Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-11-22
Letter from Hon. Charles Sumner.
To The Editors Of the Boston Post:


HANcoeK. STREET, Nov. 16. 1855.
Sirs-In your Paper OF yesterday, You are
pleased to say, "Whea Charles Sumner was
at the South he was silky as possible upon the
SUBJECT OF slavery" and you then proceed,
III continuation of your own words, to quote
an article from Louisville paper, to this eff
feet -
'At Lexington he first became acquainted
with slavery, aud such an effect did its hor-
rors have upon lin, that he could not resist
acknowledging to gentlemen of our aequaint.
ance how egregioysly he had heretofore been
mistaken. 1t happened, fortunately, that he
passed the Sabbath in Lexington, and attend
ed the African Baptist Church. The sight of
SO many well dressed and WELL behaved slaves
opened his eyes. When he saw that they
worShpped without molestation or surveil-
lance, he was further astonished, and. when
he studied their demeanor and countenances,
all indicative of perfect happiness and con-
tentment, he could but confess that his pre-
vious belief concerning slavery had been based
upon information wholly incorrect =
In our city (Louisville) Mr.. Sumner received
the hospitable attention of several of our cit
liens While here his expressions
concerning slavery were in terms of agreeable
surprise at the state of affairs"
Now, Sirs, TO this detailed statement de-
sire TO make denial both general and partic-
ular. deny it as a whole and | deny it in
all Its details. Never, anywhere i'll the slave
states, OF out OF them, in public or in pri
Vate, have expressed opinions on slavery in.
consistent with those | have uttered from
my seat in the Senate or at home in Massa-
| chusetts. did not pass the Sabbath in Lex
lnston; never attended the African Baptist
Church there; never saw Its {" well dressed
and we'll behaved slaves &c worshipping
without molestaton or surveillance" l never
''studied Their demeanor ana countenances,
all indicative of perfect happiness and con-
tent" and never made any confession that
"my previous belief concerning slavery had
been based upon information wholly incor-
rect. This whole story is baseless as a
dream. 1t is true that l was at Lexington;
| but saw nothing there calculated to miti-
gate my previous aversion to slavery; nor did
l ever acknowledge to anybody that 1 had
been mistaken, "egregriously" or otherwise.
1t true also thlt was also at Louisville, tor
single day, cheered by pleasant hospitality
but l had no occasion to express any opinions
on slavery. If | manifested an agreeable
surprise at anything, it was at the thorough
| bred cattle, the woodlawn pastures and the
blue grass, which are the pride of Kentucky.
There was a surprise of a different charac-
ter which / could not fail TO manifest, at an
other place, when 1 witnessed the disgusting
sale OF human beings on the steps of the court
house; and the honorable Kentuckian who
was with me cannot have forgotten the pain
and indignation which was unable to re-
press.
1t is not my habit to notice assaults on my
opinions or public course, bu l am unwilling
that gross mis- statements of facts, like those
you have circulated, should pass without a
| point blank contradiction.
l am, sirs, your obedient servant,
CHARLES SUMNER,