Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-03-24

Of an unpleasant nature. In fact, we go SO far
az 10 say that proper sense Of his duty, and Of
the fitness of things, and proper appreciation
of the deli;scy Of the machinery of such a Gov
eminent SIS ours, might have suggested to Mr..
Sumeer the expediency Of resigning the chair
manship as soon as he found himself arrayed in
open ard bitter hostility to General Grant 1t
must be remembered that bis resgning the
Craftsmanship would not deprive the Senate Of
the benefit Of his counsels 1t would enable no
act Of the administration TO escape his SUPER
vision. He would still be a senator the only
change that would take place in his position
would be that he would no longer be charged
wiki the duty of hearing from the President,
whom be dislikes and despises, for communica-
ton to the Senate, an account Of the considers
tons which had governed the executive in
taking this or that step in its foreign policy.
We might, and we suppose, we ought to say
something of another objection to Mr. Summers
occupying such position. We allude TO his
want of Judgment and want Of sense of respon-
sbility in the use Of language. He talks some
times in the widest way and apparently without
being fully conscious Of the force or bearing Of
what be SAYS This was not Of much conse-
quence as long as he was assailing slavery 1t
Is Of considerable consequence when he is mixed
up in the transaction Of some of the most seri-
Gus Business Of this life. He has approached
some of the most delicate questions now pend
ing between this country and foreign powers in
the spirit and language Of frantic popular
orator, thus causing loss Of property, and Sc
riously increasing the difficulty Of the negoti
atons 1t would not be unnatural that, in view
Of all these facts. and on the eve of an attempt
to settle a most important controversy with
England, in which be has taken most excited
h.
binary views Of international law and morality,
the Administration should wish for some friend
lier, calmer, and more accurate organ Of COM
munication with the body which is to ratify any
treaty it may enter into.
We mention all these things with the view not
Of excusing the Administration or Of passing
condemnation on Mr.. Sumner, but of showing
that the crisis is not so dreadful as it seems ;
that human freedom is not in peril and the Re
public going to be rent TO its foundations, snd /.
that there is no need Of drawing presmbles or
resolutions, or throwing off our crSvats, or
tearing open our shirts and rushing to Wash |
ing,on We have no doubt whatever that Mr.. I
Summers removal is by no means altogether due /
10 the considerations We have enumerated above |
as just and reasonable. His opposition to the |
San Domingo scheme has no doubt the larger I
share in it, and it furnishes, therefore, fresh |
illustration of the extraordinary nature Of the .
crazs which has taken possession Of the Presi- .
dents mind. greater mistake he could hardly .
have made, and it is aggravated by the charsc-
ter of the men whom he has made the opponents
Of his policy; and by the attempt Of his parti-
sans to put notorious corruptionist, who en-
JOYS nobody's confidence, in the place Of one
whose purity even his enemies have never
doubted. and whose services in domestic af-
fairs have given him a hold on popular afiec-
ton at the North which no number Of mis-
takes or absurlities in dealing in foreign af-
fairs could shake. But it is a mistake which
viii injlre nobody but General Grant himself
70 try TO elevate it TO the rank of national
II even s. great party calamity is rilicnlous.