St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-06-26
NO. As.
Senator Sumner on President
Lincoln.

The following is private letter written
by Hon. Charles Sumner in reply to
letter written by personal friend. It ap-
pears in the Boston Journal:
SENATE CHAMBER, June s. 1862.
MY DEAR SIR: Your criticism of the
President. is hasty. I am confident that,
if you knew him as do, you would not
make it.
OF course the President cannot be held
responsible for the misfeasances of subor-
dinates, unless adopted or tolerated, by
him. And [ am sure that nothing unjust
or ungenerous will be tolerated, much less
adopted by him.
l am happy to let you kaow that he has
no sympathy with Stanley in his absurd
wlckedness, closing the schools, nor again
in his other act Of turning our camps in
to hunting ground for slaves. He repu-
dates both-positively. The latter point
has occupied much Of his thought, and
the newspapers have not gone too far in
recording his repeated declarations, which
I have often heard from his own lips, that
slaves finding their way within the nation
al lines are never to be re-enslaved. This
is his conviction, expressed without re-
| serve.
Could you have seen the President-as
it was my privilege often-while he was
considering the great questions on which
he has already acted-the invitation to
emancipation in the States, emancipation
in the District of Columbia, and the ac-
knowledgment of the independence Of
Hayti and Liberia, even your zeal would
have been satisfied, for you would have
felt the sincerity of his purpose to do what
he could to carry forward the principles of
the Declaration of Independence. His
soul was occupied, especially by the first
proposition, which was peculiarly his OVID.
In familiar intercourse with him, remem
Der nothing more touching than the earn
estness and completeness with which he
embraced this idea. To his mind it was
/ just and bene6cent, while it promised The
: sure end Of slavery. OF course, to me, who
had already proposed a Bridge Of Gold for
:, the retreating fend, it was most welcome.
, Proceeding from the President, it must
take its place among the great events Of
= history.
If you are disposed to be impatient at
any seeming shortcomings, think, I pray
: you, of what has been done in brief peri
cd, and from the past discern the sure
r promise Of the future. Knowing some
[ thing of my convictions and Of the ardor
with which I maintain them, you may,
perhaps, derive some assurance from my
! confidence. I say to you, therefore, stand
y by the administration. If need be, help
: it by word and act, but stand by it and
, have faith in it.
Y I wish that you really knew the Presi-
s dent, and had heard the artless expression
: of his convictions on those questions which
}, concern you so deeply. You might, per-
r haps, wish that he were less cautious, but
! you would be grateful that he is SO true
: to all that you have at heart. Believe me
0 therefore, you are wrong, and I regret 1t
/ the more because Of my desire to Sc all
: our friends stand firm together.
:, If write strongly, it is because feel
G strongly, for my constant and intimate in
G tercourse with the President, beginning
$ with the 4th of March, not only binds me
J, peculiarly to his Administration, but gives
!. mo personal as we'll as i political inter
IS est in seeing that justice is done him.
~ Believe me, my dear sir, with much regard
It ''S' CHARLES SUMNER.
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