, 1874-03-29
SUMNER.
Still More About the Great
Senator.
Current Estimates Of Hita-.-knecdotes
and Analyses.


From. Our O,rn Correspondent.
TAsHING1os, March H. 1874.
L fow more words personal to the deceassd
Senator Of Massachusetts vii conclude what
have had to say.
HIS AIDS TO GREATNESS
1rr. Sumner had those ezrraneoua things to
nut hin IN the way of career and fame: respect"
able parcntage and good education; q law
preceptor, in Justice Story, Of national at1nlty'
whose patronage was path to higher places
eo,ue foreign travel under good introductions
and, finally, q remarkably loyal and supporting
Commonwealth, Of which it might be said, Scrip
turatlv; SIT gave the angels charge CONCERN
ing him, aud in their hands they boro him up"
But the above aids to greatness are not un-
common. Who uas lnein not, or has not had
them? Who has not some friend whose favor
leads upward and further cn7 How many young
men 70 from college to Europe with letter OF
credit, aud waste years and the money and pa
tiencc Of their parents? The two things essen
tial to the deceased man Of state we're CHARLES
Sumner and Massachusetts. He had the reV-
crent, methodical, earnest, and man-imbued
nature Of the Commonwealth, her steady habits
and lore Of wise society, devotion to books and
expanding principles, and deep belief that che
was sounded pioualr aud that her example wasnee-
cssary to the world Her grave Governors,
thoughtful orators, brave organization, ana
public spirit, were like something immemorial
and hoe. With age to him, old and substantial
rs English or jewish history, Which, By their
.,ntroEen cou1re. seemed founded in tho very
coucention Of God, and watched by His Provl-
dence. The Unitarian theology he esspoused
DESTROYED mono Of these Impressions, but put
the poesy Of humanity upon them, and, IN
seubo, ClriEtianized Ply1houth Rock: the
crimness Of elder Massachusetts relaxed; the
7yitch-h1es, and Quaker whppings, and ecclesi-
astica1 assizes lay back in shadow ; and fair
Harvard produced her more joyous Summers to
look always upon the human race in tho light OF
sentiment.
HIS FRESHNESS.
He was always little ver1ant and countryhed.
He believed What people told bin at the
time, like child. Ho came to Washington at
Jneticc StorJ'a suggestion, and is still remember
cd BY those who eaw him first as the m5st
pereim1non-like Of green things, with high
collar and long legs, easily quizzed, plain in
questioning, not novel in suggestions. and, with
much knowing, unworldly still. He saw slave
with wonder, indignation. and inquisitivaness.
The Supreme Court vas tho very forum of
6nai to him, and, th7eo weeks before be died,
he told me about drinking the Judicinl
Madeira with John Ma16ha]l. He went to
England, and attended Victo1ia's coronation, and
1uncbed with George Peabody. whom he de-
scribcd as exceedingly penurious. was struck
with his account Of himself hiring a court-dreEs,
securing room neEr the Abbey of Westminster
to slip it on, and, at o'clock Of the morning.
presenting himself at tho transcpt, the first Of
al, to DC admitted. II had seat No" he said.
sin Poets Corner, near the grave OF -
63, you would think ha ind begnn q ghost-story
and was child He sad the Peers' daughters
an around him were munchi2g sandwiches and
snacks, as they do on the most holy occa6ions,-
if tho Final Assizo Of man is ]ong, it will be in-
:es:uptea By an Englshman's yoiee SAYING,
offered this young, strange, hungry Yankee
something; but Lis bashfu1ness cqualed his
curioslty, and till o'clock p. NJ. he had nothing
in his stomach.
Tho days OF MIR. Sumner in Europe were spent
finding out places end men OF great example.
He accepted the approved opinion Of time aud
the Judgment Of others, and never was good
original critic. I remember tlat Mr. numbull
once complained of Sumner for saying that he
Enow Winnie Rean's statue Of Lincoln Was
nbominnble, and Jet had never taken the pains
to 80 to see it. Still this WAS lis way. He ac-
ceptel the reasonable verdict Of authority, and
his ccnylctions were general, though he was not
good to pick ANYTHING to pieces. The nation
Las sparsity Of broad. synthetic minds, aud q
Eurplus Of smart, analytic men.
We laugh at the didsctc man nowadays; and |
pretty, lud-fngered Bulwer, in one of hiB noy-
els, eneers ut the op!nionated HohnsoD, forget |
ful that few Of that big critics judgments are ]
not still cminous Us Lcyden-iars to tho literary |
iittie-folks. Out OF the propensity to analyze |
everything in nature and society comes the |
OF tie age; and the very purity |
of tue virgins check IS satisfactorily proved to
be composed Of SO much nicotine as to show tho |
complexion and habits of the man who Kissed |
her. never heard Charles Sumner tell a loose, !
inpeuhing story. He is the author Of no per-
sonal charges TINT know Of. Ho took tho rec |
ord Of President Grants message and tho list Of
his appointmen.s, and put together-not TOOK
Epart-a character. He constructed his oppo- |
zent. instead of picking him to pieces. Herein
lies the vigor OF portraiture: TINT it makes in
stead Of unmakes. think that to this synthetic
force is to b6 aseribed much of Mr.. Summers !
End tho slave.
his IDERAL1TY.
His disposition WAS totally ayeree to criticsing
mankind on the Theory Of general deprayity. /
took rather broad-saugo view Of tho follcs5
and peccadllloes Of human nature, and Of tho
Of instrumentalitics. do aot
know that I am putting this as feelit, End I
cn qnite sure that q good many people who
never E:w the man at all, but worBhlped him
efar off, will call me 70 account This is the [
privileges of the ass, who would rather have his
thistle Us he conceires it. instead Of the way Ma
Lure put it up.
Ime.n to say chat Mr.. Sumner was no scourge |
of justice, no phatisee in the temple, and that |
40 did not matte his mind tribunal to judge
he quick and tho dead, but, keer;ng himself |
,Ieau held others accountable OILY as they |
crossed the current Of his friendship Or his po-
itical mission.
Judge fancy WAS repellant to him rs tho bold !
md personifed jurisprudence Of Slavery, and |
10 did not care how pure or honest he was, but |
,harged On him as S5ul smote the priests Of the !
Amalekitcs The moro abused but harmless
clio Of Caleb Gushing, lie renewed affidation |
nth.
He would not trouble his mind with m1ss Of |
mputation; for, If he had believed it, what
light had it to enter into his house and abide !
here. Tales OF crime, tungles OF intrigue,
nare'6 nests OF sensation, no moro came into hls
louEo than the neighboring missionary to tell
i'm to take wine off his table. ewould ne1th5sr
70 bored nor prayed with. He kept the majesty
If himself sovereign; garo his confidence to
yhoM be pleased; worked for his friends, not
Ike dog, but like lion; demanded what he
bought they we're qualified for and entitled to;
nd rs to the rest Of the patronage he treated |
t like the cock on the dung scattering it to
he political hens and pn1lets.
BIS ORDINARY LIFE, |