The daily Argus., 1874-03-16
Charles Sumner,

An eminent American has fallen.
Charles Sumner died in w ashington March
llth, after very brief illness. Probably
the death of no citizen of the republic
would produce more profound impress
sion at home, or excite greater interest IN
foreign lands; for in the estimation OF 8
large majority Of his .countrymen ne had
longl stood upon q plane above ordinary
Statesmen. and for years had been better
known 70 many distinguished Europeans
than any political character on this side of
the Atlantic. F.
Mr.. Sumner was born in Boston on the
9th Of January, 1911 and consequently had
at the time Of his death just entered upon
his Gath year. Receiving his early ednca-
ton Mt the Latin school of his native city,
he graduated with unusual honors at Har-
ward College in 1880. About year later
he entered the law school OF that univer-
sity, of which Joseph Story, then an emi-
nent Judge of the Supreme Court of the
United States, was the leading professor
and lecturer. Judge Story's learned, ex-
haustiye, somewhat discursive, and highly
ornate style Of dealing with the law, COM
bined with his magnetic qualities and
warm social temperament, were specially
attractive to young Sumner; and there at
once sprang up strong attachment be-
tween teacher and pupil which lasted till
the close of Judge Story's life.
Mr. Sumner was admitted to the Boston
bar in 1884, But he was not cut out for q
successful practitioner. He admired the
law as q science, and especially those parts
Of it which lay outside of the beaten
paths but he was never at home in the
rough, everyday contests of the courts
Nevertheless, stimulated by the advice, in
spired by the example, and favored by the
patronage of his influential preceptor, he
early acquired fair practice A little
later Judge Story appointed him the Off
cial reporter of the United States Court
for the First Circuit, over which Story him
self presided. In this capacity Mr.. Sum-
ner published three volumes, highly yalu-
able and often quoted for containing Judge
Story's decisions in many important Ad-
miralty and patent suits. When in Eu-
rope at subsequent period these volumes
so familiar to the profession as Sumner
Reports" were made the subject of q
highly eulogistic notice in a law journal
wherein the undoubted accuracy and ex
quisite grace in which the reporter haC
given the decisions of the great American
jurist were specially commended This
seemed little absurd to those Boston law
yers who well knew that the painstaking
Story not only wrote with his own hanc
every word of his opinions to the very las
letter, but in all instances either prepared
the preliminary statement of facts and the
head notes, or supervised and corrected
them.
Still guided by Judge Story, Mr.. Sumner
for three or four years after he came t
the bar lectured occasionally to the Law
students at Cambridge and edited the
-AnerlcGn Jurist, quarterly journal o.
good repute. In 1886 he was offered pro
tessorship in the Law School, and subse
quently one in the college, both of which
he declined. In 1887 he visited Europe
travelling extensively, and remaining
abroad three years. Having carried ou
letters Of introduction from Judge Story
and his friends, he was received with a
good deal of distinction by many jurist:
and scholars, both in England and on the
Continent. He became quite intimate Will
Lord Brougham, and for many years wa
tavorite correspondent of the somewha
eccentric ex-Chancellor.
On his return TO Boston Mr. Sumner, il
left-handed, indolent sort Of way, return
ed to the practice of his profession, bu
won no special distinction in it, though un
derstood to be all the time under the pat
ronizing wing OF Judge Story. In lS44-
he published, with notes by himself an
some help from Judge Story, the twent
volumes of ''Vesey's Reports" Thougl
out Of date, they were well enough 70
heavy libraries, but were understood no
to have brought Mr.. Sumner much com
pensation for a large amount of du
work
The publication of 'Vesey" was abou
the last appearance of Mr.. Sumner in tn
walks of q profession wherein he was nc
fitted either by talents or taste to excel
He was destined to win shining name i
a far different field
Mr.. Sumner was by nature a student,
humanitarian, reformer, an abolitionist
Though not a politician, he had alway
been loosely connected with the Wing par
ty, whereof Webster, Story, and Everett
were conspicuous leaders and 50, on tn
Fourth Of July, lS45, on the invitation c
the Wing authorities of Boston, he pre-
nounced before the municipality of the cit
the first of that series of orations which il
due time made him known far beyond tn
boundaries of the legal profession and th
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts. He sc
lected for his theme, The True Grandeu
Of Nations, and expounded from loft
standpoint. and in style highly ornat
and polished, the doctrine of internationi
arbitration as q substitute for an appeal {
arms. The Grafton was widely circulate
in America, and was extensively read i
England 1t was warmly commended b
Lord Brougham, while Mr.. Richard Col
den, then winning fame in the Anti Cor
Law contest, declared it to be the mo.
noble contribution of any modern writer I
the cause of peace" Mr.. Sumner had no
struck the key note of his career and h
Boston Grafton was followed, year afte
year, by addresses on cognate subjects
an advanced reformatory type before litel
ary societies, public lyceums, and other a!
semblies of his fellow-citizens
As early as 1888 Mr.. Sumner signife
his adhersion to the anti-slavery cause
signing the roll of one of the abolition 81
cieties in Boston. But he took no ope
and special interest in the subject unit
November, l845, when he addressed
meeting in Faneuil Hall against the anne,
alton OF Texas, basing his opposition mair
ly on anti-slavery grounds. He had no
entered the field where he was to peforr
what turned out to be his life work.
the following year, the country having bee
plunged into the Mexican war for the pul
pose, as he believed, of strengthening an
extending the institution of slavery, h
made powerful speech before the Viii
State Convention Of Massachusetts, on I'll
Anti Slavery Duties of the Whig party,
which was SO pithy, pungent, and stingin