Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-27
Senator Sumner.

The reelection Of Charles Sumner as Senator
from Massachusetts,, after eighteen years Of scr
vice, by the almost unanimous vote Of his party,
is an event 50 remarkable as to be deserving of
especial notice-as it is without parallel in the
history of New England, and finds hardly pre-
cedeut in the country. What is it that has kept
him 50 long in his seat and made each of his four
elections more unanimous than the last9 The
trueanswer is furnished by the Springfield RepuJ-
hcaH, aud that constitutes his chief title 30 honor
1t is not for his abilities, that from youth have
been conspicuous nor for his learning, in which
few surpass him, nor for his industry, untiring
and useful-it is because, on the great question
that has divided the country, he carly espoused
and has steadily maintained the cause 10 which
Massachusetts, was devoted. When in 1856
Charles Sumner broke with the wing party, in
which he was trained, he ranged himself with the
growing moral sentiment of the State, and when
that sentiment triumphed, few years later, he
was still in advance Of the victorious party. At
his first reelection in 1857, he was endeared to
his constituents by the outrage from which he
was still suffering in 1863 his supporters felt
that on them rested the fate of the country then
at war with slavery now, at his third reelection
he is looked upon as the pilot who has weathered
the storm, and knows the harbor to which we are
steering Therefore those who might have been
his rivals have all withdrawn from the contest.
and he was chosen Senator yesterday iy vote
virtually unanimous.
Mr.. Sumner has just entered on his fifty
year, having been born January o, 1911. lie
graduated ut Harvard College in 1880, studied
law Mt once, and before ho was twenty-five years
old became prominent among the members of the
Boston bar. An intimate connection with Judge
Story and the Cambridge law school, and the ad-
Vantages of foreign travel under most favorable
kept his mind engaged among the
'peculatons and amenities of his profession rath-
,r than its drudgery and routine, and he soon be-
'ame better known an orator than an advocate
lis peace Grafton in 1916 brought him forward as
philanthropist, and he was soon drawn into the
ortex Of political controversy joining the con-
eience wings in 1915, and the newly formed free
oil party in 1913. He was elected senator in
65l by the famous coalition, and by the mytho- |
ogicai majority. The honor OF throwing
hat vote has since been claimed by several hun |
bred people but at the time many Of the MAORI |
ty looked upon it as doubtful honor For years
he was sighted and scorned in the Senate, shar-
ing with John p. Hale and Ben. Wade the odium
OF being an abolitionist. In May, 1856, he was
nearly murdered in his seat in the Senate by
Preston Brooks, and for some two years his chair
stood empty. Since the breaking out of the re-
bellion he has been the most prominent figure in
the Senate chamber, and has had his full share
in shaping the terms of reconstruction lie now
goes back to his place, certain of the confidence
and affection of the people of Massachusetts, and
acknowledged their hest representative in the
national council