Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-05
Speech OF Senator Sumner.



In the United States Senate Friday after.
noon, Mr. Sumner opened hie speech with the
announcement that he was q member Of the
Republican party and one Of the straghtcst
Of the sect. He had never failed to sustain
its candidates and advance its principles.
Not without regret could he sec it suffer, nor
without paug could he see it changed from
its original character, for such a change is
death. Therefore, he asked, with no common
feeling, that the peril which meuanccs it may
pass away. lie stood by its cradle aud was
not willing to follow lis hearse. He then pro.
ceeded to detail the rise and progress Of the
party and his connection with it, as a party
necessary and permanent, and always on the
ascending plane But, alas, how changed !
Once principle was inscribed on its victorious
banners, aud now a name only.
Ii is not difficult TO indicate when the dis
astrous change exating the will Of one man
above all else became manifest. Already it
had begun TO show itself in personal preten.
sions, when suddenly the President elected
by the Republican party precipitated upon
the country an i'll considered aud i'll omend
scheme for annexation of portion Of Sab
DouluEO III IuIHuduNt VI IA htkolhNth
by one Of his own household Ii was pressed
for months by every means and appliance oil
power. Reluctant Senators were subdued to
its support while treading under foot the con-
stitution in one Of its most distinctive Repub-
lican principles; the President seized the war
powers Of the nation, instituted foreign inter
vention and capped the climax of usurpation
by menances of violence to the black republic
Of Hayti, thus adding manifest outrage OF
international law TO manifest outrage Of the
constitution.
He (Mr Sumner) would gladly leave this
matter to the judgment already recorded
were it not put in issue again by extraordi-
nary efforts to place its author for second
term as President, and since silence gives con.
sent all these efforts are his efforts. They be.
come more noteworthy when it is considered
that the name Of the candidate has become
a sign Of discord, dividing instead of uniting
the Republican party. Let the party split, )"
says the President, II will not renounce my
chance Of second term" On what meat
does this our Caesar feed, that be should assume
80 much No honor for victory in war eau
justify disobedience to the constitution and to
law, nor can il afford the least apology for any
personal immunity, privilege or license in the
Presidential office. A President must turn
into a King before it can be said of him that
be can do no wrong. He is responsible always
As President, he is the foremost servant of the
law, bound to obey its slightest mandate. As
the elect Of the people he should be not only
the example Of willing obedience, but also OF
fidelity and industry 10 the discharge Of his
conspicuous Office, with an abrogation Of all
elfsceking-nothing for self but all for the
country-and now, as we regard the career OF
this candidate, we find to our amazement now
little it accords with this simple requirement
Bring it to the tombstone and it fails. Not
only are constitution and law disrcgarded, but
the Presidential Office itself is treated as little
more than a plaything and a perquisits
When not the former then the latter.
Here the details are ample showing how
from the beginning this exalted trust has
dropped to be personal indulgence, where
palace cars, fast horses and seaside loiterings
figure more than duties. How personal aims
aud objects have been more prominent than
the public interests How the Presidential
office has been used TO advance his own
family on n scale Of nepotism dwar6ng every
thing Of the kind in our history, aud hardly
equalled in the corrupt governments where
this abuse has most prevailed. How, in the
zane spirit, office has been conferred upon
those from whom he has received gifts OF
benefits, thus making the country repay biz
personal obligations. How personal devotion
to himself rather than public or party SER
vice has been made the standard Of favor
How the vast appointing power conferred by
the constitution for the gem, raj welfare has
been employed at his will to promote bis
schemes, to reward his friends, to punish his
opponents aud to advance his election to
second term. How all these assumptions
have matured in personal government, semi
military in character and breathing the mill
tary spirit, being species Of Cesarism or
persousism abhorrent to Republican institu-
tions, where subservcnce to the President Is
the supreme law. How IN maintaining this
subservience he has operated by system OF
combinations having their orbits about him.
so that, like the planet Saturn, he is sur
rounded by rings.
Nor does the similarity end here, for his
rings, like those OF the planets, are held in
position by satellites. How this utterly un-
republican Cesarism has mastered the Re
publican party aud dictated the Presidents
will; stalking into the Senate Chamber itself,
while vindictive spirit visits good Republic
cans who cannot submit. How the President
himself, unconscious that a President has no
right to quarrel with anybody insists upon
quarreling until be has become the great
Presidential quarreler, with more quarrels
than all the other Presidents together, and all
begun and continued By himself, How his
personal followers hack his quarrels, insult
those he insults, and then, not departing from
his spirit, cry out with Shakespeare, We
will have rings and things, and fine array"
and, finally, how the chosen head Of the Re-
public is known chiefly for Presidential pre-
tensions utterly indeensible in character, de-
rogatory to the country, and Of evil influence,
making personal objects primary pursuit so
that instead Of benehcent presence he is q
bad example, through whom republican iu-
situations suffer, aud the people learn to do
wrong.
Mr.. Sumner argued that personal govern
ment in all its forms, aud especially when it
seeks TO sway the action of any other branch,
or oyerturn Its constitutional negative, is hos
tile to the first principles of republican insti-
buttons and an unquestionable outrage. That
our President has offended in this way is uu-
happily too apparent After somewhat
lengthy al.usion to Grants habits as soldier,
Mr.. Sumner related an interview with Secre-
tary Stanton while the latter was on his death
bed, when he said " know General Grant
better than any other person in the country
can know him. 1t was my duty to study
him, and did so pight aud day, when | saw
him and when did not see him and now
tell you what / know. He cannot govern
this country The intensity Of his manner
and the positivencss ofhis judgment surprised
me, for, though | was aware that the late
Secretary of War did not place the President
very high in general capacity, was not pre-.
pared for judgment SO strongly couched.
At last, after some delay occupied in medi.
tating on his remarkable statement, | observ.
ed What you say is very broad :" 1t is