Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-27
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
MONDAY, April q.
Sumner EulOxles in Both Houses

prayer "OH this day OF solemn conference We
come to bow before Thee in deep humility for
the memory of the distinguished dead OF this
Senate comes freshly before US. He besought
Divine Providence that the vacant place and
solemn house in the Senate chamber TO-DAY
should impress its lesson on every heart, and
that Almighty God mi sht have charge of the
services here to day"
Immediately after the reading OF the journal
Mr.. Boutwell, arose and in accordance with
previous notice submitted the following:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That as additional mark of re-
spect TO the memory OF Charles Sumner, long a
Senator from Massachusetts,, business be nOH
suspended, that the friends and associ 4teS O.
the deceased may pay fitting tributc to his pub
lie and private virtues.
RssOlred, That the Secretary of the Senate
be instructed TO convey these resolutions 20 the
House of Representatives.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously.
Mr.. BUUTwELL's REMARKS.
Mr.. Boutwell, SAID: The time that has passed
since the death of Mt. Sumner has assuaged the
bitterness of our grief, but the FIRST feeling Of
sadness rests with undiminshed weight upon
every heart Here and by us more than else
where anu by others his presence will be missed.
Senate, and tor a considerable period its senior.
To all of Us he was an acquaintance, and to
many OF us an intimate friend. To the cult
waited classes of Europe and America he was
known as a ripe scholar, sincere philanthro-
pist, an ardent and consistent lover OF liberty
and defender of the right, an experienced
American constitutional history, and the tr adj
toDs, genius, and practice OF European and
American diplomacy; a lover of art; an orator
fully equipped, according to the requirements
mentioned by Cicero, for the forum in which
his msturer years were spent; and, more than
all, man OF pure purposes in private and pub
lie affairs. For nearly % years enjoyed his
acquaintance, and for more than half that
PERIOD his Intimate friendship. Forgetting for
the moment my relations to him, 1t is to be said
that his friendships were first moral and intel
1an Nn ~ oh. 10 Id.
the civilitles, amenities, and blessings of Guilt
waited social life,
He came 10 the Senate not only as the repre-
sentative of the commonwealth of Mass .chu-
sets, but as the representative of an idea TO
which the state was even then already pledged.
The men who supported him in 1851 ware, with
lew exceptions, his supporters in 1851, 1868,
and 1869. MIR. Sumner Was at times in advance
of the people vi the state but in his hostility t.
the institution of slavery, In his efforts for its
abolition and the reconstruction of the govern
ment upon the basis of freedom, he never mis-
represented Massachusetts,. In the cause OF
liberty he was apostle, martyr, and hually con
querOr. In this cause, ana hy nature as we'll
lie was selt-reliant, selt-asSerting, and ag-
gr6ssive, and therefore his life, he Oftsn said
was life OF controversy. His nature WAS impe-
rlOus, and he made little allowance for the di-
yersItles among men, and often he dealt harshly
with those who opposed or failed to accept his
views. 1t is, however, a happy msmO rv Tor his
friends and countrymen that after his return
from Europe he had only kind words for all
upon personal and public questions.
Tst OF all, MIR. Sumner was devoted to lib
erty; not to English liberty or to American lib
eTty, but to Liberty. He accepted in their full
lest meaning the words of Kossuth, LIBERTY is
liberty, a. God is God" In his efforts to estab-
lish liberty I'm America no gave a free con
struction TO the original Constitution for the
purpose OF securing iglt and justice to all who
we're within its jurisdiction, and the powers of
j constitution may well be construed iberalIT
in the cause or right and justice, bu. they can
never be too much circamscribed in the service
OF wrong and oppression. There are limitations
to every form OF human greatness. Hr. Sum
ner was follower or ideas. general decla-
ration is the fullest expression of ideas; and Ar.
Sumner was inclined to trust general d Cara
tlons and to embOdy item in the constitution
and laws. Institutions are often unsatisfactory
when tested by the ideas they are designed to
represent. 4 speak rather OF what has been
than of our hopes OF the future. Our own Con
stitution is ROW nea- approach TO the Dscll-
ration OF Independence, and we may anticipate
the time when local governments and indepen-
dent nations in the discharge OF their duties
and the exercise of their powers, will conform
practically TO the best ideas OF Justice AMI
peace. Mr. Sumner was impatient Of delay
and hence he accepted reluctantI those amend
ments 10 the Constitution which to Others
seemed sufficient for the protection OF personal
and public rights. lt is therefore to DO adult
ted that in the business OF government and for
the time in which he lived Nr. Sumner WAS NOT
always . practical statesman.
The world is usually too busy to concern itself
cial claims to consideration. The immortal few
IN politics and government are those who have
led In proceedings in which men OF all times are
Interested. The American Revolution gSve a
few such names to the country and the world:
the contest for the overthrow Of slavery added
others. Among these We may venture to place
Charles Sumner, whose iabors, fidelity, and
suferings can never be omitted from the hts-
tory OF the contest. A its inauenco widens and
deepeps in the current OF universal human life
tne services OF the men engaged in it will DO
! uiOIo ppfoclated throu shoat the world. Ths
blow struck at slavery in America will prove As
efectual against slavery in every 9th sr couutry
White slavery existed with us, and su a raye was
limited, and the truths OF the Declaration OF
independence were not realized in the 2oyarn
ment, monarchies and aristocracos had a ds-
fense In the admitted failure OF the srsat re-
puDlc. Ihat defense 10 now taken away, and
one AFTER another, personal and class govern
ments must fall Thus will Mr.. Sumner iustIy
claim consideration in other lands and fraTn
future times. There is, however, an i'm mortal
ny Lot personal which Is even more enduring
The power OF great life, of a superior hmm IA
intellect, spreads far beyond the knoaledgs of
names, and Is transmitted to generations that
have no means of tracing the Influence a. tn thar
source. These influences become woven into
the civilization, literature, and politics of ma
tons, control their fortunes, shape their dasti
most important character.
IL cannot be denied that in the efforts made
by Mr.. Sumner in behalf of human liberty And
universal peace ne has given new force TO the
with numerous other contributions of the past
present, and the future, Will contribute to the
general welfare OF the human race. But
whether his name be remembered or FORGOTTEN
MS lower will continue. When a person has
disappeared from the stage of human action.
his name, even II known to future generations
IS OF little consequence 10 them; the ind uence of
his life is all OF value thas remains.
Thus has Mr.. Sumner bound himself to his
countrymen OF two races, and to the civilized
world, by chords that may be traced through
the ages as long as justice shall ii nd defenders
OF the divine Split OF liberty shsll animate
But these thoughts relate to tho uncertain
future We are called In the present TO Accent
The solemn truth that the death Of Charles
Summer Is signal loss to tho Senate and people
VI the 7 nlted States, alleviated in soma degree
by the belief that his life, eharact and public
services, especially in favor Of human liberty
and universal peace, will ever be held in crate
iul remembrance by his counuymea ana the
knowledge thereof transmitted to posterity as
an example for future generations.
Nh. THUkAAN'S RRnAR
MI. THURMAN said he became Acquainted
with CHARLES Sumner i've years age, and q
iriendsnip had sprung up between them which
nad never boon marred BY the slightest circu m
stance, COMMUNICATING the dinereaces be-
tween them politically. He therefore felt no
ntsitatcn In paying personal tribute to his
deceased associate. Mr.. Sumner perhaps "a ada