The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-05-05
Senator Sumner on Ensland's
Crime.

last In tho caac Of Senator Sumner
Tho man who has been 40 long stigma
tizcd as m impractical, visionary radi-
cal, with no element OF true or snto
ststcsmaushlp IN his composition, Is at
last endorsed by tho whole country as
having marked out tho true course for
the nation to pursue on one Of the
most delicate and perilous questions
hich has ever arisen between two Of
tho powerful natious ofthc earth. Mr..
Summers lifelong political enemies,
with promptncss which does lnhnitc
honor to their patriotic disccrnment,
have freely confessed the consummate
learning and judgment his speech has
exhibited.
Mr.. Sumner has not suddenly ac-
quircd this confidence which hns found
expression on the occasion Of bis, re-
cen, speech on the Alabama question.
He has always thought independently
on all questions, aud has dared to-
spoak rs he thought. fIo has not asked
what other men considered to be true,
but has pressed his way fearlessly 10
inquire after the truth for himself lie
has been bold enough to DC honest. and
honest enough to be bold. Hence, on
all questions discussed during the long
and arduous struggle with the slave
power, he has been so far ahead Of
mos; other public men that he has been
| made TO bear an odium which hc did
not deserve. But in all his course his
integrity has not departed from him.
When his county was wrong, he was
the forcm nst to cutter accusation against
her in the name OF justice and outraged
Humanity. Now when she has II ust
controversy with one Of the most
wealthy and most powerful nations of
the earth. he takes up the quarrel for
his country with the calm courage Of
one who knows his country's rights,
! and dareS to maintain them to the ut
termoSt.
! When Mr.. Sumner made the terrible
arraiSnment OF slavery. for which he
WAS stricken down by the hand Of n
would-bc assassin, 4 northern Senator.
! anxious to show n super-Scrviccnbie
; zeal on behalf OF slavery. charac teriZcd
his effort, as the "moSt anti, American
speech ever made in the United States
Senate Without batting single
find him complimcntcd. rs he enters on
his fourth Senatorial term. us making
IN American spcech-morc truly and
thoroughly American than any other
statesman had the learning or powor tn
make. on the most delicate and peril
ouS question arising in modern years
between any of the great Powers Of
the Earth.
When an ill-informcd and inconsid-
crate public impulse would have im-
pclicd our government to refuse the
release of Mason md Slidrll on the
demand OF Great Britain, Mr.. Sumner,
knowing the law OF nations. and the
peril Of such resistance. boldly breast
cd tho popular current and indicated
the necessity Of complying with the
eXaction OF that trcachcrous power.
Now, when cOwartlIy conservatism,
acting through an imbccilc diplomatic
agent, seeks TO barter away the rights
OF our country in the most stupcnd0us
controversy Of the age, we lind the
same intrepid and intelligent states
man Mt hand 10 save the nations I'm
pcrilcd honor. And what is most sat
isfactory fall, II that men ofall par
ties agrcc in awarding tho highest com.
plimcnts to the hero, who many times
before rs fully deserved without re.
ceiving them.
In the recent arraiSnment Of Great
Britain for her treatment Of this Re-
public during the war, there is on the
one hand no cowardly waivinS OF our
just claims 10 avoid war, nor Oh the
other, any dcmaSogical attempt to in
kAucnce the passions Of either people
so as to aggravatc the controversy or
prccipitate conflict. lie avoids harsh
or even careless speech. His words
are those Of truth, candor and sober
ness. They como from one who loves
pcace, but who is not afraid to fight
when Justice and right compel. And
in this Mr. Charles Sumner is Il repre-
sentative American. We have had
enough Of war. We arc even nick Of
blood and devastation. We never
want to see the crimson dowor OF bnt-
tle bloom. nor to hear the trumpet
blast calling our youth 10 arms. We
seek tho things which make for peace.
But we arc in no mood to submit to
tho aggrcsslons, insults and imposi-
tions OF the most trcachcrous and su-
pcrcilious government we have 10
deal with. The future peace Of the
world-tha rights Of tho weaker ma
tions Of the earth, demand that the
United States should not quail before
this greatest bully, brsggart and mis-
chief maker among tho nations. There
arc evils greater than war, and 10 avert
these it may be our duty to draw the
sword.
This Senatorial utteranceis the most
important political paper Of this era-
More influential and commanding in
its effect than any message or missivo
of Kings or Presidents. In the light
It. sheds OH tho mind Of two nations
vii! their future negotiations DC con-
Quoted. It IL just what tho necessity
Of tho hour demands, and we walt the
Issue, believing that our governmen.
Win demand nothing but " hat Is right,
and subnlitto nothing TINT Is wrong
Blade. iy.-
,THE eyes OF tho nation have fol-
lowed Andrew johnson in his jour
neyiugs from the mountains Of East
~, os.aa IN The votera Of the Mis9tg.