The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-02
From the Philadelphia Press. ]
G.--i-- S.......

.l-.--t
We have reason to believe that the news
paper rumor that the Hon. Charles Sumner
intends retiring from the Senate of the Unit
ed States, at the end of his present tenn, has
no tourdation in fact and was certainly un-
authorized by himself Although Mr.. Sum-
ner has been Longer in the Senate than any
of its members, except Mr.. Wade, who enter
ed at the same session, there has been no time
during the sixteen years OF his eventful Con-
gressional experience when his withdrawal
from that body would do more injustice to
his own fame, or be more generally depored
by that great American constituency of
| which he has been the peculiar representative
| since his entrance into public life, than the
period that will close Andrew Johnsons ia
tai Presidency. Mr.. Sumner has lived to see
nearly every one OF the great truths tor which
he has contended, and in the maintainauce OF
which he nearly lost his lille on the floor of
the Senate, recognized by the American peo-
pie ard Incorporated into the American
statute books. And it may justly be said of
him, that he has contributed more to the anti
slavery education of the millions. and to the
Strengthening OF the anti-slavery creed, and
to the final success OF anti-slavery principles
than any of his illustrious predecessors and
cotemporaries Il is true his opportunities
have been great, because Massachusetts, with
aflectionate confidence, has retained him in
singularly adapted to these opportunities.
a fair catalogue of Mr.. Summers labors
would aStonish the world, particularly since
the outbreak of the rebellion. Indeed his
liie has been one long intellectual toll. We
read that when scarcely of age he had editor
ial charge of the American JGriSt, and short
" afterward was elected reporter of the
United States Circuit Court and publish
ed three volumes of reports, which bear his
name; and he was for three years a teacher
in the Cambridge Law School, and simulta-
neously the editor of Dumlap's Treatise on
Admiralty Practice, and all before he had en-
tered upon his twenty eighth year. We read
also that during the years OF 1S44-46 he
produced an edition OF Vesey's Reports in
twenty volumes. His writings and speeches
on philanthropic and literary subjects were
published in two volumes in 1850 From the
period when he entered the Senate on the
4th OF March in 1852, until now, he has been
one of the most persistent and conscientious
workers, not even excepting Thomas III. Ben
ton, that ever sat in a legislative body. While
most OF his time has been given to public du-
ties, no subject has escaped or has been
deemed unworthy OF his attention. Reading
speaking and writing nearly all the modern
languages, he has not been less careful in cul-
tivating the studies OF the ancient poets and
philosophers. Nothing relating to art, science
or literature, in all their infinite varieties, has
been iDdiiferently- regarded. His Congress
ional Efforts, hanging over the whole field OF
human thought and observation, would con-
stitute library of themselves. During all
this long period of exciting service, MIR. sum
ner has kept prominently in view the duty
and the necessity OF removing human sla'ery
from the United States. In more than SIX
teen years there has not been moment IN
which he has forgotten this sacred ana ehieI
obligation. Whether in the Senate or out OF
it he has kept it steadily in view Neither
the attacks OF his enemies nor the DOUBTS OF
his friends have induced MN 10 aoate one Jot
of his earnestness or TO abandon one iOta of
his creed. ....
Mr.. Summer was born in 1911, aud is there
| fore still comparatively n young man, and
vet he has lived long enough, as we have
said, to see all the truths that lie has advocat-
ed, accepted by his country and embodied in
her laws. Much that was denounced as i'm
possible OF realization when he first proclaim
ed 1t, has not only become a part of the law,
but is welcomed 10y hundreds Of thousands of
former assailants as the only remedy for the
cure OF the evils born OF human slavery.
There is something in his record, as wcllas
the fearless and unpausing perseverance with
which he has sustained lis doctrines, that
tnds no parallel either in parliamentary orln
Congressional history. Many man mas
| lived fan beyond the Psalmists age wiIhoul
consummating tithe of the blessings WIZ. mnlo
may be clearly credited TO Charles 9u"lne' 1ner
before he has reached his fifty sevenm hiSaI; Seai
Ii would be- therefore alike oi, Of to ,bs h,%ss 1S
and his country il in the moment o5 % vonn,a ,lJ %
| est fruiton OF bis labors, ne sho"pu 49, -
has fns oved u,sSl So distins uhsed character No
las ',roof of the wisdom and foresight OF his
pet,el pet,elp,'oiin piii could be furnished than his
M Mstatc d =, ,Ie Senate on the 9th and 18th of
Fp,brnary, 1866; and no more remarkable iR-
lance Of the rapid growth OF public opinion
| than that which has taken place since these
| words were uttered. When he spoke these
words, little more than year ago, however
admired by those who read them, they were
accepted more as am individual utterance ana
individual predictions, than as the sure augn,
vet in a Little more than year these views
have become part of the general belief; and
are acquiesced in by millions who in Februa-
nv of 1866 classed them as impossibilities, or
denounced them as absurdities,