Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-06-05
TIMES.
Bath, Thursday, June 5, 1851.
Theory VS.. Practice.

Nuose eniotNo"e"' hef oeeui iusptdctlcdOe,
or in other words, which are 10 advance Of The
age, cannot be doubted. This is true as we'll
of correct as Of erroneous views Reformatory
movements, Of all kinds, require to be promot-
ed by advance steps-a way must be prepared
for them. The sincere reformer, to engage
public attention, is ofteBtimes required TO make
statements and nse language for fett-the in
sincere one, or he who engages in the promo
ton of an enterprise from purely selfish mo
tives, of course does. This IS occasionally
made to appear, an instance of which we are
about to notice in the case of Charles Sumner,
the new Massachusetts, Senator. He has been
distinguished, for several wears past, for his
ulruism on the slavery question, and for his
extravagant, wholesale denunciatons of the
South-her institutions and inhabitants-bui
all of sudden, change seems to ''come over
the spirit of his dreams" and we now find him
talking NEST periodically in favor of the Union
and denouncing secfionalisp, with as much BIT
terness, as but short time ago, he was warm
iy engaged in seeking TO promote it. The
question may well be put-whence this change!
The reason for it is too apparent to be mistak
Ell. Mr.. Sumner has been ,alkmg that which
he knew to be impractcable and impossible to
carry into effect He has been advocating
theory which he is well aware is only ,heo-
ry, and not susceptible Of being reduced to
practice This was before elcction-when he
was occupying a comparatively irresponsible
position in society-bst be has been invested
with po,cer-he has been placed in a situation
in which he will be required to act, and sense
of responsibility is awakened within him. He
writes letter of acceptance, and attempts to
retrieve his character by explaining his true
sentiments. Hear him -
" I accept the office as the servant of the
Union bound to study and maintain with
equal patriotic care, the interests Of all parts
of our country; TO discountenance every effort
TO loosen any of those ties by which onr fellow
ship of States is held in fraternal company
and 10 oppose all sccfionahsm, whether it APP
pear in unconstitutional efforts BY the North
10 carry so great boon as Freedom into the
Slave States, or IN unconstitutional efforts BY
the South, aided by Northern allies, to carry
the sectional evil of Slavery into the Free
States or in whatsoever efforts it may make
TO extend the sectional domination of slavery
over the National Government. With me the
Union is twice blessed first as the powerful
guardian of the repose and happiness of thirty
one sovereign States clasped by the endearing
name of country; and next, as the model and
beginning of that all embracing Federation of
States, by which unity, peace and concord will
finally be organized among the nations. Nor
do believe it possible, whatever may be the
delusion of the hour, that any part thereof, can
be permanently lost from It's well compacted |
bulk. E Pluibus Unum is stamped upon the
national coin, the national territory, 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 now upon the public service, / |
venture TO bespeak for what | may do or say,
that candid judgment, which trust always 10
extend 10 others, but which | am well aware
the prejudices 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 10 the atmosphere of liberal
institutions, | may err, but trust never to
forget the prudence, which should temper
frmness, or the modesty which becomes the
consciousness of right. If | decline to recog
nize as my guides any of the men of to-day,
shall feel safe, while follow the master prin-
ciples, which the Union was established to Sc
cure, and lean for support on the great trium-
virate of American freedom-W ashington,
Franklin and Jefferson. And since trne poll
tics are simply morals applied TO public affairs,
/ shall find constant assistance from those ever
!. e -, ht
law alike to individuals and communities nay,
which constrain the Omnipotent God in self
imposed bonds"
This language is almost equal to that found
in the farewell addresses of Washington and
Jefferson. Mr.. Sumner is well aware, as were
the rhg party when they attained TO power
and responsibility that our Government can
not be administered for any considerable period
of time, upon such sectional and extreme no.
tions as he has been advocating for some time.
Mr.. Summers new views are of course not
very satisfactory 10 his old friends-some Of
whom use pretty hard language towards him.
very severe. He demands 10 know what Mr.
Sumner means by his talk about sectionalism
and his praises of the Union, and enquiries, if
such things happen in the green tree at Boston,
what must be expected in the dry tree at Wash
ington.
We trust that Mr.. Sumner will gnide his
official life by the "master principles of the
great triumv;rate of American freedom to
which he alludes ashington, Franklin, and
Jefferson-the latter of whom, in 1922, when
the country was severely agitated upon the
slavery question In connection with the admis-
sion of Missouri, used the following language
in reference to the anti-slavery movements.
"Ths momentous question, like fire bell
in the night, awakened and filled me with ter
ror. | considered it at once as the knell ofihe
Union. II is hushed indeed for a moment, but
tins is reprieve only, not a final sentence
A geographical line coinciding with marked
principle, moral and political, once conceived
and held up to the angry passions of men, will
never be oblIterated, and every nel1 irritation
will work 1t deeper and deeper. | regret that
am new to die in the belief that the useless
sacrifice of themselves by the the generation of
lI76 to acquire selEgovernment and happiness
to their country, is to be thrown away by the
mwlse and unworthy passions of their sons,
and that my only consolation is to be that |
live not TO weep over it. If they would but
weigh the blessings they will throw awav.
against an abstract prianple, more likely to be
effected by union than by scissors. thew would
pause before they would perpetrate this az, of