When the name William Seward is mentioned, most people remember him as the guy who bought Alaska from the Russians. If they know a little more history they also know that he was Secretary of State in the Lincoln administration. While those two achievements give him historical significance, they come far short of a full accounting of the man. With a more full understanding of his life, William Seward emerges as one of the greatest leaders this nation has ever known. What's more, it is entirely appropriate to recall his life during Black History Month, because as a national leader, he arguably accomplished more than any other leader to uplift Black people.
To start to get a feel for the man, let us hearken back to March of 1846. A free Black man, one William Freeman, recently released from five years in prison after it was learned he was wrongly convicted, went on an insane rampage, murdering an entire family in Seward's hometown of Auburn, New York. There was no doubt as to the man's guilt in this case, and the prisoner barely made it past the lynch mob to jail.
In court, no lawyer was willing to take the case, probably since the citizens of Auburn let it be known they would kill any who dared. In the courtroom, when the judge asked if any would defend him, William Seward, a practicing attorney (by then a former governor of the state, not yet elected to the senate), stepped forward to volunteer his services. At great personal and career risk and against the advice of political allies, William Seward chose to defend the obviously guilty Mr. Freeman on the basis of his insanity.
He lost the case, but in making it he gave a rousing defense of the humanity of Black people, and argued that if the defendant was White, the jury would would have found him insane and committed him to life in a mental institution. In many ways, therefore, William Seward actually lived out, in 1846, the heroic roles portrayed in the movies “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “A Time to Kill.” Such courage and compassion should never be forgotten.
Even earlier in his life, his wife and he, while not in favor of slavery, decided, in his typically open minded and congenial way, to go down South and see things for themselves. Barely into Virginia in their southbound carriage, they encountered a group of slave boys being driven to market, chained and naked. The sight so repulsed both Mr. and Mrs. Seward that they immediately turned around and never again visited the South. They were passionate abolitionists from that day forward.
When elected to the Senate, Senator Seward was the leading voice for abolition and lifting the Black, or what was called at the time, the Negro population. This earned him the undying hatred of slave owners. Once, in the heat of battle leading to the Civil War, some Southern Senator, letting the false mask of civility slip, used the N-word in a speech in the Senate. Senator Seward, in his response, let it be known that no one would ever be president who spells “Negro with two g's.” Statements like that, and he made many in favor of freedom for Negros, did not win him any friends in the South.
By 1860, with the North turning away from slavery, and the Republican Party uniting around the issue of abolition, it was assumed that the greatest advocate of emancipation, William Seward, would be the nominee. No one, however, had reckoned on the political acumen of the obscure country lawyer from Illinois, so Abraham Lincoln won the nomination for President.
Although undoubtedly disappointed, William Seward bore the loss well, and in his typical noble manner, campaigned vigorously for Lincoln, and for the cause of emancipation. After the Republicans won, Senator Seward was anticipating completing his term in the Senate and retiring to his home in Auburn. It was not to be though, because Abraham Lincoln was not only a canny politician, he was a truly wise leader.
Seward was expecting a pro forma invitation from Lincoln to join the administration, and it was expected he would, in similar pro forma fashion, turn down the offer. But Lincoln sent a second letter with the pro forma one, and its sincerity and wisdom convinced Seward to accept the appointment as Secretary of State. It was probably the best decision either man ever made, as it brought together two of the greatest minds in the country, at the very moment the nation was in its greatest need of wisdom..
Even before Lincoln's inauguration, then still Senator Seward proved his mettle by helping to thwart a Confederate plot to take over Washington just before the inauguration and thereby win the war without a shot being fired. Edwin Stanton, also later in Lincoln's cabinet, was in Buchanan's cabinet, privy to the treasonous conversations going on in the Oval office, and secretly relaying that information to Senator Seward. Seward's actions helped preserve the Union before the war even started. Once again, he acted, at great personal risk, with courage and diplomacy.
From day one of his administration, Lincoln and Seward had a close and trusting working relationship, going so far as Lincoln allowing Seward to modify the language his inaugural address. Their on going collaboration was vital in fulfilling the goal of keeping the border states in the Union.
What's more, Seward had previously traveled extensively in Europe, with his strong abolitionist stance opening many doors on the continent. He now effectively used those contacts to help prevent England and France from recognizing the Confederacy. The Europeans staying neutral in the war deprived the Confederacy of a vital source of revenue, and was one of the main reasons the Union won the war.
The night Lincoln was assassinated, another member of the team of assassins tried to kill William Seward and his son. He used a knife and stabbed the Secretary repeatedly in the face. The only reason it did not kill him was that he had recently suffered a broken jaw in a carriage accident, and had a metal brace on his jaw which deflected the knife from hitting his jugular vein. His son was even more grievously wounded but both men survived the assault.
Sadly, their families did not survive the ordeal. His beloved wife Frances, a fine woman who supported her husband in every issue, died six weeks later. Undoubtedly, her demise was a result of the strain of caring for his wounds, and the stress of the times. His daughter Fannie also died shortly thereafter.
Seward recovered and stayed on as Secretary of State under Andrew Johnson, which is how he was in a positions to arrange and conclude our purchase of Alaska. He died in 1872 at 71 years of age.
Much of the information in this essay was gleaned from reading “Team of Rivals,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin (the book can't be recommended highly enough). On the cover of that book is a posed photo of Lincoln and his cabinet, with Lincoln and Seward seated and facing toward each other. After reading the book, one is struck by the idea that arguably the greater man in that photo is William Seward. Admittedly, both men had failings, but both men were undoubtedly great leaders of a righteous cause.
The question becomes, “Why isn't he already highly remembered?” The answer is that history has a way of being written by the winners, and the survivors. In the chaos of war and reconstruction, and the national grief at President Lincoln's death, a lot of Seward's deeds have been forgotten. What's more, virtually none of his family survived the tumultuous times to keep his memory alive.
So it is time that we remember him, today. Additionally, even though he and this author are both White, it is totally fitting for his life to be remembered during Black History Month, because William Seward deserves as much or more credit for preserving the Union and ending slavery as anyone, including Abraham Lincoln. He had a huge effect on Black history. He was not only one of the greatest Americans ever born, he was one of the greatest humans. Such inspiring figures should never be lost to history.
On a related note, let me add. A lot of White folks don't much like Black History Month, with their yearly refrain being “Why don't we have White history month?”
I rather enjoy learning of Black leaders and exceptional figures from the past. I had never heard of folks like Roberts Smalls, or Harriet Tubman before Black History Month began, and I am better for learning of their heroic lives and courageous contributions. Rather than ending this yearly history lesson, maybe it can be transformed to include more truly great people, like William Seward, from all quarters of our national history. I know Native American leaders like Crazy Horse should also be remembered, as should Ceasar Chavez, and other exemplary leaders of various ethnic groups, Whites included.
Maybe instead of Black History month, or focusing any other particular group, let us transition to a never ending history minute every day that reminds us of great figures from our collective past. This will be a way of reminding us of who we are, where we came from and how we got here. Further, such remembrance might even inspire us to consider what kind of future we want to build together.
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