Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-10
LATEST N EWS
BY TELEGRAPB
70 THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
Speech by Charles Sumner.
He is serennded by CoIored Citizens.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Senator Sumner was
serenaded tonight by DR.. Augusta, William
A. Wormly, and other cOnred citizens. num-
Der of white persons were also present. In
response to repeated calls, Senator Summer APP
peared at the door of his residence and was
greeted with great applause. DIR. Augusta in
trOduced him as Americas greatest statesman
and the life long and firm friend of the African
race.
Senator Sumner then spoke as follows:
Friends and fellow citizens am touched by
this voluntary expression of friendship, and
beg to thank you from my heart. In seeing
you on this occasion think of You only as per-
sOnal friends among whom have lived more
than twenty years. During this considerable
period, changes have occurred Of incalculablc
importance TO the country, but especially to the
colOred people. When entered upon my pub
lie duties here, slavery was in the ascendant,
giving the law to all the usages Of life. The
colored man, though not slave, was degraded;
he was not allowed TO testify in court; he was
shut out from the public schools he was OK
cluded from the public conveyances, and thrust
away from the ballot-boX. But here in the nation
al capital all these terrible wrongs have ceased.
The court room, the school house, the horse
car, the ballot box, are all open, never TO be
closed. Revolutions do not go backward, there
fore YOU may rest as secure in what has been
won. OF this be Sure-SlAYery will never be
revived, nor will you be restrained or limited in
any of these rights you now enjoy. Applause
and three cheers for Sumner Most sincerely
do congratulate you on these signal triumphs,
so little TO be expected when first became ac-
quanted with you; and when we consider the
brief period in which they have been accom-
plished, ! am sure you will unite with me in
hope and trust for the future. (Cries of eve
will")
1t is my duty 10 remind you that the work is
not yet completed. This will be only by the en-
actment of civil rights bill which shall relieve
the citizen, whoever he may be, from any eXclu
sion or discrimination on account oil his color
Only then will be established that equality be-
fore the law to which now for the first time in
our history all political parties are distinctly
pledged. Here there can be no question. ZAP
plause) Ii is in the platforms Of all. of the
early passage of such a law do not doubt
Then will you have all the assurance OF Your
rights that can be found in the constitution
and the law; but that law will be the
cap-stone. tApp!ause.l l shall not dis
guise from you that something more
will be needed. There mus; be a constant,
watchfu public opinion behind TO see that these
are enforced in letter and spirit There must
be no failure in awakening and inyieorating
the public opinion. You can do much. lwould
almost say you can do everything.
How constantly have urged in public speech,
and in all my intercourse with yop, that our col
ored fellow citizens must insist upon their
rights, always, by petition, ny speech and by
vote, ABOVE all meyer Pole TOT any nan WHp
is not true to you; make allegiance to you the
measure 'of support lCheers.) SO doing, all
parties will seek your votes. tCheers.) You
win be felt and your cause will be irresistible,
Please accept these few words as my acknOwl-
edgement of your kindness this evening. (Cres
of go on.) From long acquaintance you know
something OF my sympathies. "a VOICE. do,)
AlEgys, from the beginning, have sought to
serve you aud always, to the end, shall seek to
serve you. TO your cause my life is dedicated,
and nothing can turn noe frpln II; nothing can
tempt me or drive me from its support,
The senator retired and the crowd applauded,
The band played several airs and number Of
white and colored persons entered the house to
shake hands with Sumner.