Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-03-01

Nj. Summers Position.
Frederick Douglass i, reported as expressing
strong -ecre; Al the lengths to which sena,o-
SUMNER has allowed personal tnimcsity to carry
hiu., il his war upon the President, AMI sorroW
that the champion Of humanity and freedom
should thus weaken HE power for future ter7ice.
Multtudes Of flir-niuded men, Wbe hsye been
proud Of the sbil.ty AID admired the devatiaa to
duty Of the Senator from Massl,lusa,tE, must
share this feeling We 1Gve no desire &c IN IL
The bitter denuuciAton Ct Mr sumner, which is
Current in rome quarters but II is vel enough
TO recall the history Of hf break With the si-
ministr.t.on. The simple facts form sufficiently
rtroag rebuke Of his course.
Mr. sumner. though perhaps little jes-o1s
that he was not sufficiently appreciated a. the
State Department, was, we believe, on very good
terms with President Grant, before the Motley
controversy Mr. Sumner mai adopted the view
that the hssty recognition Of beligerercy by
England wss something more thar an indication
Of unfriendly feeling that it Afforded ground
70. claim c. damages he elaborated this
view in his famous speech. lie secured the ap-
pointment Of Nj Motley 3, Minister TO Eng
land, and M Motley adopted the same ground
Mr. Fish's Instructions 70 our Minister inform
ed him that thai vss not the view taken by this
government thst the issue o. non-issue O. 8
recognition Of belligerency, WAS matter wholly
within tie discretion Of any neutral government;
and THAI the liability Of England cculd not be
sustained on thAt ground. Mr. Motley. though
demonstrated With, insisted OF asserting MS
view Of the case IL speeches and unofficial ways
which were held to be preju1icial 10 our inter
es,s snd he vas sustained in bic course by Air.
Sumner. NJ. Motley finally compelled our gov
eminent 70 relieve him, and Mr. Sumner
took his removal as personal adr1nt.
From that tine on he has nurssi bic
grudge against the adminittrStou, and
il l. nov evident be is wiling 70 crafty
it, Al whatever cost &c ths party sui
the country he selects the time when our "a
lStiouf with England are a. most critical
point when the great Treaty Of Wafhiugt7a ia
in the greatest danger when public opinion in
England is in a very excited state tnd eLertinE
> strong pressure on the British goverumer, 70
Withdraw from arbitration, though 81 the c1tt Of
ws-,-he chooses this time TO srrsizu our 5El
government, on charges Of grost viol.t1u. Of
neutrality, - gros, as those for which We are
trying TO hold England to account He bases the
charge, on anonymous cable kilograms, .on hear
Say, on statements Of French emisssries. lie
insinuAtes a charge Of fraud sgains, the Score
tAriei Of War and the Navy, which he is CEN
PEELED to Withdraw almost a. soon a. stated.
His position is not an en7isble one. It seems
strange enough TO question the patriotism Of
Charles Sumner but it il impossible to resist
the conclusion that his private resentment, IN
this case, hss overcome his public spirit. If this
50 bomb-sheil had been left solely to the charge
Of Cssl Scharz. who Is kind Of - soldier Of for
tune. - It could hsve accomplished little But
MIR. Sumner was lcug connected intimately With
our foreign relations His words viii hsye az
effect IL England, which no other Senator
could hsye. Britirh animosity, which vas
stirred up more by Mr.. SUMNER speech than 1t
has been by anything else since the close Of the .
war, will ind new wespont forged 10 its hsad, IL
hn preamble If it was wrong for our govern .
msnt to tel arms to France il fight with
another nation, how much better is il to furnish .
arm. to our own opponents IL controversy .
which may involve Us n wa We cannot SET
how any patriotic citizen, not carried away ny
he resentment, could undertake the task TO .
which Mr. sumner hss lent himself
Suppose his sctou to have itE utmost pots-
ble results. what would they be,
supro,Ible o.se that NJ. Summers &C
ton usy faruirh to the British government Just
the added stimulus needed, to throw up the
treaty Mr.. Sumner mad No hand in the forms
uou Of that treaty II through it, ma settle
ment should he made Of our difficulties with
England IL would be a very great credit 70
Gen. Grants Administration, and make IL for
ever honored IN History. Mr.. Sumner might
succeed il taking that glory from tue admins
tr.tiou, and from the world tina; hope OF insu-
gursting better way Of settling aStion2. die
putes than by var The withdrawal Of England
from Al agreement formally and fully mtde,
might easily be followed by a bloody contest be-
tween the tso great Protestant and Englisa-
speaking nations Of the globe, leaving each the
poorer ami weaker Al iis close. Such
might be the consequences N our foreign
relations At home, it is possible that the
Airoit use o. Mr. Sumner charges. among
the German republicans. might ALLEVIATE
enough Of them from this Republican
administration snd from the Republican party,
to give the next election, if il should be a close
one, 70 the Democrats. restore the South &c ku-
Klu1 control, ard give again TO the colorei
people who have heretofore had occasion Of grs-
ti,uds to Nj. Sumner, the luxury Of d" White
mans government - We do not believe that there
he to be the results Of tins business We believe
that the main results will be loss OF confidence
in Mr.. Sumner on the part Of the people. and
confusion to the Democracy, who sre counting
on such greA; things from the aid and eomfsrJ
he is rendering them. But they are contin-
gencies which Statesman ike Mr. Sumner must
be supposed to have considered Suppose them
10 become realities, anl cut Of such immeAs1r
able lose to the country Eud to humanity, what
will Mr.. Sumner have gAirel2 Simply bic
revenge