The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-05-31
Letter OF hon. Charles Summer n
his Constituents.

Letter Of Hon. Charles sumner 70
hIs Constituents.
To the People Of chusetfs:-Two
years have now passed since, while in the en-
joyment Of perfect health, was suddenly
made an invalid. Throughout this protrsct-
ed period, api1nk various yicssitudes Of de-
bility, i % TO be resainins the health
80 bad bed from me, until was en-.
aged to . myself on the verge
put injuries ~ grave as those originally
received BY - are not readily repaired, and
recent re1Aree painfully admonishes me
that, although enjoying many Of the condi-
M44f prosperous convalescence, am not
be1 she necessity Of caution. This has
noOnflrmed BY tho physicians in Boston
and Philadelphia, most familiar with nv
case, who, in concurrenoDN9h counsels pre-
viously given by medisxf authorities in Eu-
rope, have enjoined travel - best calculated
~ promote my restoration. Anxious to spare
- effort for this end, SO long deferred, I to-
81 sail for France.
70 the generous people of Massachusetts,,
do have honored me with an important
trust, and cheered me by so much sympathy,
wish to express the thanks which now pal
plate in my bosom, while say to them col
lectiyely, as would say to friend, Fare.
we'll.
But these vale lictory words would be i'm
perfect, il did not seize this occasion to de-
clare what have often said less publicly,
that, had | originally foreseen the duration
of my disability, should at once have re.
signed my seat in the Senate, making way
In INT for hav
the present advantages Of health. did not
DO so, because, like other invalids, lived in
the belief that was soon to be we'll, and
was reluctant to renounce the opportunity Of
again exposing the hideous barbarism Of
Slavery, now more than ever transfused into
the National Government, injecting it's whole
policy and degrading its whole character.
Besides, was often encouraged to feel that
to every sincere lover of civilization my va.
cant chair was perpetual speech.
CHARLES SUMNER.
Ok Board STEAxER VANDERBILT,
Nrw YORK ilAkBoR, May %, 1858
Letter from Francis =. Blatr, IF.
The Tribune contains letter of three coll
umns from Francis p. Blair, Jr., in reply to
to W. Carey Jones' statement touching the
dying opinions of Thomas Ii. Benton.
Nh Blair, regarding his former account OF
his intsrview with Mr.. Benton, while the lat
ter was on his death bed maintains the truth.
funess OF his version Of the language then
uttered by Mr.. Benton, concerning Mr.. Blu.
chauan.
tie then proceeds to show from recorded
evidence in Col. Benton's own hand writing,
that he was opposed to Mr.. Buchanan and
his administration, and was opposed to the
settlement Of the territorial question relating
10 slavery in the mode proposed by Mr.. Blu.
chanan, but on the contrary, resolved on the
agitation Of the subject until the opinion of
the Supreme Court, opening all the terri
tories to the introduction Of slaves, were rem
dcrad abortive by the action Of Congress, in
the maintainsnce Of the political rights OF the
people; that he was opposed to Mr.. Buchan-
an not merely on the score Of his pending
measures but because he had recently given
IN ms adhesion to principles adverse to Gen.
Jacason's cardinal doctrine in reference to
the independence OF the legislative and ex-
eentige department on political decisions Of
the supreme Court, and because he believed
hlm anti-Demooratic at heart.
la proof or these positions, Mr.. Blair pub
hshes IN full a series Of resolutions, together
with Il preamble and proviso which Mr..
Benton gave to Francis p. Blair, Jr., to sub
nit to the Republican members of Congress.
The resolutions refer to the Dred Scott deci
sion as extra judicial, illegal and void, and
also in ierogation Of the.powsrs Of Congress
to leglslate for the Territories, and that con-
sequentiy it had become the duty Of Congress
to vindicate its rights by asserting its full
authority to legislate upon slavery in the
Territories, and to declare its total disregard
OF that decision. The preamble was intend
ed By Col. Benton to be affixed TO the act for
the organization of Arizona. 1t refers to
the fact that, by virtue Of the laws OF Mexi-
co, that Territory is now free from slavery,
and provides that, notwithstanding the bred
Scott decision, it should remain so.
Mr.. Blair also refers to paper given by
Mr.. Benton to Col. Fremont at their last in
tervlew in which he sets forth his reasons for
abandoning Mr. Buchanan, and also for re.
verslng his opinion with regard to Col. Free
mont.