopped to inquire or consider whether
I was anything more than this vile agitator. Add to this
the New York Herald has enlightened them for a dozen and
more years after the manner in which my traducers at home
defeat me, and no press or person can speak a redeeming
or exculpating word for me — At the same time the good
People of the State alarmed by the progress of the Cause of
Emancipation are actually engaged in organizing a Convention
which the leaders suppose will dissolve the Union or take
the preliminary step for such a movement. Coming here with
such a character and at such a junction I might have looked
for the most unkind repulse if I had not known that
genius and learning would make men generous and
hospitable. I have had the most respectful kind and
cordial reception, and the ice is now broken so that
I fear little any popular prejudices against me.
The long cause in which the Court was engaged
when I arrived here is still on, but will close sometime
today, and I shall then bring on my cause. I am deter-
mined if possible to go through with it tomorrow — In that
case I shall leave the city on Saturday. But if I am
not successful then I may be detained until Monday. Neverthe-
less I shall hope to be with you somewhere by the middle
of next week.
Ever your own Henry
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21