New-York tribune., 1874-12-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES SUMNER.

A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES SUMNER
ANNUAL MEETING OF TIE NEwENGLAND SOCIETY
address BY ELLIOT C. CowDN.
The annual meeting of the New-England
Society held Demonico's In Fourteenth-st last
evening Among tho guests were District-Attorney
Phelps, ID. r. Appleton. Samuel j. Constant ana the
Treasurer Of the Society. Luther D. Wyman. The Hon.
W. II. Webb was chosen Chairman. and the report OF
the President for the past year was read The officers
were then reelected. E. C. Cowdin delivered an
address on the Life and Character Of Charles Sumner.
The following are extracts:
The three landmarks Of the rst century OF the Amer
can Republic upon which history will most inteny n1
s eye are the contest for independence the adoption
struggle for thu patton Of the coiored
race, Mr. sumner was conspicuous leader ana ior hs
be the longest as he is now the most widely known.
During public service Of quarter Of century he
the memorable which will render the last hall OF
our hrst centennial famous till the pillars OF the Union
crum0le to dust Aud II he was not among the earliest
to enter the field what champion Of the cause welded
SO brilliant blade as he and whose crest like the blte
plume OF Henry OF Navarro. 0ftener seen In the
very thick OF the contesti While the Impressions OF his
mankind are still fresh upon minds II is fitting that
this society should place upon record testimonial OF ITS
sense OF the exalted worth Of one OF New Englands
Mr. Sumner had become distinguished IN Massachu-
before he was elected to that position IN the
ha.iona councils where he won world wide fame In,
In l5 and his speech against tho admission OF Texas as
slave State, delivered the year; his speech on
and the address the "war system OF the Common
wealth Of Nations" in 1s49 take rank among the most
able ana eloquent OF his Uratorical Efforts
Tue extraordinary circumstances which attended his
r election 10 the Senate have often been detailed and
aie paI. o the familiar history OF inc country her
his election. when some friends expressed 10 him their
fears that the Pro-savery Democracy would not allow
him o take his seat in the Senate because of his aho
toh opinions lie promptly replied: give myself no
uneasiness that point while have the broad seal OF
the Common weaiIh OF MASSACHUSETTS, as my passport"
Many months passed away after Mr.. Sumner reached
great cause which had sent him thlther. Senators
Seward and Chase had spoken and aroused the anger or
HIS friends ANXIOUS. They knew that he had pre-
pared speech against the Fugitive Slave law; but wny
did he not deliver III Did he stand abashed In the
presence VI that dark and bacful power toward which
he had hurled such eq tent while intrenched
behind The walls of F.neuIl Hallf These oyereager
friends did injustice TO tie great champion OF Freedom
Lance in resi- he Dded his lime to launch 1t at the foe
and moved the repeal OF the odous statute Ihcn Tor
three hours he held the Senate Cnanbercowded to us
utmoS capacity y-speibouud with one OF the most able,
earned anu eloquent speeches against chate slavery
and In favor OF amman rights which he ever Delivered
From that ausplciUus day tl The hour OF his laDented
DEATH tie heart Of the old beat true 10
her illusirous son. Mr.. Sumner now advanced with
aacrty TO the performance oI the work TO which he had
consecrated his re need not trace even the outlines
OF his grdni the Senate. Nor s II necessary
HIS deeds engrayeu IN lmpcrlshabe letters III the
annals Of his country and TO poserty they VIII DC as
familiar as household words.
Mr. Sumner was doubtless the most accom- mpsled
scholar aud commanding orator in the Senate dur NJ
his Of service. Indeed, take him all III all 1t may
questioned neither ever sent his peer
that BODY. do not forget that amOng her Senators
AT ana near his time stood Webster Cnoate and Everett.
A. scholar, the equal Of Everett, though his
learning was pronounced more extensive than exact,
aud his scholarship varied tnaD profound Few
Americans nad studied many rare book OF cOllated
contents with much care and had hem 30 ready
for Ia the Richness and variety OF his literary
stores he Iescmblcd I'D BrOugham, with whom he eu-
joyed familiar acqua ntance thi0u many years As
an orator M sumner was the equal OF the most accO-
plisntd Of his Senatorial compeers-lsuius Choae.
