The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-12
naath of Charles Sumner.

biz he was one OF Tue WoSs teuaA h"
as he was one of the ripest scholars Oh JUS
day. He graduated at Harvard In 1851,
continued his private studies at the cor
,c,a for a vear-then entered the law"
school at Cambridge, and became thefe
an intimate friend Of Judge Story
was admitted to the bar In 1SS4-ior
three winters was lecturer of the law
school in the absence Of Judge STORY In
Washington appointed law-reporter Of
the United States Circlit Court, and pub
lshed three volumes Of Judge SToRY's deci"
sions entitled " SUMMERS Reports " and Mt
the same time edited the sfAn,erican Jurtst."
He was offered professorships of law in
school and in Harvard, which he decli6ed.
He made tour iu Europe in 1887, returning
in 1910. Resuming his practice and law.
labors, he published in 1S44-'46 an elaborate
edition OF VEssY's Reports" He had up
to this time taken no sctiye part in politics,
though voting with the Wings. On the 4sh
July, 1915, be made an address on "The True
Grandeur of Nations" in which ne de-
nounced war. He contcnded that the wager
of battle between nations ought to give way
to peaceful arbitration of international ques'
tions as the private ordeal Of battle had
given way to that substitute in the admins
traton Of justice between individuals. rms
speech was intended to bear upon the ques-
ton of war with Mexico, then agltated'
This address spread the fame of its author
very widely. RICHARD Golden pronounced
it the noblest contribution made Dy any
modern writer to the cause of peace.
Soon afterwards came his strong anti
slavery demonstrations. He opposed the
of Texas on the ground OF
slavery, and on November 4, 1S45, made Il
speech in Funtuil Hall against that measure.
In the following year he made speech on
The "Anti.SIavery Duties Of the Wing Par.
w.; and shortly afterwards published re-
Duke of ROBERT C. WINTHROP, who then re-
presented Boston in Congress, for voting in
ayor of war with Mexico.
He seemed to be embittered by the events
If the day, and threw The whole weight OF
lis talents into the scale Of abolition. 1t be-
anne specially with him. He separated
rom the Wings and joined the Free-Sollers,
continuing with them until LINCoLN's cleo
ion. His formula on oil occasions was
!: Freedom is national-slayery IL sectional"
All laws for the rendition of escaped slaves
,e pronounced unconstitutional.
MIR. SUMNER was elected by the Massachu-
cts Legislature by small vote, after many
allots, to the United States Senate, in 1860,
fter the retirement Of Dir. WEBSTER. He
arried with him a bosom full of fanaticism
bout slavery equally blended with prejudice
gainst the South. He permitted no oppor-
unity for the indulgence Of his feelings to
,ape. On the 10Th and goth OF May, 1856,
e delivered bis great speech on " The Crime
,ainst Kansas" in which he made very
fensive personal reference to Senator But
r, of South Carolina, for which that gen.
eman's nephew, PRESTON 8. BROOKS, also
member Of Congress, caned the MasSachu'
it's Senator in the Senate Chamber. The
tack was made with gutta-percha cane,
lie brittle nature of which caused it to break
pieces after few blows. The blows fell
Don the head, and MIR. SUMNER was invaded.
e complained of the injury he received for
long time. He went to Europe In '57 for
&c benefit of his health, and again in '5s. He
lbmitted to severe treatment by surgeon
Paris. and returned ia 1859 relieved from
IS suffering.
Immediately after tae attack motion was
ade to expel Brooks from the House of
representatives., which failed for the want Of
two-thirds vote. There were 121 in favor
T expulsion to s. against. BROOKS resigned
nd was unanimously reelected by his con-
ituents. SUMNER was reelected in January
iG by nearly unanimous vote of the Massa-
husetts Legislature-only seven votes being
asst against him in the lower house.
The first serious effort of Mr.. SUMNER after |
is restoration to health was an elaborate |
peech in the Senate on I" The Barbarism of
slavery" His course during the war and |
ince is familiar to most of our readers. 1t |
vas with him all the time emancipation |
Until slavery was abolished, and then he de-
1oted himself to the equality Of the negro |
With the white man. He fairly discussed the
case of the seizure, on board the English |
vessel Trent, of Messrs. SLDELL and MASON,
Confederate Commissioners. He contended
that the seizure was unjustifabe.
Since the war he has relaxed his temper in
only one instancc-that Of his motion con-
,erning the battle.fags and army registry,
with view to respect the feelings OF south
nrn people. This was indeed very liberal OF
him; but the Massachusetts Legislature,
which be had taught to be uncompromlsing,
censured him for it. Al the present Session.
no viewer. the resolution of censure was re-
,ciuded, and the rescinding resolution was
presented to the United States Senate by
Senator Boutwell, the day before Mir. SUN
sER's death. 1t was exceedingly gratifying
that the harsh censure Of good deed should
have been repealed and the fact made known
to him on his death-bed.
Mr.. SUMNER is dead, and southern resent
ment dies with him. BE had unquestion.
ably good traits. What married bis life was
a philanthropy which ran into fanaticism,
and that bound up as BUNDLE of sticks, a
number of hates and prejudices, which en-
Uttered his days and blinded his judgment.
If not before, certainly after the assault by
BROOKS, his mind became morbid to the last
degree on things relating TO the South. That
event did as much to produce the final
bloody conflict in the field of war as any