The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-30


In politics, Mr.. Surge was the friend and
coadjutor of Golden, Bright, and their asso-
cates, whose general policy he approved,
though he did not servilely follow any leader
He went for universal suffrage, limiting it, how
ever as believe, to those who could read and
write, and opposing all property qualifications
in electors. Though loyal subject, he was
democratic in all his views, hating shams of
every sort in politics or religion, and striving to
rid his countrymen of all incubuses of church
or state, of mammon or religion, that weighed
down any portion of the people, especially the
deserving poor.
He carried his peace principles to the extent
of believing in the inviolability of human life,
and opposing the employment of all armed
force. At time when Government was ma
king strong efforts to enlist the young men of
the country to supply the wasted ranks of the
army in India, a recruiting officer was sent to
Birmingham who daily paraded the streets
with his command and band of music while
a show-bill was displayed on the walls of the
town, Offering ten pounds sterling bounty and
good wages to all able bodied young men who
were disposed to enter into her Majesty's ser
vice, &c. Soon after, the walls were plentlfuly
adorned with another shOw-bill Of a similar
size and type, to the following effect: "Want
ed-5,000 abe-bodied young men to enlist for
India, to be shot at for sixpence day!" The
people stared laughed, and went on their way,
while the lieutenant with his men, returned to
London without single recruit Joseph
Surge was much suspected of having some
thing to do with this reasonable act.
His incessant labors and strong sympathies
evidently impaired his health. During the last
years of his life, he occasionally intimated his
consciousness of this in his correspondence,
n: al hot
est IN all affairs affecting the morals or happi
ness of his felow-men. In a characteristic
letter, dated December "a 1858, he said:
" a succession of engagements, including at
tending the funerals of departed friends, have
prevented my acknowledging thy kind note be-
fore. am obliged by thy "reminiscences Of
our dear friend Judge Jay. Since / wrote thee
last, death has been unusually busy amongst
my friends and acquaintance, and | believe,
with the exception of two or three, all my
juniors. Among them niece, the widow of
my brother Henry, and the widow of a first
cousin; and vet | fear | do not sufficiently
realize how soon l must follow. Thou would
perhaps see by the newspapers that John Bright
was my guest while here, when he made his
two famous speeches, one on Parliamentary re-
form, and the other on our foreign policy. He
appears completely restored to health and vigor,
and trust God will spare him and guide him
on the right hand and on the left, both spiritu-
ally and physically, and make him an agent Of
great usefulness in His hands. To show the
position he now holds in this country, thou
must know that there were about forty reporters
each day taking down his speeches two papers
had the whole sent them by electric telegraph,
and two others lone Of them the Tines had
special train TO London, and the next day the
speech would be read by millions. believe
the moral effect was very powerful. So tickle
is public opinion, for this man was burnt i'll eff
fgy by the rabble during the Russian war, at
Manchester, and afterwards rejected by ma
iority of the electors, while the week before last
he was received in that city by Of the largest
and most influential meetings ever assembled
there, with almost unbounded applause. Bat
| wish, with our friend John G. hitler, that
when alluding to the United States, he would
speak out a little more decidedly against the
dead fly in the ointment Of your Republican
ism-Slavery. News has arrived
from China, that our people have succeeded in
forcing the Chinese to admit opium at duty
1t would be difficult to conceive anything more
diabolical than the doings of our late Govern
ment land the present, l fear, will not keep
clear of it, in the whole of this business"
In letter dated March % 1859, he said
1t seems long since / had the pleasure of
hearing from thee, but hope thou art in good
health, though like me (who am much thy
junior thou probably feels the advance of age.
/ find a great difference, both mentally AID
physically, the last twelve months... | will
thank thee to forward the enclosed to Richard
Golden. Thou wilt see by the Anti-
Sldr9y Reporter that we seem likely to have
the slave trade and slavery continued, under
the name of Coolie emigration and local APP
premiership acts. | feel glad to be excused
by age from the political agitations which are
going forward; but my friend, John Bright,
does not go far enough for me he should,
think, have demanded manhood suffrage. AT
fectionately thy friend, JOSEPH SURGE
In letter from Mr.. Edmund Surge, the
youngest brother, written three days after the
death of Mr.. Surge, he says:
For three or four months past, my brother
has exhibited the premonitOry symptoms Of
heart disease. These symptoms increased so
much during the last few weeks, as to prevent
his taking walking exercise, and Oblige him to
ride for even short distances. He has lately
been evidently exercising daily preparation
for the solemn change and | deem it probable
that his late correspondence with thyself may
have indicated his expectation of a short con.
tinuance here. Still we fondly hoped, from
the uncertain progress of such eases, his life
might at least be spared to US a few years
longer little thinking, said Of the
prophet, knowest thou not that the Lord will
take thy master from thy head today?' that
his translation was so near.
:" At ten o'clock Friday evening, May l3, we
were conveTsing with him at his house, when he
appeared in better health than of late. At
half past six next morning, was summoned
to see him when the fatal paroxysm was strong
upon him. he was then unable to speak, and
IN few minutes it was over, and the victory
won. How can describe the void that is left
We claim thy sympathy and prayers that we
faint not Hnder this affection, nor fail to profit
by it."
The London Times, speaking of the sudden
and unexpected death of Mr. Surge, states
that che had risen at his usual early hour.
and his voice was heard, cheerfully calling his
children to DIN him in riding out before break
fast, in accordance with their ordinary practice
III fine weather. On returning to his chamber.
be complained of sudden severe pain in the re-
gon Of the heart, which lasted about twenty
minutes, when it appeared to abate but his
strength was utterly Frustrated, and at about a
quarter past seven o'clock he breathed his last"
The Birmingham journals add, that his char
ity, the perfect simplicity of his character, his
high honor, his sterling honesty in every rela
ton Of public and private life, and his toler-
ance OF others opinions, were such, that it
would be difficult to say whether he was more
respected by his opponents or his friends.
Mr.. Surge was great man, because he was
good man. He had rare personal advanta-
ges, and happy combination of excellences.
Nature and grace had combined to give the
world, in him, assurance of man In the
language Of the poet Whittier, with reference
to him
"Unesrned, unknown TO letered fame
Yet on the lips of England poor
md min mi Inns due il !