Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-11
From the New York Evening Postl
Senator Sumner and the President

When Mr.. Buchanan became obstinate in his
wicked, and, as the result proved, foolish at
tempt to impose a constitution upon the people
of Kansas which they did not wish, he was OPP
posed by Senator Douglas, whose influence, as
chairman Of the committee on territories, was
the greatest hindrance to the success of Mr..
Buchanan's plot. The president was deter
mined to carry his point; and he procured the
removal of Senator Douglas from his place on
the committee
1t is possible that General Grant, who was at
that time an army officer, and probably took
little interest in political affairs, does not re-
member the bitter and long struggle of Presi-
dent Buchanan and its disgraceful end; but
there are senators and old politicians in Wash
ington who can tell him the whole story, and
who will add first, that the presidents scheme
failed, although he did not depose Mr. Douglas
from his committee; and second, that the war
which an obstinate president made upon one of
the acknowledged leaders of his party resulted
in the breaking up of that party, and gave the
next presidential election to the opposition.
1t is, perhaps, because of their personal
knowledge Of such passages in our political his
tory as this that the cOmpanionship and advice
of older and experienced public men, like Sena-
tors Trumbull, Sherman and Wilson, would be
useful to the president; who might learn from
their conversation, what the Young army officers
with whom he has surrounded himself, and who
are his most trusted advisers, cannot tell him
that to rule one must sometimes yield; that
even presidents have made Mistakes and that
sheer pertinacity, one of the foremost qualities
in war, has made shipwreck of the fortunes of
very many rulers.
II is proposed to turn Senator Sumner out of
the Craftsmanship of the foreign relations COM
mittee, which he has held, with benefit to the
| country, since 1868. Why? Because he is no
| longer fit for this responsible post? Not at all
| Is it because some filter man has been discov-
| cred? On the contrary, Senator Morton, who
| is spoken Of as Mr.. Summers successor, is con.
| spicuOusly unftfor this place; neither his health
nor his character, nor his abilities, would place
| him there. 1t is limited in some Of the journals
| that Mr.. Sumner is not on good terms with the
secretary of state, but this is not true; they are
| in constant intercourse; and when the hostility
supposed to exist between Mr.. Seward and Mr..
| Sumner, while the former was secretary of
state, is remembered, this excuse will appear
| weak
Nor can it even be truly said that Mr.. Sumner
| has opposed the annexation of San Domingo.
| He has only opposed, as it was his solemn duty
as a senator to do, the unlawful and unconStitu-
tonal means which the president has used to
bring about this thing. Mr.. Sumner has never
discussed the ACCESSIBILITY of the annexation. 1t
is not known whether he is for or against it.
| But he has shown that in the acts by which the
president has tried to carry it, against the wish
OF congress and against the desire of the people,
he has gravely exceeded his constitutional
| powers.
That is all Senator Sumner has done; and
! for thus daring to do his duty, as a member of
an independent body, the congress of the United
States, he is now, at the instance of the presi-
| dent, whose wrong he has made public, TO be
| disgraced.