Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-19
first to the last. even to the last


hour of his official life, he sought to
incorporate in the national law
mandatory recognition of the social
as well as the legal equality OF the
I colored race. He was largely IN
strumental in securing the 18th and
18th amendments, giving the negro
political equality with the whites,
and his last efforts were by his civil
rights bill to secure the absolute
equality for the two races.
In the early stages OF the war the
seizure of the Confederate Commits
sioners to the European powers,
Messrs. Mason and Slidall, on board
/ the British steamer Trent, provoked
much contention. Mr.. Sumner was
almost the only Senator who es-
poused the cause of Great Britain IN
her demand for the return OF the
captives. He took the ground that
their seizure was unjustliiable on
the principles of international law,
which the United States had always
maintained. His speech had much
to do ia reconciling the people to a
proceeding that was peculiarly dis
tasteful to them. Subsequently, he
was active in starting and support
| ing our claims on account OF the
ravages of the rebel cruisers, and
one OF his speeches on this subject
was by far the most clear and ex-
haustive recitals Of our case ever
made. Mr.. Sumner retained the
craftsmanship of the committee on
Foreign relations till 1870, when he
was retired to secure harmony be-
tween this committee and the State
Department.
Some two years ago Mr.. Sumner
proposed ia the Senate q joint reso-
luton directing the omission from
the future army registers the names
of battles in the late Civil War
in which the several regiments
of the regular army had participated.
This resolution provoked Wuch III
dignation and the Massachusetts,
Legislature passed a series of reso-
lutions censuring Mr.. Sumner for
his conduct. The Legislature at its
present session, out of regard for
the Senator's services, rescinded the
resolutions of censure and these re-
scinding resolutions were presented
to Congress, the last day Mr.. Sum-
ner sat in the Senate.
The later acts Of Mr.. Summers
career, such as his desperate oppo-
sition to San Domingo annexation
his denunciation of President Grant,
and declaration for Mr.. Greeley for
President, are too fresh in the rec
objection of our readers to need re-
counting here. Mr.. Sumner con-
sidered himself Republican to the
last, and took special pride IN
claiming to represent the Repubh-
cans of Massachusetts.
The greatest mistake OF Mr.. Sum
ner's life was his marriage, which
occurred when he was well advanced
in years, in 1868. The lady was a
widow, Mrs. Mason, niece of Sam
uel Y. Hooper, the Boston million
aire. In order to marry MIR. Sum-
ner. she surrendered u large fortune
left her by her former husband on
condition that she should remain a
widow. The union was an unhappy
one. Mrs. Sumner was young and
fond of society; her husband pre-
ferred the society of his books to
that of the frivolous DANES and non
sensical fools who compose the ton OF
Washington. Mrs. Sumner attempt
ed to assume a leading position in
the gay gatherings at the capital,
but her husband was 10th to forsake
his library for such uncongenial
company, and seldom appeared with
her. Of course, she accepted other
escort on such occasions, and the
busy tongue of scandal took it up.
None who knew the lady believed
that she was impure in thought,
word or deed, but the slanderous
!, tongues about the capital were busy
in circulating innuendoes calculated
to prejudice the unthinking multi
tude. The result, as might have
been expected, was separation, ter
minating in divorce, granted by
reason of incompatibility OF temper
10 both of the parties, the marriage
was unfortunate but neither can be
seriously blamed, for their disagree
ment was the result of the utter In
compatibility of one to the other