The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-28
Forty Third COngress-First Session.
SENATE.

After prayer Senator Boutwell, delivered a
euulogy upon the late Senator Sumner Imme-
ula a5 after reading the journal Mr.. Boutwell,
saiu, IN accordance with notice previously Civ
en-, ne now submitted to the Senate the follow
ing resolutions and asked their considerations:
hesotVed by the Senate, That as an addition
q. marx OF respect to the memory of Charles
sumner, long Senator of Massachusetts, bus
mess De now suspended that the friends and
associates OF the deceased may pay fitting
lrlpote TO his public and private virtues.
MT boutwell, referred to the twenty-three
years OF senatorial life of Charles Sumner, and
ene puoiic acts of which he was the originator
ana with which he was connected. his devotion
10 hperty IN the fullest sense of the word and
we must place the name of Charles Sumner
alnpng sle immortal few whose labors, fidelity
ahu suHerlhgs can never be omitted from the
history Of the contest against slavery He con-
ciuded by saying that the death of Simmer is a
S1snal Joss to the Senate and the people of the
oIited states, alleviated in some degree by the
oeieI that ms life and public services in favor
OF human liberty will ever be held in grateful
remembrance by his countrymen and fntnre
generations NN A"'"Ae
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate
pe instructed to present these resolutions to the
House OF Representatives
Inc resolutions were agreed to-
Mr. Thurman followed Mr. Boutwell,. and
paiu warm tribute to the late Senator as
i man, not as politician or statesman. He
s sa OF their personal friendship, although
+.
sumner there was nothing low or vulgar, but
on tne contrary intellect, refinement and taste
inarhed all that was said. His aimabity bigh
breeding and politeness will ever command our
t t' ana admiration. Mr.. Thurman closed
py saying: Il speak over his grave nv belief
that ne was great in intellect profound in learn
ing, sincere in his convictions, true in his
friendships, urbane and amiabe in his inter-
course ana wholly unassailable by corruption"
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, followed Mr. Thur
man. He said the loss of one of their members
was similar Ito family bereavement, and each
must confess to personal loss in the death of
Sumner as well as TO the greater loss,o the
Senate ITSELF After speaking of SUMMER as
the successor of Webster, he closed by saying
the brightness of his fame will not serve to per-
petuate the memory of any stain upon the pur-
ity of his private or public characte, and there
will still remain the imperishable record of
memorable career,-somethiDg that the highest
ambition aims to grasp, and that heroes die to
obtain,-or much of the real elements of great
ness and all the glory of historic name
Mr.. Sherman followed. He paid brilliant
tribute to the deceased Senator. He had the
love aud support of his constituents, and the
love and veneration of FIVE millions of freed
men. He was, by the Judgment of his associ-
ates here, by the love and confidence of his
constituents, by the general voice of the people,
the foremost man in the civil service of the
United States an eminence assigned him for
his unblenlished honor, high intellectual capac.
ity and public services, rendered with unswerv-
ing tidelity and industry After long associa-
ton with Mr. Sumner in the public service
since December, 1855, Mr.. Sherman said he
would not do justice to his memory did he not
place his name above that of all who survive
him.
Mr.. Spencer delivered brief euogy.
MI Pratt spoke of Mr.. Sumner as an exam
pie to Others Earnest and answering in his
convictions, and pure and unsulied in his pri-
vate life.
MrASargent spoke of the courage, manliness
and high achievements of Sumner when others
of his party timidly followed or resisted his
decisive voice gave boldness and energy to the
councils of the Senate. No sdread of unpopu-
larity ever eau ed him to defect from chosen
path of duty.
Mr.. Wadleigh of New Hampshire, said that
representing in part upon this floor State con-
tiguous to Massachusetts, and people closely
allied to hers by many ties, L cannot refrain
from brifiy expressing on this occasion the pro
found sorrow that touched their hearts when
they heard that Charles Sumner was no more.
