Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-15
tUalchman s. journal.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Is, 1871
SrnatOr summer.

administration, on the annexation OF ~. 10
mingo and the Alabama question, he wa
displaced, last week, by his associates in tn
Sonito, from the Craftsmanship of the Com
mittcc on Foreign Relations It is Of cours
very desirable, if not necessary, that @
chairman Of this committee should be in sym
pathy with the Executive Department of tn
government Since the administration ha
the responsibility Of initiating and negotiating
all treaties and arranging for the settlemen
Of all international difficulties, it is likely L
be constantly thwartod in its movements un
less this important committee is congenial an,
friendly On former occasion, Mr.. Sum
nor opposed and defeated the settlement O
the Alabama claims negotiated by Reycrdy
johnson lie still holds views that can, un
der no circumstances, become the basis Of
successful arrangement Of this difficult ques
ton As chairman Of the Committee OF
Foreign Relations, he would have, therefore
undue influence and power, and might be abb,
to make the action Of the Joint Commission
now in session at Washington, a nudity. W,
are not aware that Mr. Sumner ever yield.
his positions. lie has always been regarded
as impracticable by his associates. He is q
native polcmic, and his speeches which have
won his reputation have never been statesman.
like calculations Of great national questions
but have been brilliant arguments, uvc.tive.
or appeals. He is the Mars of the Senate
aud not the Jupiter His mind increasingly
aud necessarily takes antagonistic attitudes.
because it is incapable Of broad and COM
prehensiyc and all.sidol survey Of any great
subject. He is analytic rather than construe-
tive and delights more in destroying than in
building. In the stormy days of the war,
his mental qualities, joined with his great
forensic abilities, were of immense value, but
by the very structure of his mind he is inca.
pable Of harmouizing great national interests
lie was right, we think, in his views of the
1t. Domingo annexation. We have yet to
learn that any advantage can come Of that
project that will compensate for its evils
Aud the country is with him also upon it,
But as a wise man he should not have opposed
the oyertures of the President for a fair Com.
mission to investigate and report to Congress
on the matter. And if he saw fit to make an
open issue with the administration on that
project as well as on the Alabama matter.
1t would have been highly honorable and
Judicious in him to state to the Senate his
disagreement with the President and tender
his resignation of the important Craftsmanship
which he held. 1t would have become his
Senatorial dignity and the character Of a gen
tleman to have left his place in this open and
generous way, rather than wait to be kicked
out by his compeers.
For the present, the President is acknowl-
edged chief of the Republican party. Ifany
leading officials cannot follow or sustain the
Executive, they would show thor wisdom by
retiring from their places-throw the re-
sponsbility on the administration, where it be-
longs, and not attempt to make Il break in
the Republican ranks Mr.. Sumner is Justly
chargeable with preIerrug his own ideas to the
integrity Of the political organization to which
he belongs 1t seems impossible for his po-
litcal associates to work with him He is so
domineering intoerant Of dissent, as to offend
even his own friends and admirers. He has
had position Of great power but he has new
or used his power royalty or in princely way.
He has demanded agreement aud submission
from his peers, and has not been content to
win their consent and convince their iud ment.
Ills sceptre has often been the lash, aud while
he has inspired fear or provoked anger
among his associates, he has rarely secured
their honor or respect in his comprehensive
craftsmanship, or attracted their love by
his generous self-sacriicing devotion. The
secret Of his failure lies not in his want
OF ability, but in his lack Of the personal
magnetism Of a large.hearted manhood Clay
ruled the Senate by the charm Of his gene
rous convictions, and eloquent, persuasive
speech. Webster ruled it with the imperial
dignity aud movement of his constructive in.
telect but his regal intellect was sometimes
fired by his mighty heart. Sumner has ruled
1t, so far as he has, by the scourge of his bril-.
liant tongue. None have surpassed him in
the keenness Of his inyectiyc, or the intensity
OF his denunciation When he charged Grant
with opening and leading dance of blood
IN this Saint Domingo matter, lie sacrificed
truth and friendship to a ringing and incisive
phrase With right cause on his hands, he
surrendered it to the vanity Of u singing sar.
casm. In this way he has lost his influence
in the Senate, has wounded and offended one
after another Of his colleagues who admired
him, and is at last displaced from the conf.
dence Of the administration, and the most
honorable position in the body Of which he
was a member, by large vote Of his politi.
cal associates We do not think that this aE
fair will result disastrously to the republican
party. The cause is not sufficient to create a
division. 1t is purely personal and not polti.
cal, aud Mr.. Sumner will be the sufferer more
than the party to which he belongs. Non
does the action of the Senate help the Saint
Domingo matter Already unpopular, it will
diminish the chances Of annexation, for the
Senate to pack committee with reference
to it,.
The Future Wealth OF the United States.
MIR, Il. 7. Whipple contributes to tn,
March number of the atlantic MoatIly ,
very readable essay which he styles "Shoddy.
1t bristles with good points and practica
suggestions 1t will be seen that Mr. Whip
pie takes hopeful view Of tho future
=" on the enormous undeyeloped resources o