The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-06-03
Mr. Runners Letter

country. are read with interest by 'he pub
lie, we copy the following from Mr. Sum
ner's letter to the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture Mr.. Summers sentiments are little
more liberal than we expected, but at the
best, he is an uncompromising free-sollcr,
and an enemy to slavery: 81
The trust conferred upon me is one Of
the most weighly which citizen can re-
ceive. II concerns the grandest interests Of
our own Commonwealth, and also of the
Union whereof i've are aA indissoluble part
Like every post OF eminent duty, it Is apost
of. honor personal ambition, such as |
cannot confess, might be satisfied to possess
it, Bat wien | think of what it requires,
/ | am obliged to say that its honors are all
eclipsed in my sight by its duties,
Your appointment finds me IN private
station with which | am entirely content,
But this Is not all, For the first time in my
life | am now called to political office.
With none of the experience so amply pos
ssssed by others, to smooth the way OF Ia
bor, | might well hesitate. Bat | am
4 cheered by the generous confidence which,
throughout.a enlightened contest, persevered
liu sustaining me, and by the conviction that,
amidst all the seeming difference OF party,
the sentiments of which | am the known
advocate, and which led TO my original se-
lection as candidate, are dear to the heart
of large majority of the people OF this
Commonwealth | derive, Also most
grateful consciousness of personal indepen-
dence from the circumstances, which / deem
it frank and proper thus publicly TO declare
and place on record that this office comes
to me msought and uudeslred
, Acknowledging the right of my country
to the service of her sons wherever she
chooses to place them and with heart full
of gratitude that sacred cause has been
permitted to triumph through me, now
accept the post of Senator.
p accept it as the servant Of Massachn-
sets; mindful of the sentiments soemnly
uttered by her successive Legislatures, OF
. the genius which inspires her history and OF
:, the men, her perpetual pride and ornament
y y who breathed into her that breath of liber
i ty which early made her an example 10 hei
) sister States. In such a service the way
G though new to my footsteps, will be lllunl
: ined by lights which cannot be missed.
l. accept it as the servant OF the Union
: bound to study and maintain with equa
e patrotic care, the interests OK all parts o
Y our country; to discountenance every effor
n to loosen any those ties by which onr iel
IS lowship of States is held i'll fraternal com
G pany and to oppose all sectionallsm, wheth
e er it appear i'll unconstlptiona efforts b!
% the North to carry so great boon as free
a dom into the slave States, or i'll unconstitu
a tional efforts by the South, aided by North
~ ern allies, to carrythe sectional evil of slave
~ nv into the free States or in whatsoever e'
forts it may make to extend the sectiona
domination of slavery over the nationa
rs government. With me the Union is twic
II blessed-frst as the powerful guardian c
ID the repose and happiness of thirty-one SOY
Is ereion States, clasped by the endearn
rs name of country; and next, as the mode
W and beginning of that alI-embracing fedora
ps fion' of States by which unity, peace an
Vi concord will finally be organized among Ih
,L nations Nor do | believe i. possible, wha
';" ever may be the delusion of the hour, tha
any part thereof can he permanently lo
~ from its well compacted bak. Il Ptstrib1
us Unum is stamped upon the national con
ne the national territory, and the national hear
h, Though composed of many parts united il
in to one, the Union is separable only by
la, crash which shall destroy the whole.
Id Entering now upon the public service
at venture to bespcak for what ] may do Z
n saw. that candid judgment which / tru
i'll always to extend to Others. but which a
es well aware the prejudlces of party too rar
ia " concede | may fail in ability; but n
Ia in sincere efforts to proroote the gener
,L veal. In the conflicts Of opinion natural
=" the atmosphere Of liberal institutions, ] ms
Wtie W err; but / trust nevefto forget the prudenc
~ which should temper firmness, OF the mo-
IL esty which becomes the consciousness
I'M riJht. If decline to recognise as n
,ht puides any of the men of to-day, | sh;
sk feel safe while follow the master prln
nd. ples which the Union was established to s
nd cure. and lean for support on the great
.oa umvirate of American freedom- w ashin
q ton, Franklin and Jefferson, And since
true politics are simply morals applied
nublic affairs. | shall find constant asslstan
from those everlasting rules OF right a
Nv! wrong, which are law aIlhe 10 lliuiN'u
nal ais and communities-nay, which constra
at the Omnipoteut God in seli-imposed bon'
XXI. Let me borrow, in conclusion, the !;
ate guage of another; q see my duty--that
i've. standing up for the liberty OF my countI
and whatever difficulties and dlscoura;
OF ments lie in my way, dare not shrink fr
and it; and rely on that Being who has
Il.
en- left to us the choIce o. ot,tleS' 'nd'' wn
,rk I shall conscientiously discharge mine
rho shall not finally lose my reward IN
10 M are the words Of Washington, uttered
~ H. the early darkness of the American Re
i'''1 luton. Tue rule Of dpty is the same Tor
o' lowly and iae great; aud hope it y
not seem presumptuous in one so humble
myself to adopt his determination aud
$50, avow his confidence.