New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-16
CHARLES SUMMER.


Massachusetts yesterday for the third time
elected Charles Sumner to the United States
Senate. Twelve years ago he was first chosen
by a coalition of Free-SOilers and Democrats,
which triumphed. after protracted contest IN
the Legislature, by a majority of one. Al
though Mr.. Sumner had no share whatever in
the arrangement by which his election was
effected. he was yehemen'ly ard bitterly as
sailed by the defeated Wings, and became
from that time the object of q personal hos.
tility which TO this day has abaied nothing of
its yirulcnce. During the whole of the term
for which he was then chosen, he was uLre-
mittngly pursued with the accusation that he
owed his seat to bargain, and did not rep
resent majority Of the voters Of the State
Six years later be was returned to the Sem
ate by an amort unanimous vote OF the Leg
islature, but inasmuch os the election occurred
not long after the bloody assault upon him BY
Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina, his enc
mics persisted in the cry that he was not the
choice of the sober judgment of Massachusetts;
that his majority, though now zoo large for di-
pute, was due 10 sympathy with his suferings
rather than TO agreement with his convictions.
But the election which was formally com
pleted Yesterday, was really contested and se.-
tied last November, and this time IN such n
way that tue most disingenu0us opponent Of
Mr.. Sumner can no longer deny that the people
had an opportunity to declare their opinions
without prejudice or passion. Tho Republican
State Convention in September, beside nom
mating tho usual candidates for State Offices
took the unprecedented course Of announcing
SIR. Sumner by resolution their candidate
for Senator. 1t was deemed an unwse step
by political managers. because it at once ena.
bled the enemies of Mr.. Sumner to organize
party on the basis of personal and political
hostility to him. and to enter actively upon
contest from which they might otherwise
have retired without On effort. Such n
party was marshaled drew to itself
the various disafected elements OF the Republi-
can organizations summoned from their graves
the forgotten remains Of departed Whgs;
united the Democrats under its banner; and
took the field to defeat Mr. Sumner. Ii con-
Quoted tho contest with unusual yigor and OBJ
stinacy A large vote was called out against
Gov. Andrew, but il did not elect to the
Legislature decent minority of Mr.. Summers
opponents. BY vote Of nearly SIX to one
Massachusetts again declares her confidence in
her long-tried Senator; and, on an issue defined
with unmistakabe cearness, for the third time
returns him to his seat.
The contrast between his present position
and that which he held on first entering the
Senate is instructive. Then, All arrogant
Democratic majority with unequalcd cllrontery
declared him outside Of any healthy political
organization, excluded him from the Com
nlittecs, denied him parliamentary courtesles,
and withheld the common civlltles OF social
intercourse and acquaintance. There were
hardly three or four Senators in Congress who
were in any degree identified with bis opinions.
He declared them none the lees boldly. and his
speeches for the repcnl of tho Fugitive Slave
act, on the Nebraska bill, ard on the crimes
against Kansas, finally exasperated the slave,
holding ohgaIchy INTO personal Violence ana
for words spoken in orderly debate he was
brutaIy assaulted on tho floor of the Senate,
and seriously Injured. This Outrage, and the
enthusiastic approval with which it was re-
ceiycd throughout the South, were largely in
strumental in rousing tho North to right
estimate Of the system and the political power
which sought such means Of defense.
To-day Mr.. Sumner is, by his position as
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
leader of his party in the Senate, and that
party is in possession of the Government aud u
majority in Congress. The men who de-
nounced him as untrue to the Constitution are
in open Rebellion and armed resistance to Con-
stitutional authority, while the Government ia
forced to adopt for its preservation the
principles Of which ha vas an early