The Van Buren press., 1872-09-24
SUMNER
His Farewell Speech Before Leaving fOI
Europe.
RrTH.

Senator Sumner, before leaving for
Europe, contlded to F W. Bird, of the
Liberal Republican State committee, for
publication, speech which he had in-
tended to deliver at Faneuil hall.
Senator Sumner, in his hote to Mr..
Bird, says: ~ had confidently hoped
returning to meet my friends in that ven.
erable home so dear to us and to all, and
to speak once more on the great ques
tons involving the welfare Of our coun-
try, but recurring symptoms Of a painful
character warn me against any such at
tempt My physicians advise that mus
not for the presen! make any public Of
fort and prescribe rest. y
The address is entitled The Presiden
tial Electon-Greeley OF Grant, and
commences
Fellow ClTIzENs-It is ON the invita-
| tlon Of the State COMMITTEES Of Liberal
Republicans that | have the honor Of ad.
dressing you, and | shall speak directly
TO the issue before il: If ars frank and
plain Twill be only according to my ma
ture and my requirements to duty at this
time; but there is nothing that ! can say
which is snot prompted by sincere de.
sire to serve my country, and especially
to promote good will and equal rights to
all. In the approaching Presidential
election the people have choice between
two candidates, and by che operation Of
our electoral system, superaddsd by the
dic,ion Of tho national convention, the
choice is practically limited to President
Grant and Greeley, so that no preference
for another csh be called affection, as one
ofthese must be taken. PretsrriDg Gree
ley, have 20 hesitation in assigning the
reasons that lead to this conclusion.
Believing the present incumbent unfit
for the great office to which he aspires
for n second tern, and knowing that a
vote for him would be regarded as a
sanction Of abusesand pretensions unre.
publican in charaetsr, early saw the diff
fculty Of taking anypart for his re elcc-
tion | declared, while recognizing par.
ty as an essential agency. that | could
not allow it to constnin my conscience
against what deemed the requirements
Of the public good. Regarding always
the substance rather than forms, have
been Indifferent to the nsme by which |
might be called, and was no. impressed
by the way in which 4 Candidate was urg'
ed. His supporters, whih admitting his
failures and even abuses and preteutions.
so notorious in his civil life, commended
his re election as necessary 70 uphold thc
party with which ! have been associated !
but il is easy to see that all Who vote for
such candidate for such q reason would
do evil that good might come, which is
forbidden in politics as well as N morals |
Two courses seemed open; One WAS
to abstain from voting, and confess that
this was my first inclination; butt is not
so easy for me to be neutral, certainly not |
where wrong doing is in questions nor is
it my habit to shrink from responsibility. |
but the doubt that besct me was removed
when ! saw the Democratic party Mopt
a candidate opposed to President Cant,
who was not an original republican md
already nominated by the republican con.
vention, and at the same time accept tae
republican platform on which he wa
nominated. An old party which had
long stood out against the republican,
cause, now places itself on the republican,
platform, the best ever adopted, with
republican candidate, who was the most
devoted republican ever nominated, thus
completely accepting the results OF the
war and extending the hand or recoRcili-
alton At once the character OF the con
test was changed. This was no common
event Pardon me If say that to me 1t
was one Of peculiar interest For years
I have sought to establish in the nation
al government the great principles Of the
Declaration OF Independence, avowing
always that when this WAS done, nobody
should surpass ME in generosity toward
former rebels, not only by the logic OF
my life, but by constant speeches; and
was bound to welcome those who placed
themselves on this glorious platform
The extent Of this obligation will appear
before close, and now its performance
harmonizes with the opposition to the
prolonged msrule of the present ineum'
bent. Evidently am not At liberty to
abstain from voting.
In considering the reasons in favor OF
Horace Greeley, find two differing IN
character, but OF chief Importance First
that he represents reformed civil ser
vice, with the one term principle, without
which this reform is too much like
shsm and secondly, that b. represents