Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-03-20

knocked to the floor senseless, and
beaten, while helpless and uncon.
scious, till the rage of his immedi.
ate assailant was thoroughly salts.
fed. Mr.. Sumner was so much in.
jured as to be compelled to abandon
his seat and take voyage to Eu-
rope, where, under the best medical
treatment, his health was slowly re-
stored"
The cowardly ruffian who perpc-
trated the outrage, and degraded
the position he occupied, was sim
ply fined $500! In January, 1857,
Mr.. Sumner was reelected unani-
mously to the Senate, and returned
home. In the spring of 1858 he re-
turned to Europe, and did not again
resume his seat until the close OF
1859. His speech against the "bar-
barism of slavery" which was pub
lished about this time, produced an
immense effect. In 1850 he advo-
Gated the election OF Abraham Lin
coin to the Presidency, and during
the session OF ls6o-'6l opposed the
atte@pt to propitiatc. the disunion-
lists by concessions which would
sacrifice the rights of the oppressed
or favor the interests of slavery. In
March, 1861, he was appointed
Chairman Of the Committee on For
eign Relations, and about the end
of 1862 he was again elected SEN
ator for six years, ending March 4,
1869. He was the author Of the
resolutions on foreign mediation
which were passed March 8, 1868,
by both Houses of Congress. After
the close of the civil war he advo-
Gated the reconstruction Of the Sc.
ceded States on the basis of impair
tial suffrage. During the war his
sage counsel was often sought by
President Lincoln. The "Freed-
mems Bureau Bill" is one of the
last of those important services
which he has rendered to his coun-
try. In 1869 he delivered 4 telling
speech upon the Alabama claims.
1t was a cause for regret among his
friends that in 1872, having joined
the Liberal party, he should have
assailed the administration OF Pres
ident Grant. Says a recent writer:
"He had ever been a leading and
potential Republican, and may be
truthfullyisaid, l think, to have been
for many years the most illustrious
of American statesmen. the most
faithful friend, and the most power
full advocate and defender of human
freedom" From this time forth
the mind of Mr.. Suuner began to
show symptoms of that nervous un.
rest and lrritability which but too
surely presaged the coming fall.
His proposal to abolish all relics of
the Union cause, and to blot out the
memories Of an honorable victory,
was regarded as the unaccountable
crochet Of a failing man. AS these
characteristics became more mark
ed, his colleagues gradually, but
surely, left him to stand alone, like
an oak which had weathered the
storm, but whose strength was grad
ually failing.
The circumstances connected
with Mr.. I1r.rriasc 71nd
subsequent divorce, which are gen
orally familiar to the residents of
the national capital, no doubt con-
spired, With other causes, to break
spirit proud as Lucifer, but hon
est in its pride. 1t was foolish
step; and when the statesman, hand
some, yet past the age when love
can rule-great, yet full Of the pride
of greatness-led to the altar the
facinating widow of son of the
Hon. Samuel Hutton, of Massachu-
setts-a woman fond Ct and courted
by society, the world wondered, and
the quidnuncs shook their heads.
For once the world was right. The
wife of Charles Sumner could re-
spect, but she could not love him.
He had given his youth and his
manhood to his country; fame was
his bride; and this earthly union
came too late. Incompatibility of
temper, and other causes, which
had best be consigned to oblivion,
led to that separation, with the par
ticulars of which the world is sutfic-
iently familiar.
In private life, Charles Sumner
was a man of the most scholarly
and refined tastes. His collection
of books and relics was sight
which those who have enjoyed can
never forget. He was naturally a
student, and a man Of exclusive
tastes. His apparent hauteur was
the result Of that innate reserve
which could not tolerate vulgality.
In the history Of the United States,
the name of Charles Sumner will
live as one who represented it with
credit and gave it honor. He has
fallen at an age when the statesmen
and the jurists Of England are mere
ly stepping upon the threshold OF
their third estate. Within the com.
paratively short period Of sixty.
three years Charles Sumner has &C.
complished the work of two life
times. When one thinks of the
name and fame Of this man, who
but a few years ago, in the hcy-day
and the zenith of his fame, was one
to whom the American people point
ed rs the statesman par ercellenct
OF the time, he is tempted to use the
words which Thackeray applied to
the greatest humorist that ever
lived: $50 great a man, he seems
to me, that thinking Of him is like
thinking of an empire falling"
The life of Charles Sumner affords
an example of industry, perseve'
renee, and conscientious devotion
to principles, which may be imita'
ted by all the youth of the land. He
has done his work, and over the TO-
lios which now live to tell us Of q
great life may be inscribed the mot
to Of the Latin poet:
Exegi monumentum are perennius.
Tho Travelling Agent.