Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-07
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL-sATURDAY DECENIB
CHARLES SUMNER.
An Attitude Of ObserVatiOn-He will
Press his Civil Rights Bill and
the Abolition Of the Flee
tOral College.

Mr.. Summers position being one Of
the topics of the day, a newspaper cor
respondent called at the Senator's ele-
CANT residence, which is, in fact, a mu-
scum of art and literature. Mr.. Sumner
extended t~hatcordial welcome which he
always gives representatives of respect
able newspapers, and went on cOuvers-
ing with some Congressional visitors
who were seated near him. He de-
scribed, in his graphic manner, his Wis
its TO President Theirs, La B0ulaye,
Gladstone, John Bright and other Euro
pean celebrities, but persistently evaded
all illusions to our home politics, even
when comparisons would be drawn by
his visitors. At last they left, and your
correspondent complimented the Sena-
tor on his improved health.
"Yes,' he replied, 81 am much better
than / was when | went abroad. l did
not meet DR.. Brown. Sequard pro-
nounces my attacks of last summer the
result Of the injuries received in my
spine fifteen years ago, and has laid down
a course of medical treatment which |
propose to follow. He especially enjoins
rest from excessive labor, and l do not
propose to de any more at the Capitol
than l can avoid without neglect Of du-
ty. Indeed / am not sure that l should
attend the coming session were it not
for my desire to have my Civil Rights
bill placed on the statute book"
"YOu will again urge the passage OF
this bill by the Senator asked your cor
respondent.
''Most ~assuredly 1 shall, y earnestly re-
Piled Mr.. Sumner, "and l have already
been called on by sOme of the leading
colored men Of this city, who assure me
of their desire to have q carry out this
browning feature of the great work of
emancipation"
"Do you expect much personal OpPO-
sitiOn in the Senate, Mr.. Sumner?'
sWhy should T." he answered, and
then went on to say, 81 expressly re-
Trained from reading an American news
paper during my absence, and l am con-
s~equently lot aware that anything was
said or written during the canvass for or
against me. This has not entailed upon
me any grievances to avenge or any I'M
pleasant souvenirs, and $ far as l am
concerned I have only sentiments of
moderation toward all. Indeed, the
death of Mr.. Greeley can but exercise a
sOftening influence on political life and
on the animOslties Of party"
Your correspondent asked whether
the proposed amendment to the consti-
tuition, limiting the Presidential service
to one term, would now be abandoned.
"Not at ALL replied Mr.. Sumner;
"on the contrary, l shall press it to a.
vote in the Senate at the earliest OppOr-
tunity, and with it another proposed
constitutional amendment which l in
troduced into the Senate last spring,
abOlishing the Electoral College and
making the people vote directly for
President and Vice-President."
"Your colleague is warmly congratu-
lated on his election as Vice-President,
Mr.. Sumner"
eyes, and I am glad to hear him de-
clare himself in favor of peace and har-
mony."
He wants Congress to go to work now
and attend to the business on its calen-
1ars, to which 1 added: "And especial
~ the French spoliation claims; those
be settled at once.n
Your correspondent e~ndeavored to
the conversation into political
channels, but the Massachusetts Senator
avaded it, while he talked ~fiuently about
some rare books which he had purchas-
ed in Paris and brought home. On the
whole, his attitude is that of attention, |
ready to strike back if assailed, but not
anxious to provoke a contest.