The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-21
The Rebuke Of Sena tor Sumner.

From the Springfield (Mass) Republican.
The old divines used to beabor esprit.
ual pride" as one of the besettiDg sins of
the uncorighteous." This style Of pride
does not necessarily involve any superiority
in virtue, but only the notion OF the man
himself that he is the peculiar and especial
saint of his age and generation. those
who have read the Congressional debates
must have noticed how from day to day
Senator Sumner, of this State, has assumed
more and more the air and tone of supreme
monitor and judge of his associates, and
more especially of the other Republican
members. Arrogance is mild word to
express the airs he has tsken on, and the
patience with which the members have subs
mitted to his assumptions has been most
remarkable. Undoubtedly the considera-
ton yielded to Mr.. Sumner as the semi
martyr of the party in the Senate chamber
has had something to do in producing
this forbearance under insolent attacks
that would have provoked quick and
sharp replies if they had come from any
other quarter. But in the debate on the
case of Senator Starke, of Oregon, on Fri.
day, the last ounce of superciliousness was
laid on, and it broke the back Of the Sena-
toral camel. Senator Fessenden, of Maine,
aud Senator Browning, Of Illinois, were
aggravated into reply. and Senator Sumner
seems to have been completely taken aback
with establishment, to find that any Repub~
lican Senator should object to his ethical
supremacy, or consider it even annoying to
be told that be did not dare take the respon-
sibility of aiding to purge the Senate of
treason. The establishment of Mr.. Sumner
was msnifestly genuine. Some
time ago we gave offence to some of Mr..
Summers admirers by intimatiug that we
could not praise the style of his statesman
ship, and that we doubted whether he had
enough of that quality to be characterized
by it. His course iD the Senate since the
present rebellion commenced has not been
calculated to add to the popular estima.
ton of his craftsmanship. Nothing has
been proposed in Congress more iDops
perfume, more directly calculated to
give moral strength and coherency to the
rebellion, and to prolong the struggle
against the Government, than his elaborate
plan for the reduction of the Southern
States to territorial condition. If it does
little mischief, it is only because it gets lit.
tie attention. Events have already demon.
strated its utter futurity. Learn
ing is not always united with practical wis.
dom rhetoric does not necessarily involve
craftsmanship and something more than
"sacred animosity" is needed as a guide
through the difficulties and dangers of these
troubIous times. The replies of
Mr.. Fessenden and Mr.. Browning are all
the more significant and effective for the ev-
ident restraint and forbearance they i'm.
posed upon themselves. 1t is manifest that
they felt vastly more than they said, and it
is to be hoped that MIR. Sumner will show
himself capable of approaching the lesson
be received, and henceforth come down from
his lofty pedestal, stand among his fellow
Senators as an equal, and forbear to insult
them either with condescepsion or AFRO.
gance.