The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-05-14
TIE EUIoeIEs ON sEnAroE SUMMER.

THE EULoGIEs ON sEBATOR SUMNER.
The Late 1ssue-Abstract Rights versus
ConstitutfonaI Efghts- Libertyfszn versus
Pafriotisn.-OneP Prineipls versus AnOth-
er Prfncipls.-yEhlcIa oughttO have Wonz
Ma. EDTroR -Wm the people read,
think. and ponder coolly over their
actions2 viii they ever study dis
passionately the subjects that concern
their interests? Will they ever weigh
political lessons, and heed the truths
that history will in the end write of
them? Will no age or race SO con-
duct itself, that regret and remorse
will have no place in the summing up
of its final accounts
There never was q grander oppor-
tunity than now for q people to reflect
The death of Sumner, as well as his
life, is an entreafy for pause and con-
sideration. He was the representa-
tive, on one side, of war for abstract
rights, of change; of revolution, OF
unconditional liberty, if you please
without regard to practical considera-
tions or existing laws and customs
and in spite of constitutional COM
pacts and the most solemn national
agreements. He trained half the ma
ton into his belief, taught it to dis
own its promises and bond. and filled
lit with wrath against those who re-
posed upon the pledges it had made.
Hissestimate of human rights was his
law, and his followers came to believe
it the hfqhest Eago. Nothing was old
enough. or sacred enough to oppose
it. with impunity. To face it was
treason. To adhere patriotically to
well established laws er constitutions,
consecratad by All time, and the wis
dom and practice of all mankind, and
by the latest and wisest of political
philosophers and statesmen, was re-
beIlion. s
The evils of African slavery were
ldwelt upon, multiplied and exagger-
ated, by him and his apostles, the
Stewards and Beechers and others, un-
til a blind and fiery zeal, as reckless as
that Of the Crusaders for the Holy
Land, broke over all barriers of Sc
cured righs-carried bloodshed and
desolation over half the nation and
mourning and bankruptcy over the
other half.
The Constitution made by our
fathers he condemned as Covenant
with Death, and a League with Hell" J"
and amended it. And this was all he
intended from the first. He always
meant revolution. To change the gov
ernment was his object and the object
of his co-adjutators. 1t mattered little
at what risk or cost. In their view it
was wrong and it was time to alter it.
This alteration was offensive to the
South. They wished to abide by it.
Clay and Webster both asserted that
abolition aimed at the overthrow Of
the government, nor did the .boldest
and most candid of abolition orators
ever pretend to deny it.
Had then the South no principle OF
defence !? Had they no apology
Was our venerated form of govern
ment no justification Was it no
shield and its covenants no guarantee
Was it treason to seek to 1--we in its
faith and abide by its provisions
When blotted, and blurred, and de-
formed and made void, by the legis-
lation of the Northern States, was il
rebellion to seek to, continue and per-
petuate its measures and principles
outside of, and beyond the reach Of
Northern fanaticism and infidelity.
Out upon the sophistry of the
seSumpter Flag" or the g National
Flag John Brown hurt nothing in
firing at it, and tareing it down at
Harpers' Ferry. Whose feelings were
wounded when the glorious Constitu-
ton itself was torn and bleeding
Whose hearts were broken with grief
when it was called filthy rag and
a mandate from "Helly? les flag any
better than the Constitution that holds
it up2
But l ask your readers to read and
study the speeches made recently in
both branehes of Congress upon the
life of Senator Sumner. and particu-
larly the one made by Lamar, the
Representative from Mississippi; the
ablest by far of any delivered on the
occasion. This speech, by Confed-
crate, contains in fact the finest eulogy
of all others, because it shows the
Senator greatest and grandest where
his own partisans and friends have
found most fault; and it shows fnr-
thermore, that those who have found
this fault, have done it through igno-
rance of the true character of the late
issues, and abandonment to the most
unworthy prejudices and passions.
= ss ee Yours, E.