The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-05

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THE HORIZON OF HIS MIND,
and every day he grasped the helm of affairs
with steadier hand. 1t was to such man
that Summer, during the most doubtful days
at the beginning of the war, addressed his
appeals for immediate emancipation-ap-
peals impetuous aud impatient. as they could
spring only from his ardent and overlook
ng convictions The president at first pas
sively resisted the vehement counsel of the
senator, but he babe the counsellor welcome.
II was Mr.. Lincoln's constant endeavor to
surround himself with the best and ablest
men of the country. Not only did the nrst
names of the republican party appear In his
cabinet, but every man IN congress was al, al
views agreed with those OF the president or
not. But Mr.. Sumner he treated as favor
tie couns ellor, almost like minister Of state,
outside of the cabinet. There were states
men around the president who are also pol
agement. Mr.. Lincoln appreciated the
value of their advice as to what was
prudent and practicable, but be knew
also how to discriminate. In Mr.. Sumner
he saw q counsellor who was no politician
but who stood before him as the true repre-
sentative of moral earnestness and the great
inspirations Of their common cause. From
him he heard what was right, and necessary,
and inevitable. BY the former he was told
what, In their opinion. could prudently and
safely be done. Having heard them both,
Abraham Lincoln counseled with himself
and formed his resolution. Thus Mr.. Lin
coin, while scarcely ever fully and speedily
following Summers advice, never ceased to
ask FORT, for he knew its significance and,
Sumner, while almost always dissatisfied
with Lincoln's cautious hesitation, never
grew weary in giving his advice. for he
never distrusted Lincoln's fidelity, and al
ways agreed TO the ultimate end. They al
most always differed as to times and means.
but while differing they firmly trusted, for
they understood one another, and thus
their mutual respect grew into an affection
ate friendship, which no disagreeing opin-
ions could break.
Mr.. SUMNER AND PRESIDENT GRANT.
Mr.. Schurz described the nature of the dit
iculty between the president and Senator
Sumner touching the San Domingo bust
ness, and eloquentIy vindicated Summers
motives, the conclusion OF the passage being
received with round after round of applause.
Probably the feelings of the audience were
wrought to the highest degree of intensity
by some mournful and pathetic passages in
orators remarks on the famous battle flag
resolution, for which Senator Sumner was
censured by the Massachusetts, legislature.
The following extracts are from this portion
of the eulogy: "Such were the sentiments
| for solemn resolution of censure upon
| Charles Sumner. Massachusetts, his own
Massachusetts,, whom he loved so ardently
with filial love, of whom he was so proud,
who had honored him so much in days gone
by, and whom he had so long and so faith
fully labored to serve and TO honor. Oh!
| these were evil days, that winter. DAYS sad
and dark, when he sat there in his lone
some chamber, unable to leave it. The
world moving around him, and in it 30
much that was hostile, and he Frustrated
by the tCrmenting disease which had
returned with fresh violence; unable to de-
| fend himself, and with this bitter arrow in his
heart. Why was not that resolution held up
to scorn and vituperation, as an insult to
the brave and patriotic? Why was he not
attacked and condemned for it when he
| first offered it, ten years before, and when
he was in the fullness of manhood and
] power? Why now? shall never forget the
| melancholy hours 1 sat with him, seeking
to lift him up with cheering words, and he,
with his frame for hours racked with excru-
ciating pain, and then exhausted with suf-
fering, gloomily brooding over the thought
that he must die so. How thankful am, how
thankful every human soul in Massachu-
sets, every American must be, that he did
not die then: and, indeed, more than once
death seemed te be knocking at this door.
How thankful that he was spared to see the
day when the people, by striking develop
ments, were convinced that those who had
acted as he did, had, after all, not been Inn
PEELED by mere whims of vanity, or reckless
| ambition, or sinister designs, but had good
and patriotic reasons for what they did.
When the heart of Massachusetts came back
| to him full of the old love and confidence
assuring him that he would again be her
chosen son; when the law givers of the old
commonwealth, Obeying an irresistible i'm
pulse of injustice, wiped away from the
/ Legislature
from the tair name of tn,
state that resolution of censure which haC
sTUNG HIM so DEEPLY, - g
and when returning vigor lifted him up, anC
new sunburst of hope illumined his life
how thankful we all are that he lived tina
one year longer. And yet have you though
of it? If he had died in those dark DAYS
when so many clouds hung over him. should
not the much yillified man have been th,
same Charles Sumner whose death a yea
later afflicted million of hearts with a pan.
| of bereavement, whose praise is now on ev
cry lip, for the purity of his life, for his fidel
ity to great principles, and for the loftines.
of his patriotism? Was he not year ago
the same?-the same in purpose, the same II
principle, the same in character? What haC
| he done then, that so many who praise hin
to-day should have then denounced him
See what he had done. He had simply beer
| true to his convictions of duty. He had ap
proved and urged what he thought right
He had attacked and opposed what hs
thought wrong. To his convictions to duty
he had sacrificed political associations mos
dear to him-the security of his position, o
which be was proud. For his convictions o
duty be had stood up against those more
powerful than he. He had exposed himsel
tt reproach, obloquy aud persecution. Had
he not done so he would not have been the
man Won praise TO day. and vet 10,
doing so he was cried down but yesterday
He had lived up to the great word he spoke
when he entered the Senate. SThe slave Of
/ principle, i call no party MASTER" THAI
declaration was greeted with applause, and
when, true to his word, he refused to call 9
party master, theact was covered with re-
proach. The spirit impelling HIM to do sc
| was the same conscience which urged him tc
break away from the powerful party which
controlled his state in the days of Daniel