The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-30

in uniform, the Commissioners of Police insist on
our officials at home not appearing in thing
else There is accounting for these little idiosyn
crases. The question of costume is amomentous one,
but we had no idea it involved such frightfu con-
sequences as are set forth in the speeches allud.
ed to.
The struggle between the Abolitionist
Leaders.
At the commencement of the present session
Of Congress-, the leadership of the abOlitionist
or free soil faction was contested by several
champions Of the cause, some in the Senate and
the House Of Representatives, others occupying
the humber position of local demagogues and
stump speakers. Ability and zeal were equally
distributed between both classes but all the
discretion Of the party was monopolized by the
Senators and members Of Congress. The want
Of this essential quality soon placed Garrison,
Greeley and Parker hors de combat; and the
struggle was continued between Messrs. Sew
ard, Sumner, Wade, Chase, Giddings and Ger
rit Smith. 1t was carried on with remarkable
vigor and perseverance,; each champion had his
little army of adherents, whom the fluctuations
of fortune elated or depressed. After a few
weeks fighting, two Of the competitors, Messrs.
Chase and Wade, were found too weak to main
tain their position. The former did his best to
gain some little notoriety by seeking personal
quarrels with his political adversaries; but
even pugnacity fails in the long run to secure
admiration or to command support Chase re-
lapsed into morbid fit of propriety; and
Wade was glad to escape from the pother
of agitation Close upon their heels, one of the
most renowned chiefs Of the sect, the Ajax OF
the army, Gerrit Smith, drove his friends to
distraction by renouncing some of the essential
principles of the party faith. 1t was even
whispered that he dined with Southerners.
After this, of course, he was out of the
question ; and as he seems to have fore
seen his fate, he has prudently anticipated
events by resigning his seat. Remained Gid
dings, Seward, and Sumner. all three in fine
condition and full of pluck. The two latter
made glorious show on the Nebraska bill
with speeches which require winters leisure to
read. Sumner tried to steal a march on his
rivals by having it said at Washington that
personal attack was to be made upon him by the
Southern members in consequence of his prin-
ciples: but Giddings. the immortal Giddings,
who has been kicked in and out of Congress
for opinions sake, and has endured all manner
of persecution for the cause, was not the man
to stand this. He tore about the capital like q
mailman, proclaiming that he, Giddings was the
man to be thrashed that if Southerners wanted
back to pummel, his and not Summers was
outstretched for the infection. 1t so happened
fbofp of ho he
INDUCED with martyrdom and little was taken
on either side by the motion.
Meanwhile, Seward was pressing Sumner
hard. His organs had already talked of him as
the future President while Summers name had
never been mentioned in conjunction with the
office. His popularity had been steadily in
crcasing year by year; Sumner had hardly re-
covered from the damage his early weakness in
the Senate had done him. The confidence of
the partisans Of the former was unbounded
the warmest friends Of the latter had secret
misgivings with respect to his sincerity. IL
was clear to the most superficial observer, that
unless some decisive mark was made by Mr..
Sumner. his position in the party would soon be
sealed, himself doomed to subordinate rank,
and the victory won by the Senator from New
York. To anticipate this became, some weeks
back, the sole concern of Mr.. Sumner and his
friends. Something must be done or said,
whereby the latter would be placed before the
North in as favorable position as Mr.. Seward
to find out that something has for some time en-
crossed their minds.
The discovery has been made, the problem
solved. The solution will be found in the re-
ports of the proceedings Of Congress on Monday
and Wednesday last. On the first of those dovs
Mr.. Sumner declared in the Senate that he re-
cognized no obligation upon him to help return
to slavery any man; and on Wednesday he
again emphatically repeated his assertion that
he recognized no obligation imposed by the
constitution to return fugitive slave.
II effect was the oaly thing sought by Mr..
Sumner, II be desired nothing but to startle the
Senate and the country, we think he may be
congratulated on his success His most ardent
rival will not be likely to follow him in such
an incredible flight Of audacity as this. Many
men find the courage toperjure themselves; but
to blazon forth ones perjury in such an Assem-.
bly, as the United States Senate requires de
gree Of assurance which approaches the sublime
Mr. Sumner swore, on his admission to the
Senate, to support the constitution of the
United States. That constitution declares tina,
persons held to service or labor in one Stat.
under the laws thereof escaping into another, |
'hal be delivered up on claim of the party to |
whom sucb service or labor shall be duer |