Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-23
Private Letter from the Hon. Charles
OF Mass, on Slavery-Pres-
ident Lincoln and slavery.

The New York Tribune of the 10th publishes
the following private letter of Senator SUMNER:
SENATE CHAMBER, June 5. 1862.
My DEAR SIR: Your criticism of the President
is hasty. | am confident that, if you knew him
as / do, you would not make it.
Of course the President cannot be held re-
sponsible for the misfeasances of subordinates,
unless adopted or tolerated by him. And | am
sure that nothing unjust or ungenerous will be
tolerated, much less adopted 10y him.
| am happy to let you know that he has no
sympathy with Stanley in his absurd wickedness,
closing the schools, nor again in his other act of
turning our camp into a hunting ground for
slaves He repudiates both-positively. The
latter point has occupied much of his thought;
and the newspapers have not gone too far in re-
cording his repeated declarations, which / have
often heard from his own lips, that slaves finding
their way into the national lines are never to be
re enslaved. This is his conviction, expressed
without reserve.
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
acknowledgment 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 whole soul was occupied. especially by the
first proposition, which was peculiarly his own.
In familiar intercourse with him | remember
nothing much more touching than the earnest
ness and completeness with which he embraced this
idea. To his mind it was Just and beneicent,
while it promised the sure end Of slavery. Of
course to me who had already proposed a bridge
of gold for the retreating fiend, it was most vel
come. Proceeding from the President, it must
take its place among the great events Of his
tory.
If you are disposed to be impatient at any
seeming shortcomings, think, | pray you, of
what has been done in a brief period, and
from the past discern the sure promise of the
future. Knowing something of my convic-
tions, and of the ardor with which / maintain
them, YOU may. perhaps. derive some assurance
from my confidence. | say to you, therefore,
stand by the Administration If need be. help
il by word and act, but stand by it and have faith
in it.
| wish that you really knew the President, and
had heard the artless expression of his convic-
tions on these questions which concern you so
deeply. You might, perhaps, wish that he were
less cautious, but you would be grateful that he
is true to all you have at heart. Believe me,
therefore, you are wrong, and l regret it the
more because of my desire to see all our friends
stand firmly together.
i'll write strongly, it is b because l feel strongly;
for my constant and intimate intercourse with the
! President, beginning with the 4th of March, not
only binds me peculiarly to his Administration
but gives me a personal as well as a political in
terest in seeing that justice is done him.
Believe me. my dear sir,
With much regard,
Ever faithfully yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.