New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-26
eal BEECHER ON SUMNER.
A Poor Leader and Verse Follower.

The Senate of the United States have de-
cided that the public good required that
another man should take Mr.. Summers
place rs Chairman Of the Committee ON
Foreign Relations. We presume this step
was taken on purely administrative grounds.
Il was believed that at q critical period in
the negotiations of affairs important to a de-
gree seldom surpassed in the lifetime Of a
nation, the administration and the country
could be better served by another man,
who, though he would not surpass Mr.. Sum-
ner in noble integrity, nor approach him in
learning, might have the capacity of being
better counselor, and a temper which
should not offend the self.respect of those
who were obliged to maintain confidential
relations with him. gs4a3... ..l
Had Mr.. Sumner been turned out Of his
position on account of his lifelong advocacy
of liberty, or on account of his fidelity to
great national interests, or because he hon
estly held views of policy differing from
those of the President, or because he boldly
stood up for the independence and dignity
Of the Senate against the Vaccinations of
seductive and scheming executive, every
impartial man in the nation would have
cried shame, and would have crowned him
martyr. But no such supposition is true.
The whole truth. we suppose, lies in this,
that, with all his eminent excellencies, Mr..
Sumner does not know how to yield any
thing to others. He does nOtknOw how to
without making it supreme over Others. 1t
is no news that the eminent Senator is
man of singular purity of life, of great dis
interestedness, of irreproachable fidelity, Of
great kindness of heart, of unbounded in
dustry, and of great learning. But it
is less widely known that he makes
his own. convictions the imperious
raw of other mems, that he is
apt to regard as personal foes all who do
not accept his Judgments, that he is poor
leader and worse follower. 1t was stated
in the debate in the Senate, that Mr.. Sum-
ner was not in social relations either with
the President or with the Secretary of State.
The charge was not denied; it was only met
by saying that Mr. Sumner was at all times
ready to confer with General Grant or Mr..
Fish ON public affairs Are these gentlemen
likely to profit by the counsels of q man who
refuses to recognize them on one side Of the
council room door. and only knows them
officially on the other side One may trans
act mere routine business with an arrogant
0f6ce-hOlder, but in matters of counsel, re-
quiring confidential consultations, it is pre-
posterOus to suppose that the President can
be benefited by one who looks down on
General Grant with enduring anger, and
impeI iOusly refuses him . social recognition.
1t may be said that the chairman Of foreign
relations is an officer appointed by the SEN
ate that he has to do with the Senate, and
not with the executive. But practice has
established vital relations between the ex-
ecutive and The Committee Of the Senate
on Foreign Relations. That committee
stands at the point at which the constitution
makes the executive and the Senate CO.
operative. 80. t+n+4
Neither the President alone, nor the Sem
ate alone. can make treaties with foreign
nations. The constitution Ordains that in
some things their action shall be coordinate
To put personal enemy of the President
at the head of the committee through
which the President is to be in sympathy
with the Senate, is as if gentleman should
attach galvanic battery to the bell-pull of
his door, and then marvel that people pre-.
ferred to transact their business with some
body else. 1t is our opinion that Mr.. Sum.
ner, in his former position, was constantly
liable to endanger the peace Of the two
countries, and that his subsistence into the
body of the Senate will be favorable to
just and amicable settlement. 1t is feared
by some, and hoped by others, that q
deadly wound has been given to the Re-
publican party. If that party has so
slender hold upon the country that the
change Of chairman in q Senate commit
tee can destroy it, it is time that it be de-
strOyed.