Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-07-12

freedom across the line, and in his arden
espousal of the newer and purer code fo
his native State, ranks with the most pro
gressive Senators Of his time. He lacks tn,
close acquaintance with constitutional lav
possessed by his colleague, but also the mar
row and literal humanity derived from too
great reverence for charter and the au
thorities upon it. He is aware, as Mr.
johnson is not, Of the dawn of better dis
pensation, wherein we legislate for civiliza
ton and not for compromises nor circum
stances, and with all the hopefulness ofa gen
erous nature would see Maryland wheel int
the column of States emancipated, not only
in her serfs, but in her prejudices, hel
methods, and her industries. In affability
these Senators are equal, both being respect
ed and popular with their adversaries on
the floor but johnson belongs essentially
to the class Of jurists, and Creswell to that
of legislators. We look to one for criticism
and Interpretation, to the second for the
| perception and recognition of those lste1
and largest social phenomena which are & I.
regarded by those nations only which have
ceased to grow. Creswell is the iDheritor
of all the eympathies and much Of the pow
er of Henry Winter Davis, his political tutor
and brother, and his eulogy upon the dead
man was one of the most touching and clas-
sical obituaries Of our history:
For the Christian, scholar, statesman
and orator all good men are mourners; but
what shall say of that grief which none
can share-the grief Of sincere friendship Z
"Oh, my friend comforted by the belief
that you, while living, deemed me worthy
to be your coinpanion, and loaded me with
the proofs of your esteem, shall fondly
treasure, during my remaining years, the
recollection of your smile and counsel Lost
to me is the strong arm. whereon have so
often leaned but in that path which in
time past we trod most joyfully together, L
shall continue, as God shall give me to see
my duty, with unfaltering though, perhaps
with unskillfui steps, right onward to the
end.
The eye Of the stranger will insensibly
wander to large and rounded figure. stand
ing in the open space to the left, behind his
chair, which is on the furthest row removed
from the Speaker. He it was whose patient
and elegant scholarship made him the clas-
steal orator of freedom, and whom she chose
as her elect to shed his blood on the Senate
floor, that he might have the sympathies of
mankind.
Of Charles Sumner thero is no better
picture extant than this, in De Cormenin's
sketch of st. J lust, the great French orator
of the Revolution:
"a Republican by conviction, austere by
temperament, disinterested by character.
" His capacity was not beneath
his situation. A gloomy fire beamed in his
looks. He had melancholy expression Of
countenance, certain inclination Tor soli-
tude, delivery slow and solemn, q soul of
iron intrepidity. O determined will, an object
ever fixed and distinct before his eyes He
elaborated his reports with studied dog.
matism. He seasoned them with scraps of
metaphysics taken from Hobbies and Rous-
seau, and to the violent and expeditions re-
alities of his revolutionary practice he 5oin-
ed social philosophy compounded OF hu-
manitarian imaginations and fowery rever-
les. "
From Mr.. Sutton, the Head of the Con-
gressional Photographers, | have had
most interesting revival OF the scene OF the
famous Brooks assault.
With his legs beneath his desk, his chair
nailed to the Heer, so that he could, move
neither forward nor backward, the pale Sen
ator sat writing; the steslthy assassin, came
to the front of the desk, cane in hand, and
leaned forward with his feet firmly planted:
"Are you Mr.. SUMNER" II am" "Then
WlCn ulS tClt hC EioopOu
the Senator's throat and pulled him forward.
His knees beneath the desk pinned him
down like vice. The black whalebone cut
into the scalp fast and deep, drawing blood
till it poured over fore read, and eyes, and
white linen, and a last the rod splinteredip
it's TERRIBLE missio1. Then, with a great
involuntary groan, the large mans writhing
strength burst the screws Of the desk, it fell
with shock, and Charles Sumner, flung
forward. glared moment helplessly around
him at the crowd Of paralyzed or unsympa.
thizing witnesses, aud then, With sort Of
gurgliDg cry, tumbled all headlong and
heapsd upon the floor.
For minutes net q man stopped to lift
him; the wounds exuded fast and black, and
the people, 10 a circle, looked curiously on,
as at q batchering or a hanging, while
Brooks, unscathei and with free and lofty
step, passed away into the marble corridors.
Who can read this scene, in the light of
the great blazing war since fought to the
wreck of the bloody interest that stained the
holiness OF the Senate, without associating
with Charles Summers gashes the frequent
bayenet at the throat Of the Rebel soldier.
History bearing out its memorial text
His blood be upon us and our children"
Since that day the record will tell how this
pale, feeble man, silent upon his individual
wrong, resolved in his own words, to call
his assassin Slavery" and "God helping
himl to pursue the bloody monster to his
denP' He rang this cry with the perti-
nacity Of Cato's Carthage est delende."
and not even the women, working their hair
into bowstriDgs, retarded its desperate over.
throw. There is no character in the Capitol
so alone, and calm, and high, as this Sena-
tor. He is bachelor; he wears much OF
the time an absent poets look, past things
into space. In personnel he is the beau
ideal Of Republican Senator, in habits
a perfect alumnus of New England.
His colleague, Mr.. Wilson-the most
popular man in Massachusetts, in his associa-
tions, is the antipodes of Mr., Sumner in
temperament; stout, forid, farmer like
gentleman, not strong nor smooth in debate,
but imbued with the progressive independ-
ence Of his commonwealth, and full Of hard
sense" and devotion to public duty. He
has probably the most genial face in the
Senate. Aag fL a l.
There is one figure in the Senate, in the
middle row to the right, almost beyish,
with straight black careless hair, garbed in
civil gray, and wearing glasses. He is just
within the prescribed extreme youth of a
Senator, and his services, wealth, promise,