Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-02
Jbe Dsilp Spp.
MnNpAY. FERRUARY 2 1857.
The Re-EIccsIon OF Cha-Ies sumncr.

one Of the most gratifying "reminiscences OF the
nttime. Il will mark an important era in
the historic records of the old Bay State, as we'll
as Of the whole country. As the assault upon
Mr.. Sumner. in the Senate, was one of the most
nend like and brutal outrages ever committed, so
will the concurrent action of three hundred and
seventy-three out of three hundred and eighty
1--WE members Of the Massachusetts, Legislature,
in sustaining the dignity and honor of the Com.
monwealth and the course Of her Senator in his
defence of her principles and character on the
floor OF the Senate, be considered as an endorse
ment by the nearly unanimous verdict Of the leg
islature Of Massachusetts, Of the general course
Of her honcred and fayoriie Senator, during his
expiring official term of service.
1t is a-plessing sign of the progress of anti
slavery sentiment during the last few years, TO
notice among the most earnest advocates Of SEN
ator Summers re election, and endorsers of his
course and general sentiments now, those who
were loudest and most active IN opposition to his
first election six years since. As a striking and
honorable instance OF this commendable advance
in public and individual sentiment we quote the
following able article from the Springfield Repa5.
Iican, which, though formerly battling against us
with all its power, is now one of the most potent
champions OF our cause -
. If there is one event which is stamped
more indelibly than all others upon the re-
cords OF the year 1856, it is the outrage per-
petrated in the U. S. Senate Chamber, upon
the person of Charles Summer. When the
astounding intelligence Of this event reached
us, we thought we were indignant-we were
indignant-but our Indignation was so much
based on the cowardliness of the act--as in
hicted by brute upon maR-thet it has al
ready lost degree Of its pungency. But this
great crime is to figure in history and when
its full infamy of meaning shall be thorough
ly comprehended, when the thoughtful reader
shall arrive at the damned page, and calmly,
as he can, summon around him the circum-
stances of the crime and the issues ofthe great
conflict of which it was the oHsprng-then,
aud not till then, will it stand unmarked in all
its hideons deformity. The msls of prejudice
blind us now. The animal instincts are toe
harshly appealed to aud excited to allow calm
ness of judgment. But when these have pass
ed away, with their day, this outrage will
burn as il has never burned before. In all the
future years, Matt Lee will mount his phan-
tom horse and ride to the brink of the sea-
washed precipice, and gaze with inexpressi-
bic horror upon the burning shin-lr'- Ma
and never consi,.-.ssrs--,s---ssss s... cunning
al tke--rST ssumed--uurning and clothing
= he Waves around it in lurid hight unable
to turn his eyes from the scene of the most
hellish of crimes.
Let US recall this crime, and gather now, so
far as we may, something of its magnitude.
Who is Charles Sumner? He is the repre-
sentative in the Senate of the United States of
one Of the oldest, most honorable, and most
intelligent States OF the coniederacy. He is
q scholar-one of the best the country has
produced. He is man munihcently endowed
with intellectual gifts, man of reputation as
high and pure as the highest and purest in the
land, a man glowing with the noblest patriot.
ism, and warm with the klndest humanitics-
an ornament Of the social circle, a pattern in
private life, an orator with hardly peer in the
Senate. gentleman in the highest sense of
that term, man who never sought quarrel,
q man who cannot stoop to entertain the sem
timent Of revenge. This man, in power and
position lifted above all his enemies, sat week
after week, and month after month, in his
chair in the Senate, and heard his cherished
principles condemned, his friends and his
State abused, and himself insulted, without
being swersed hair from his equanimity.
He was badgered in vain. AT last he rose,
and in speech which has made him immor-
tai, rolled back the tide with which his enc
mics sought 10 oyerwhelm him, by facts and
arguments unansyerable, and by the breath
OF such invective, a thousand times provoked,
and just, by the same measure-as shut the
mouths of his persistent maligners, or sent
them impotently cursing, from his presence.
He did right, and there was no ans wer for
him. He acted upon his right, and there was
no call to order. He spoke for Massachusetts,
r I. HI
crowned with the glory of good deed we'll
done.R He had won the need of a worlds
praise. Then, set on by those in whose hands
he had left no hpmaner weapon, the assassin
sought him in the room where his triumph was
won, and smote him down with the bludgeon.
Senate looked co lily on, and saw the muir
derous blows rained down upon him, bleed
ing and senseless and we have all lived to
see that damnable deed endorsed directly and |
by the majority of great nation.
Massachusetts, in her sovereignty, was out
ragged, freedom of debate crushed, the whole
civilized world shocked and yet, strange as
It may appear, the effect has been so ephemer-
oil that the governor of Massachusetts,, in a
long message,-his first communication with
the legislature of the commonwealth after the
great. eyent,--does not even allude to 1t
Since that day, and up to this hour, the man
~ man who dared TO stand up and assert his
manhood, has been Frustrated with sickness,
and the question whether he has not been
murdered for representing the sentiment and
defending the fame of Massachusetts, is yet
undecided; yet his name is too unfamiliar
word to find place in a document profuse
in detail. that has just dropped from the gov
ernor's pen.
But posterity alone can do full justice to
this dead When this 0reat lie hot
freedom aud slavery shall have been decided,
when passion shall have died away, and our
sous and daughters review the re cord, it will
be with shame too sickening for blushing,
with wonder which shall confound, and
with an indignation which only the profound
est sorrow can have power to modify. The
magnitude Of the crime will even hide its per-
petrator. II is 50 mpnstrous that the mind
naturally thinks Of it as fatherless; and. thus
detached from It's foul paternity, and leaving
it to rot in ITS own corruption, the deed will
live on in its own awful Immortality, as a
crime against freedom, against sovereign
state. against liberty Of speech, against man
hood, against humanity, against the age,
against religion, against God
Warrington writes from Boston to the
Springfield Republican singular statement He
saysthat the directors Of bank, in the vicinity
Of Boston, held meeting within six months, and
chose committee OF their number to burn lot
of old and mutilated bills TO the amount of sixty
thousand dollars. Ofcowse the bills were burned
for that was the vote. Yet il is remarkable
that, since the cOnAagration, $4,000 Of the same
Bills haze oeen rsdeesleda at the bank If the 'mys-
terry Of eodlipess is great, does not that Of bank
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