The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-06-17
scuator sumner In Defence of President
LINGO

The following letter is published by the Dos
ton JouRsAI, and is peculiarly interesting, MS
Mr. SUMMER is known to represent, very closely,
the views VI tho Administration
sESArx CnAxnrr June 3, 1859.
MY DEAn SIR Your criticism of the President Is
hsssy. am eonhient that, II you knew him ~
d., you would not make IL.
OF course, the President canno, be held RESPONSE
Die for the rnIs'' sssneos Of sui ordnates unless
Mai nothing unjust or unsenerOus WILDE tolerated
much less adopted, by him.
lam happy 10 let you know that lie has no gym
pathy with stuly in his absurd wicketiness closing
tho schools, nor again Ia hs other net OF ruin our
camp int hunting ground tor slaves. He r"ruii.
stes both-positvey. The latter point has occupied
much OF his thought and the newspapers have not
gone too far la recording his repeated decarst
which l have o't,u heard fr,,ln his own lips, that
slaves hnding their way INTO the National Lines ale
never t. lie re-tnsls,ed. This 10 his conviction,
ex pressed without reserve.
Could you have seen the President 1t was my
privilege oftrn--~hii. he WAS considering the great
questions on which lie has already act.d-the iu-
vltatun 10 Emancipation ia the states, Emsncipa-
ton In the Distinct 81 Columbia, sni the acknoW 10
edgemeit of the independence Of Ii'St aud LiIt-
ria--eyen your zeal would have bceI srtl fed for
You would LaNl iet the sincerity of his purpose T.
ito what he could To carry forward the rrucip.es of
te Declaration If Independence. lis whole soul
was occupied, especially by tho hr-t propv,itiol,
which was peculiarly lis own. IL familiar iu ~
cour3c with him, rvmtuler nothing more touch
tuf thau The Ch fucstutSs and COM 'cicupNi With
whion lie emu H|,nd tbs idea. To lis mind, Il VS.
~, 1ii len, emit while i promised tho sure end
e s.dNcty. OF course, t. me, who hsd alrcajy
proposed Brid,'c Of Gold for the retrcutng fcnd,
- 'o' most wei omc. Proceeding from the Pr,ai-
: Il must take It's place among the great event,
stony.
.yoI are disposed to he lmpst,nt At any seem
a. slpitcomhlgs, uhk, pray you, Of what has
l"'n d lnc "A bti"f period, and from tie past =
Germ t.rruc promise of tho future. knowing
h.nttul col lnY CONVICTION. and ct the eriur III.
wA!,h 'n.iuttin them, You may, perhaps, derive
some Assurance from my confidence. ] say 70 YOU
therefore STAND uv the Administration ~ need
be, help 1t ty word and act, but stand by 81 and
have faith In 1t.
wish thai you really knew the President, and
had heard the Hrtless expression Of his CONVICTIONS
on those questions which concern you deeply.
You might, PERM ps, wish thH, he lchs c.u-
tous, but you would he grateful that lac is 10 true
O. all that you have at heart Believe me, there
fore, You are wrong, and regret it the more be-
cause OF my desire ~ see al friends stand firm
ly together.
II write strongly, II In because feel strongly;
for my constant and intimate intercourse vita the
presilrut beginning with the 4,h OF M.rch, not
only binds peculiarly 10 his Administration, but
gives no personal ~ well 80 political interest
in seeing that lustic, - done him
CHARLES INNER