The Portland daily press., 1869-09-23

Speech of senator summer at the Erassa-
chusetts Republican state Convenfioa.
Mr.. Sumner in his speech delivered yeser-
day upon taking the chair presiding officer
Of tho Convention at Worcester, entirely ig-
nored local issues. His discussion of national
politics was able and instructive, as usual.
He took the ground that now, as two years
ago, two classes of our people are in danger,
the freedman and the national creditor. He
reiterated his oft expressed opinion that all
difficulty about the ratification of the fifteenth
amendment might have been obviated, if Con-
gress had simply exercised the power with
which it is invested by the constitution and
regulated suffrage by law. He regretted the
alleged unsatisfactory condition of the South,
and said some things that may perhaps be con-
strued as intended to crticise the administra-
ton, though in form everything is courteous q
On the various phases of the reputation
heresy Senator Summers remarks were worthy
of an enlightened, Christian statesman. To
Mr.. Pcndeton and his associates, who present
for the endorsement of the people reputation
under the various guises of payment in green
backs, taxation of bonds, and sequestration of
interest, he administers most scathing re.
Dukes. The spirit of his remarks on this point
is indicated by the following extract:
A party which repudaes the fundamental
principles of the Declaration ofIndependence-
which repudiates equality before the law
which repudiates the self evident truth that
government is founded only on the consent of
the governed, which repudiates what is most
precious and good in Onr history, and whose
chiefs are now engaged in cunning assault
upon the national creditor---is party of repu-
dlatlOu. This Ig Its inst deSiOnati0p a DAM
ocrat is a repudiator. The reputation gospel
according to Mr.. Pendletou, is now preached
in Ohio; and nothing is more certain than that
the triumph of the Democracy in our country
would be a blow not only ut the national free
dom, but also at the nat onal creditor. There
would be reputation for each.
Mr. Summers speech was looked for with
anxiety chiefly because it was supposed that
he would make some statements in regard to
our foreign relations which, especially as he is
chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
relations, would be very important. The
speaker did not, however, enter at great length
upon the discussion of foreign affairs, and we
are obliged to content ourselves this morning
with the brief resume published in the Boston
Journal:
In turning to foreign matters Mr.. Sumner
speaks with the elaboration and prudence
which is to be expected from the chairman OF
the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, al
though his utterance is marked by the same
sincerity and frankness which characterized
his discussion of domestic TOPICS With the
kindest regard for Spain as a nation, he vet
believes that the time has about come for with
drawing her claims to govern Cuba. On the
other hand, he does not see that the Cuban in
eurgents have yet established any right to re-
cognition of their beligerency; and moreover,
he is not fully convinced that they have
abolished slavery. Passing to England, Mr..
Sumner briefly refers to some of the complaints
there made of his memorable speech, and rein
forces the tenor of his argument therein He
rejects the idea of considering Canada as a
possible compensation of the Alabama DANA
ges, although he is strong in the faith that that
country is yet to form a part of ours, "nor
shall we, he says, "wsit long for its mighty
fulfllment." He closes with stirring vision
of the. great Republic thus constituted, the
hope of which is INDUCED in by every true |
American citizen, and to the realization of |
which, let us say Mr. Sumner has done his |