The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-29
CHARLES SUMMER.
Remarks OF E1On. .Busiin n. rsOrrilL of
Vermont. in the United states SEM
ate, Aprii91 1874

MI. 1rcslucnt-iicrc our numbers are
not SO large. nor our differences of any
sort so great, that We do not feel, when
death enters this chamber, something of the
bereavement of broken family circle.
Associated here for prolonged term Of
years, often including the prime and lipcst
portion Of our lives, stately meeting in
the workshops of committees, and in daily
debate, hearing our names repeated ia the
frequent roll-calls, il is not strange that it
should give our hearts pang to part with
the humblcst name when it passes away
forever to the "stauy court of eternity. -
But now when we part with Il conspicuous
member of the Senate. conspicuous hv
length of service, by eminent ability and
established rcnOwn, each one Of us must
confess TO more or less of personal loss as
well as to the greater loss of the Senate
itself. Charles Sumner under the higher
law has responded to the last roll-call, and
here the familiar sound of his voice is for
ever slenccd. His imposing presence on
the GROWING outer circle Of the Senate
VIII no longer attract attention Only the
memory remains to us of one whose words
and bearing--with minor qualifications so
well compOrted with the dignity of his
office as to hayc fairly earned The title of a
model senator
Mr.. Sumner for four years had been a
member of the Senate when it was my for
tune, in 1865, first to hold a seat in the
house of representatives ForwOrds spoken
in debate, in 1856, he was brutally assaulted
by Preston s. Brooks. Il member of the
house, and il was not until after this that
my pcrsLnal acquaintance with him began
For some years | was more familiar with
what was then known as his vacant chair
than with the senator to whom il belonged
who was abroad ready 10 invoke heroic
remedies, ii only they led to health Dur
ing these years he returned for a
short period, but bore little or no part
in the Senate. Mr. Brooks meanwhile
suddenly died, as at last, and after inter-
walls Of painful suffering, has, also suddenly,
the victim of his violence. 1t was notice
able in his social Intercourse, while others
let slip an occasional outburst Of feeling as
to his assailant, MIR. Sumner never disclosed
the least lingering personal anim0sity
History was silently left TO ayengc itself.
His misfortune appeared to be accepted as
one of the many nseparabe wrongs result
ing from the cruel system of slavery, with
which only he waged enduring battle, and
not as the crime of an individual with
whom, living or dead, he sought only
peace.
The senate Of the United States is no or
binary theatre in which men sustain their
parts. 1t is the forum of states If the
seat which in 1851 Mr.. Sumner was called
to fill had been previously occupied by an
undistinguished person, his task would have
been comparatively easy; but that seat was
long held by one the world pronounced the
foremost American senator, made classic
by one the breadth and grandeur of whose
services, whose eloquence and statesman
ship, with that of his compecrs, had placed
the American senate on level with that of
the Roman republic in the DAYS of its
greatest virtue and highest splendor He
succeeded, after brief ntcrlude the vet
eran defender of the Constitution" who
had stamped upon our banner the ineffacc-
able words Union and Liberty. now and
forever, one and inseparable." To say that
he proved not an unworthy successor of
Webster, however unlike, is to say MUCH
considering he was but tyro in the poli-
tics of even the commonwealth from
whence lie came. 1t was the fortune Of
Charles Sumner to he placed IN his high
station at a period of grand and rapidly
eliminating events. Blessed with exalted
natural gifts, he also had been furnished
with large share of the cruditon of the
age, completed by such graces as foreign
travel supplies. Having already started
IN the field with small band of early cru
saders against slavery, impelled by ro-
bust frame and more robust will, he fear
lessly seized upon every fit occasion in his
new position TO make that institution obi
GUS, and,if possible to wound in some of its
most vulnerable parts. This was his all
absorbing mission.
lie received and reyered the constitution
of our country, az ordained by the same
will and power which proclaimed the great
Magma Charta of human freedom. the Dec
laration of Independence, and, therefore,
never forgot the fundamental idea of
equality before the law" nor that sail
men are created equal lie brought 10
liked allegiance to party platforms ana found
no writhes in the constitution that restrain
cd him from resisting any claims for the
protection of slavery; but that instrument
was everywhere TO be interpreted broadly
and benefciently in the interests of human
ity, worldwide and divinely free
Bestowing care even upon trifles, his ora
tons in the Senate, as might be expected,
were prepared as for grand occasion. and,
towering in his place like a tribune of the
people. the heavy, resounding tones of bis
voice were wont to draw the attention of
willing listeners to words which soon found,
through the press, n far wider acceptance.
His arguments were methodical, abundant
in information, stiffened by apt and prcg-
nant sentences, studously obscrvant of the
syllogistic beginning middle and end, and
though rarely what is called brilliant or H.
Illuminated by wit, were always clearly put
forth, with the paramount object of spread
ing light and with the convincing majesty
OF earnestness.
Those among us who have found it some
times difficult 10 agree with him never
found it difficult 10 respect his fairness of
purpose, his unilinching integrity, or his
wealth of learning. In his orbit as states.
man Ehe. scared high from the beginning
to the end, and ever sought with moral
noble ends by noble means
AS to the largest share Of legislative
measures he was apt to be right.
He sturdily and sonowfuly resisted
the Punishment of coin, as an alien, from
the base of sound currency Upon ques-
tions of popular rights he was often lead
er in all steps of reform he was never a
laggard The doctrines he espoused. if not
exclusively his own, appeared TO belong to
him by the possessory title of constant use
and earnest adherence. lie needed no adj
to ''stick." If it cannot proper
ly be claimed that ''his doctrines persuaded |
one generation and live to govern the
next, it may be claimed that his carly
text, of "Freedom national, slavery sec
lional," did not wait until the next genera |
ton to he even more than verified Free |
dom is national and slavery forever extinct. |
In the surging conflicts in behalf of univer-
sal liberty, the deceased senator has gath
cred many laurels and If few more re-
manned to be won, his brow was already |
covered. He will be numbered among |
those who helped to change a great chap I
ter in our history. BY life of unstnted |
and unselfsh labor he secured the undying |
OF an emancipated race and the |
general approval of mankind.
Mr.. Sumner was ever surrounded by |
books. They were his most beloved friends |