But he did not for one moment permit those causes which would have powerfully influenced lower natures to control his action, or even to extort a single word of passionate resentment.
It had been Mr.Seward's fortune at different epochs in the country's history and in different phases of his own career to incur the harshest censure from political associates.

He had been accused at one time of urging the anti-slavery cause so far as to endanger the Union; and, when the Union was endangered, he was accused of being willing to sacrifice the anti-slavery cause to save it.

"The American people," said he in February, 1861, "have in our day two great interests,--one the ascendency of freedom, the other the integrity of the Union.

The slavery interest has derived its whole political power from bringing the latter object into antagonism with the former.

Twelve years ago Freedom was in danger, and the Union was not.