Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-02-12
The Election of Charles Sumner to the
Senate Six Years Ago.

The editor OF the Ohio State Journal, COM
menting upon the recent almost unanimous
reelection OF Charles Sumner to the United
States Senate, gives the following eminis-
cence of the circumstances of Mr.. Summers
first election, all "of which he saw, part of
which he was:"
Six years ago, after struggle Of seven
weeks, Charles Sumner was elected TO the
Senate by majority Of one, in the House
Of Representatives composed Of three hum
hundred members. That session will ever
be memorable in the annals of Massachu-
sets. 1t was the first time in quarter of
a century that the Wing party found itself
in minority. The election had taken place
after the Fillmore administration had gone
into power. Daniel Webster, who had in the
spring previous made his celebrated 7th of
March speech, had been taken from the SEN
ate and placed at the head of Fillmore's cab
met. That speech, and the Fugitive Slave
Law, broke down the Wing party in the
State, and caused its defeat. The hunkers
in Boston sustained them; the liberal Wings,
both in tbs city and country, opposed them.
| The people could not conquer their preiu-
dices for liberty and right. This division
lost them the Legislature. There was no
choice by the people for Governor, as it re-
quired majority Of all the votes east, TO
elect.
The Wing candidateS had sssome twenty
thousand plurality over the Democratic can
didate, and some twenty thousand over the
Free-soi candidate, but he had not major
ity over both, consequently the election was
| inf ha / IL IN, ok hoI
the combined opposition had small MAORI
ty. General Wilson, now senator in Con-
gress, was elected to the Senate. Mr..
Banks, now Speaker, of the U. S. House Of
Representatives and Caleb Gushing, Attor-
ney General Of the United States, were
elected to the House. Wilson came in as a
Free-soil Wing and Banks as q Free-soil
Democrat, and Gushing came in as "Cush-
ing man. and Democrat. The Democrats
and Free-soilers by uniting had a majority
in each branch, without union they were
powerless. They therefore fused, and OBJ
tanned possession Of the State. A programme
was made out, and distribution Of the Of
fees made. 1t was agreed 10 elect Bout
well, Dem. Governor, and Walker, Free
soil) Secretary of State; TO elect Wilson,
(rree-sol) TTesluenL OF me oenate, ana
Banks, Dem Speaker of the House; to
elect Robert Rantoul, Jr., (Dem. U. s.
Senator for Mr.. Webster's unexpired term
and to elect Charles Sumner, (Free.soil)
for the full term of six years. Such was
the coalition and the way in which the Of
fees were to be distributed, and 1t was car
ried out without the crealsing of a wheel OF
the jarring of bolt, until ii came TO the
election of Mr.. Sumner.
Caleb Gushing had voted for the whole list
including Boutwell,, Walker, Banks and Ran.
toul, but flew The track on Sumner, and car.
ried with him some half dozen bunker Dem.
ocaats. The Senate had made choice Of
Sumner, but the Gushing tail in the House
prevented his election for seven weeks. Al
length Mr.. Bartlett of Boston, in Joke
proposed that in taking the next vote each
man should put his ballot in sealed envel
ope, and vote in that way. The motion, Il
the surprise of the mover, was adopted &
vote was tnken, and Charles Sumner receiv.
ed the exact number necessary TO elect him
Who it was of the Gushing party that vOteC
for Mr.. Sumner was never known, though
it was believed by many that the vote which
turned the scale was cast BY Caleb himself
The Wing candidate was Robert C. Win
throp.