Though not ready for sudden emergencies, nor as
logical ia debate, THIS celebrated OF Mlssachu-
scIts he regarded superior 10 MN IN rhetorical
splendor. lie more resemhled Ednund Burke, with
wnOm ne WAS often compared Tncr oraiOry was cast
In tue same mod. BUlB INDUCED III aDplltude or
statement fertility Of Illustration, scholarly al!usions,
and eoseousness Of dictoh lhe puo;isn9n Wotks OF
the American senator, like those OF the English Com
mcner, viii long I'VE TO ad0 tue Libraries of scholars
aud statesmen Ia both countries.
Mr. sumner Ia the estimation Of the majority Of his
fchow-,iuzeus, is not regarded as the equal OF MI.
Webster as statesman; though II WI! nardy DO dis
putcd that far iuta;e sumner viii be the longest
remembered, mainly for tue reason that In the forum
Webster discussed material nietes,s-nohey, 10 Fa,He
wnc Summer dealt with moral lssues-thc
higher theme Of man. lis dIGHity and his rights sum
nerr state sinaishp looked Tue hono ana lo
glory Of his wnoic country, and the elevation ana we'll
than politician and preferred TO furnish his party WIN
ir "a ra than to lead IL III the ordinary contests vi
the cleceus even In the Senate. In the terrible con-
hcts ol the senate he was The special oJtI Vi siaNe
Louig wrath. Tbs Was Gu TO e iact tua nc dlI not
oppose the extension OF Slavery he warred on
the Thing itself cxccsscs, but its essence look
lug the negro not as an abused chatel put as
Dy in carncst Ii the ability tho persIsency, tue
e auent vehemeuce with which lie advo ated TINS doc.
Bruoks-an outrage nat star led the Wnoe North 10 ts
feet and of which, Ia lis ultimate Effects h ~ NOT 100
much say tL, when the biOod OF su ner staihe Tue
floor OF the senate Chamber, American Slavery received
It's dcatlDiow. 49, . ,..
that bravery OF mihd and soul which IN defense OF
good cause does not sop 10 count buinoers DuI can
confront pubic opinion ana meet scOfn dud oDioquy
without fiiuch.ng. and even WITT ehlbu-lasm amonS
tue prominent OF his characteristics were nuclly
10 couyictous, tenacity of pdrpose anu uhiaHttlnS
faith ia triumph OF the right radlcai feiorhei,
lie followed IDEAS straight to tner ogIyai results. iS
I'm aIy Of
rendering niD poneer OF MS party rather tna Did Va
It's gllar leaders lhs Discrimination OF ~
ZION Tor ordinary political leadership, sPrdnB n Pirt
from another source In0ugn thoroughly veisSd III ue
Constitution and history or the country, ptoiouna sIu %
dent OF international law aud ripe scholar yet the
salient point in bs character was pdsslotte Vnlus
a,m TOR humanity. lie was 0y nature pIlIahthropsi,
and Wherever mankind wrthed under the heel OF "
ranny found his heart beating Warmly Ior ne
vcii;, and his eloquent rebukIng the oppressor
T,s al ty ol his nini made him too uucompfomlslns
for PARTISAN leadership; and besides thls nc WIS
wholly ayerse to discussing any question until he fully
understood 1t, whicn party leaders III ieglsatNo ooies
often compelled 10 40 Another OF ms lIanu i1'
was that he Was proGmneD honest ana lncorruptioe
In an ago of doIunclation, AL must adt that nc az
least pure and spotless La al thhgs he was he
very soul Of integrity aud nonor WIN cue eAcrp.n u
President Lincoln, probably no man has dea III 'hs
country whose fail Wa. 50 generally rrgdrueu as na
tlona bereavement. Having fought his great oattle
ana won his great victory heart Of the champion OF
freedom had sotened toward his Late ioesj anu North
aud South gathered in reyercntia sorrow around lis
bier.
The annual dinner OF the Society will be given on
Tuesday Dec. o. and among those invited TO address
the meeting are President Grant, Senator Conkling the
R,y. Henry Ward Beecher, the Rev. DIR. Chapin, and
Postnast General Jewell.
THE FOURTH AVENUE IMPROVEMENT.
TIE MAYOR BELIEVES 1T BENEFIT TO THE CITY,
AND DIRECTS THE LITIGATION REGARDING III TO
BE CLOSED - OPINION OF THE CORPORATION
COUNSEL.
Mayor Havemeyer held that the city was
not legally bound pay the cost OF the Fourth
Improvement. Oh the ground tnat was ior 'no
benefit Of private corporation. Simon Stern was re-
tained by the Counsel at the request OF the