In common with the people OF the whole coun-
try, they recognized his eminent public services
and even when disagreeing with him never lost
their faith in his honesty of purpose and un-
faltering devotion to the cause to which his life
was given. But New Hampshire has other rea-
sons for cherishng his memory Seven wears
before he came here to occupy the seat Of Dau-
iel Webster, John P. Hale appealed from the
decision of his party to the voters Of New
Hampshire upon the question of slavery ex-
Z.
against a party of unequalled discipline and
ignorat OF defeat, among people nearly as
steadfast aud unohanging as are their granite
hills, he won one of the greatest victories ever
recorded in our pO1tlcal annals, kindling by his
eloqueuce the love of liberty and hated of op-
preston that lie at the core of humanity. He
was borne into the Senate upon popular tor
rent which burst through the crust of party
like lava from the burning heart of noun
tain, Here for four years he stood the sola ted
aud ostfacsed representative of principle
stronger than all parties and destined to tri-
umph over them all. In 1851 Massachusetts, as
if to pay the debt she owed for the men who
marsheled from the granite State to die at
Bunker Hill, placed Charles Sumner at the side
of John 2. Hale. 1t was the reinforcement of
torlorn hope, and revived the dropping spirits
of the opponents of slavery. What followed is
known to ALL and will never be forgotten Link.
ed to the emancipation of 1900, 900 of slaves,
the names of such men are as unpershablc as
the othrs, and after this marble pile shall have
crumbed into dust and every existing politi-
cal organization shall have been DESTROYED by
all devovring time Sumner sincorruptible hon
esty and steadfast devotion to the cause of hu-
man freedom will be gratefully remembered,
for these make one of the names on fame's
eternal bead roll worthy to be filled
On motion of Mr.. Anthony the Senate then.
at 2.45, adjourned
HOUSE.
Several bills were introduced and referred.
Mr. Frye II Maize, offered resolution d.
recting the Committee GU Reform of the Civil
Service, to consider carefully and report forth
with the subject of officers of the Senate and
House, with vi W to remove any irregularity
or injustice existing. Adopted
Mr.. Hale OF Maine, introduced bill amend
ing the shipping commissioner act, so as not to
apply to sail or steam vessels engaged in the
coasting trade or lake trade touching at foreion
ports or otherwise in trade between the United
States and British North American posses
sinns, or in any case where seamen are by Gus
tom or agreement entitled to participate in the
profils or results of cruise or voyage. Pass
ed.
The message being received from the Senate
in reference to the death of Senator Sumner,
Mr.. E. r. Hoar of Mass, offered resolution
that an additional mark of respect to the
memory of Charles Sumner, long Senator
from Massachusetts,, and in sympathy with the
the action of the Senate, business be suspend
ed in the House to allow fitting tributes to be
paid to his public and private virtues.
The resolution was adopted and Mr.. e. r.
Hoar addressed the House in eulogy of Sena-
tor SumLer
Mr. Hoar said that When more than six
weeks ago the death of Sumner was announced
it came so sudden that business was suspended
till that hfeless form could repOse a few hours
under the great dome of the capitol, and until
his funeral services could be performed Mr..
Hoar gave brief history of Summers career
to the hour of his death, which he attributed
to the assault of Preston Brooks. Sumner
utNCI udu OlHeE OHCe tudn UnaG OF senator
from Massachusetts, and each time he was
elected it was by a great popular wave and
without opposition. During his serviceln the
Senate he spoke on all great questions that
came up, and saw the accomplishment of all
the grand results which he arrived at whea he
entered the Senate. There were but two Others
there of the party to which he belonged, and
before his death he was the leader of more
than two-thrds of his party in the Senate
He came to the Senate as the champion of
liberty--was called a fanatic and was not given
even place on the Committees Before his
death he saw a member of the prosecuted race
on the floor of the Senate. Sumner was thor
oughly and truly an American. lie believed in
his country, her interests, her grandeur and
her destiny. He was an idealist and trusted to
the future
Mr.. Dawes said: No man can justly esti-
mate that great public career which has so
suddenly and sadly closed, who fails to COM
prehend the times which gave it birth, and the
events ont of which its grand proportions have
been rounded into matchless perfection and
power. Absolute human equality secured, as
sured and invulnerable was the work to which
baptism of blood and suffering, he consecrat-
ed all his powers, all his life and all his hopes.
lie was an eloquent man, but through all his
rhetoric cleaned the battle axe cleaving the
chains of the slave and tearing down the hoary
head Of caste. Learning he acquired as no