Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-20
Biographical Sketch OF the Late Sena-
tor Sumner.

MIR. SUMNER was born in Boston in 1911,
was educated at Harvard College, and graduated
at that institution, with high honors, when he
was only nineteen years old. By advice of Mr..
Justice Story, then member Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, Mr.. Sumner
entered upon the study Of the law under the
supervision OF that eminent jurist. At the
end of three years he was admitted to the bar
and soon had large and profitable practice.
subsequently he wac appointed reporter of the
United States Circuit Court, and during this
time published three volumes OF Justice
Story's decisions, which are known to every
lawyer as "Sumner's Reports" He also
edited the american Jurist, quarterly law
journal, and lectured on constitutional and in
ternational law at Cambridge. In 1897 he
visited Europe, remaining abroad three years.
In 1910 he returned to Boston and resumed
the practice Of law, and in 1S44-46 he
published with annotations "Vesey's Reports"
in twenty volumes.
In 1S45 the troubles between Mexico and
the United States began, and at that time Mr..
Sumner took prominent position in National
politics. In a speech before the municipal
authorities Of Boston on the grandeur Of ma
tions he announced himself an advocate of
peace. He had been known up to this time
as Whig, but his avowal of peace principles
in regard to the war with Mexico, and his OPP
position TO the annexation of Texas on the
ground of its giving,new territory to slavery,
gradually alienated him from that party. A
subsequent address to the Massachusetts,
Wings on "The Anti-slayery Duties of the
Whig Party" completed that alienation, and
ha
party councils. On the organization of the
Free-Soil party Mr.. Sumner became an active
and prominent member, rendering them eff
cient aid in their canvass. In 1850, Daniel
Webster having resigned his seat in the United
States Senate TO become Secretary of State in
Mr.. Fillmore's Cabinet, Mr.. Sumner entered
the lists as a candidate. The chances ap-
peared to be against him, but, after severe
contest, the Wings, Free-Soilers and Demo-
Gratis being nearly equally divided In the Leg
islature, a coalition was formed by the two
latter, and Mr.. Sumner was elected.
In the Senate, Mr.. Sumner at once resumed
a prominent position. The successor OF Web
ster, and coming with reputation as a con-
stitutional lawyer second to none, much was
expected from the new Senator. He did not
disappoint the expectations of his friends, for
he at once assumed leading position among
his fellows, which he has continued to hold
ever since. His first important speech was an
attack upon the Fugitive Slave law then pend
ing, which he denounced with potent logic and
extreme bitterness.
In 1856, after protracted fight against the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, which
confined "slavery TO the region south OF
Mason and Dixon's line" he spoke for two en-
tire days on "The Crime Against Kansas" In
this he severely denounced the action of some
of the souther1z1s mbers of Congress in con-
nection with the attempt TO introduce slavery
into Kansas, and reviewing the history Of
slavery In an exhaustive manner.
Two days later, while sitting at his desk in
the Senate chamber, after the adjournment of
that body, he was approached from behind by
Preston 8. Brooks, then Member of Congress
from South Carolina, and severely beaten over
the head and shoulders with a heavy cane.
Mr.. Sumner suffered greatly from the in
jurles received in this assault, and for three
or four years was practically disabled from
resumlng his public duties. Even TO the day
of his deGth he suffered much distress, and it
is alleged that the injuries thus inflicted
tended to shorten his life.
Mr.. Sumner was reelected TO the Senate In
1857 He was unable, owing to his injuries, to
resume active duty till the close of 1859. Al
most his first act upon the recovery OF his
strength was TO resume his assaults upon the
slave power. In an elaborate and eloquent
speech on "The Barbarism of Slavery" In
January, 1850, he poured forth all the flood Of
inyective which had been accumulating during
his years Of confinement.
In the Presidential campaign OF 1860 he
took the stump in favor of the election of
Abraham Lincoln. His appeals were always
eloquent, and his whole energy was bent
toward the overthrow Of the slave power.
On the outbreak Of the war Mr.. Sumner saw
prospect for accomplishing his long cher
ished desire, the abolition Of slavery. When
the first defiance to the Government was hurled
at the incoming Administration by the South,
Mr.. Sumner raised his voice in favor of meet
ing that defiance with the manumission of the
slaves, As the notes of preparation for war
grew louder, he became more earnest in his
appeals, and throughout the long and weary