Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-31

The following article expresses our own views
so exactly, thst We copy it in preference to writ
ing one Of our own on the subject, and we re
commend it to our readers, in the full confidence
that :hey will concur with US in opinion;
MRSUMNBR AND THE SENAToRsHIP.-ThouRh
there is no official announcement OF the fact, we
presume il to be settled that Mr.. Sumner will alb
sent himself from public life for another year,
and spend it in retirement and travel abroad Ii
his health is to be restored, nay, If his life is to
be preserved, he must be separated, by at least
one sea, from the exciting associations and sug-
Cestions OF American society and politics, which
are ever reminding him of his sad condition and
its causes. Taking it for granted, then, that he
will return to Europe at once, and remain there
for at least another year, the question becomes a
public One-will he resign his seat in Congress >
And to it, we desire early to enter an emphatic
no. Under the peculiar circumstances of his alb
sence he is Justly entitled to retain his position
and the pay winch there need be no affectation in
saying his circumstances require. Massaehu-
sets ought not to demand, expect, or even per.
nit his resignation, until the issue of another
twelvemonth shall positively determine whether
or no he is permanently untitled for public du-
ties The service in which he was wounded JUS
titles some sacrifice on the part Of the Common !
wealth and the public opinion of the country
and of the world-for this is a case that is known
aud discussed throughout the realms of civiliza-
toD-Wlll sustain her IN cllnglng to him as her
Representative and servant SO long certainly as
any hope remains Of his restoration to health, if
not indeed so long as life lasts and would, in
deed, condemn her if she did not do so.
Nor are the practical consequences of the tenn
poraIy vacancy of his seat likely to be such as to
affect this moral view of the question. His va
cant chair will plead as eloauently as any 9th
er voice than his could for the principles with
which he is identified, both to Congress and be-
fore the country. And there can hardly be many,
possibly no important, divisions which the single
vote he represents could change No,iwe trust
no one will counsel or expect Mr. Sumner to re-
sign; but that he will go abroad again with every
confidence in the good faith and interest of Mas
saehusetts; holding still her commission as sem
ator, and feeling that her honors await his re.
turn; that her people watch his fortunes with
both personal and public interest, and thBt,
they identified themselves with the outrage in
hicted upon him, they win associate themselves
officially with his painful struggles, on land and
by sea, to overcome its terrible effects.
We cannot doubt these are the common senti
ments OF the people, nor that the speculations Of
an immediate resignation, and the election Of
Mr., Banks TO the vacancy, have no foundation in
any general or even personal wish that they may
be realized. Mr.. Banks has assumed response.
bilities at home which he is eager to discharge,
for which he has sacrificed, under the eircum-
stances, as high and honorable, and certainly
more influential position, than that Of senator,
and which cannot now be transferred to other
shoulders either with honor to himself or useful
ness to the State. He should, and believe
will, thank no man for inviting his ambition to
other scenes other responsibilities, at least for
the present"