Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-17
LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS,
IN sENATE.-MAr IA.

IN SENATE.-MAI IA.
The following Letter from Hon. CHAs. SUMNER,
Senator elect of the United States from this State
was received and read:
Feoc citizens ofe Senate and House of Representatives.
have received by the hands Of the Secretary the Com
monwralth certificate that by Of the
branches of the Legsatuensmey, by the Senate the
22d day Of January, and by the House Of Representatives
on the Gath day of April duly elected, in conformity
to the provisions of the constitution and laws of the United
States, Senator to represent the Commonwealth of Massa-
chuset in the Senate of the United States for the term
SIX years, commencing the 4ih day of March, 1851.
If were to follow the customary course, should receive
this in silence But the protaced and unprecedented con-
test which ended in my election the interest it awakened
he Importance universally conceded to it, the ardor of oppo
son and the constancy of support which it aroused also,
The principles which, than before among us il
brought into discussion, seem to justify, what my feel
nss irresisiiby prompt departure from this rule IT. be-
yond these considerations any apology be needed for thus
directly addressing the Legislature, may find in the
ample oil an us0us predecessor whose clear and venerable
name will be sufficient authority.
The trust conferred upon me is of the weghy
which citizen receive the grandes nte-
rests Of our own Commonwealth, and also OF the Union,
whereof we ndssoube part Like every post of emf
nent duty, Is post of eminent honor personal aubi-
ton, such as cannot confess might be satisfied possess it,
But, when think Of what it requires obliged say
mat It's honors are all ecpsed in my sight BY its duties
Your appointment finds private station with which
am entirely content But this all For the first time
in my life, am called to political office With none Of
the experience amply possessed by Others smooth the
way o. labor might well hesitate But am cheered by
the generous confidence which, throughout heightened con-
test perseveed in sustaining me- and by conviction that
amidst all seeming differences of party, the sentiments of
which am the known advocate and which led TO my org
nal selection as candidate, dear the hearts of large
maory Of the people of this derive also
most grateful consciousness of personal independence from
the circumstance which deem frank and proper thus pub.
cy to declare and place record that this office comes to
me unsOught and undesred.
Acknowledging the right of my country to the service of
her sons wherever she chooses place he and with heart
full Of gratitude that sacred cause has been permitted to
triumph through me, now accept the post Of Senator.
accept as the servant of Massachusetts mindful Of the
sentiments solemny uttered by her successive Legislatures
OF the genius which inspires her history and Of the men,
perpetual pride and ornament who beathed into her that
breath Of liberty which early made her example her
sister States In such SERVICE the way though my
footsteps, will be umned by lights which cannot be missed
accept it the servant of the Union bound TO study
and maintain with equal patriotic the interests Of all parts
OF our country to dscountenance every effort loosen any
OF those ties by which fellowship of States held in fra
tena company and to oppose all sectionosn whether
appear in unconstitutional efforts by the North carry
great boon freedom into the slave States or in uncons
utional efforts by the South, aided by Northern allies 10
carry the sectional evil Of slavery into the free States or in
whatsoever efforts it may make to extend the sectional dom
nation Of slavery over the National Government. With
the Union is blessed first the powerful guardian Of
the repese and happiness thirty sovereign States clasp
ed by the endeaIng name Of country and the model
and beginning Of that aembracng federation Of States by
which unity, peace, and concord will finally be organized
among the nations Nor do believe possible whatever
may be the deuson of the hour that any part thereof can be
permanently lost from its we-compaced bulk. Piribus
Onum stamped upon the national coin the national terri
tory, and the national heart Though composed of many
parts united into one, the Union is separable only by crash
which shall destroy the whole.
Entering upon the public service venture to bespeak
for what may do say that candid judgment which trust
always to extend to Others but which am well aware the pre-
JUDGES Of party too rarely concede may fail in ability, but
not IN sincere efforts to promote the general veal In the
conflicts Of opinion natural to the atmosphere of liberal ns
tuon may but trust TO forget the prudence
which should temper rmnes the modesty which becomes
the consciousness of right decline to recognise my
guides any Of the Of to-day shall feel safe while fol.
low the principles which the Union was established to
rican freedom Washington Franklin. and Jefarson. And
since true politics simply morals applied public AFFAIRS
shall nd constant assistance from those everlasting rules
right and wrong which law alike to individuals and
communities nay, which consrain the omnipotent God in
sefimposed bonds
Let borrow, in conclusion the language of another
my dutythat of standing up for the liberty of my
county-and, whatever difficulties and dscourageents lie in
my way, dare not shrink from and rely that Being,
who has not left to us the choice of duties that whilst
shall cmscientiousy discharge mine shall not finally lose
my reward These the words of Washington, uttered
in the early darkness Of the American revolution The rule
of duty the for the owly and the great and hope
1t may not seem presumptuous humble myself
to adopt his determination, and to his confidence
have the honor to be- fellow citizens with sincere regard,
your faithful friend and servant.
CHARLES SUMNER.
BosroF, Mar IA, 1851