Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-11-08
Reception ex-senator sumner a, Boston.

The reception Of Hon. Charles Sumner at
Boston, Monday afternoon, was a cordial aud i'm
posing affair. Many places Of business were
closed aud the citizens generally exhibited a
patriotic interest To welcome home their dislin-
gushed senator A large throng Of citizens
on horseback aud in carriages met Mr. Sumner
a, lirooklinc and escorted him to the Boston
line, where he was addressed by the venerable
Josiah Quincy. The procession then escorted
him to the State house, where he was again
welcomed in an eloquent speech from the Gov
ernor of the state.
On rising 10 reply Nh Sumner was hailed
by spontaneous ouibursl Of applause and 9th
CT manifestations, exhibiting the deep sympathy
Of the vast crowd present. His personal ap-
pcarancs showed the effect If severe physical
suffering. lie commenced his response as fol-
lows
May it please your cXceilency, it is pleasant
To behold once more the familiar places OF home.
the state house. the common aud well known
stroois. II is more pleasant TO behold the couu-
tenanees of friends. Aud all This pleasure is
increased by the welcome which you now give
me in behalf ol the beloved commonwealth
which for FIVE years have served honestly,
earnestly and constantly in an important field
OF duty, where | was placed by an unsougli sui
fta2e.
thank also the dsing uished gentlemen who
honor the oecasiun with their company. !
thanl, you, my fellow citizens all. who now 10
uncounied mnl,iiades give me the succor and
strength of their synpaihies. And my soul
oyelnows especially to the young men OF Bus-
ton, oul Of whose heart as from au cXubeuui
fountain, this broad spreading hospitality takes
It's rise. Ny earnest desire. often expressed,
has been that might be allowed TO return
home quietly without show or demunstfalion ct
any kind. And this longing has been enforced
hy my physical condition, which though vastly
improved at this ,i,al and advancing surely To-
wards complete hcllih, is still exposed to the
peril OF reanse, ur AZ least 10 the arrest OF those
kindly processes OF nature essential to The res
loraiion Of shattered system. But The spon-
laneous Kindness Of tins reception makes me
forget my desi.e Tor rcposc. More than five
months have passed since ! was disabled from
the performance Of my public duties. During
this weary period have heen constrained to
repeat daily the lesson Of renuneiaiion, confined
ing the power even to walk.
But beyond the constant. irreprcssble grief
which must well up ia The breast OF every pat
not, as he observes the present condition Of his
coautry, my chief sorrow has been caused by
the necessity 10 which am doomed of renoun-
cling all pant IN the contest for human rights,
which beginning in congress, has since envel.
oped the whole land. The Grecan chief
grievously III of a wound from the siealihy bite
OF 0 snake, and lefl behind while his oompan-
ions sailed TO the siege Of Troy, did not repine
more at bis enforced seclusion. From day to
day and week To week yainly sought that
health which we value mos, only when lost,
and which now petpetually elgded my grasp.
/ For health siroye, Tor health prayed. With
uncertain Steps sought il at the seashoro, and
! sought it On the mountain top.
1 Two voices we're there; one Is Of the sea,
/ One Of the mountans-and mighty voice
In both from age to age thou didst rejoice;
! They were thy chosen music, liberty.
listened to the admoniions Of medical skill,
aud ! coveted all the bracng influences Of ma
ture, while time passed without the accustomed
healing on It's wings, had confidently hoped
10 be restored so as 10 take my seat in the Sen
ate and to be heard there again long before the
session closed. But Congress adjourned leav-
ing me still an invalid My next hope was
that might be permitted to appear before the
people during the present canvass, aud with
my heart aud mind plead the great cause which
is now in issue. But here again have been
disappointed, and the thread Of my disability is
not yet spun to the end. Even now, though
happily lifted from my long prostralion aud be-
ginning to assume many of the conditions .
health, ! am constrained to confess that AN
still an invalid, cheered however by the assur
ance that shall soon with unlmpaired yigor b.
= permitted 10 resume the responsibilities Of ny
? position.
After feelinely complmentng his coleagu,
= in the Senate, Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. Sumner con
9 tinued
To Massachusetts, mother Of rs all, gaea
in resources, great in children, now pledg
anew my devotion. Never before did she in
spire equal pride and affection, for never befor
was she more completely infused by those sen
iiments which, when manifest in commonwealth
or citizen, invest the character with its highes
charm, so that what is sown a natural body
. raised a spiritual body. My flial love doe
: not claim too much when it exhibits her as ap
proaching the pattern of a Christian coulmon
wealth. which according to the great Englis
republican, John Million, Sought to be as on
huge Christian parsonage, one mighty growt
and stature Of an honest man, as big and con
pact in virtue as in body"
). Not through any worldly triumphs, n,
s through the vaults Of State street, the spindle
of Lowell, or even the learned endowmenls
:. Cambridge, is Massachusetts thus but becaus
}. seeking TO extend everywhere within the sphel
IS of her influence the benign civilization whc
she cultivates at home, she stands forth III
St faithful, unseducod support of human nalur'
Wealth has its splendor, and the intellect ha
,. its glory, but there is grandeur in such sci
/. vice which is above all the regard Of good me
and will have the immortal life of history.
10 For this she has also the reproach and cot
e iumely which throughout all ages have bee