New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-28
views his course when they were opposed to the
deliberate judgment OF my own mind.


denness and excited such sorrow and sympathy ina.
no one OF us was inclined TO discharge his usual official
duties. He was with the day before in apparent
good health, and witnessed the formal Withdrawn py
the General Assembly OF Massachusetts OF the only ef
cism ever made by that Commonwealth OF any act OF
his during his long, continuous service OF 70 years as
member OF this body. We indication OF disease
and yet within "a hours he was dead 20 Striking an
example Of the uncertain tenure OF human life was
warning to all. made impressive by the exalted
position held by Mr.. Sumner.
At no previous period OF hssfe would his death have
caused such generalssorrow The long strife he con-
Quoted against Slavery aroused against him bitter
luminosity in portion Of country, but TINS was ~
mellowed by time and events that his old enemies ac
know lodged the purity OF his motives and the lofty pu
pose his warfare. lie had unmistakable evidence Oh
the continued confidence and support OF MS con
stiuens, and OF the love and veneraton OF 6OOOOU Oh
freedmen The OF recent contests in this body was
unav odable where debate is free and where honest
opinions boldly expressed, necessarily produce some
strife and personal feeling This passing away, and
Charles Sumner was by the judgment OF his associates
here by the love and confidence OF his constituents Dy
the voice OF the people the foremost man IN tue
Civil Service OF the UNITED States This eminence Is
assigned him for unblemished honor; for high intel
ectua capacity improved by careful study and long ex
perence; and for public services rendered here with
unwayering fidelity aud industry, with conscientious
consistency. contributing in large degree to the liberty
of millions of slaves, and to the advancement OF the
power position and prosperity Of the whole country
We ought not to e1at the dead with false euogy but
feel after long association with MI Sumner IN the
public service-contnued since December, 1855, some
times dsaeeelng with him, and conscious of his imper
fecons-that would justice to his memory did
l not place his and fame above that OF all VINO
survive him / do not compare him with those whose
good fortune 1t has been to have rendered important
military service, for such a comparison is impossible
/ atat pandth
soldier but cannot compare them. The mental ana
physical elements required for widely dner
ent In all periods history the soldier has won the
highest rewards; the statesman must OFTEN conenI
himself with deserving them. This is not the time or
the occasion analyze events or 10 parcel out the
good that has been done the evil that has been
avoided but safely say that on all the vital issues
that have Mr. Sumner entered the Senate he
has been prominent, conspicuous, and influential ad-
yocate opinions and principles represented by the
Republican party, which have either been migrated IN
the Constitution OF the United states or have confronted
the policy Government since 1861 His differences
political friends have been on collateral questions
but on vital questions he always been, not only
representative, but leader. His part on the leading
measures the war; and those that grew out OF the
war; conspicuous that their history could not be
written without his name appearing in the fore front
The true criticism of his is that he has often
been eager the advance that he did not sufficiently
look to practical measures to secure the progress ALREADY
made
Ill correct in the position assign to Mr. Sumner
we may well pause moment TO notice the personal al
vautages qualities that enabled him to attain this
distinction And first and chief OF all, would place
the advantage he derived from good education. He
was emhenty educated man, not only in the perfect
mystery OF college lessons, but in the broader field OF
classical and English OF international and civil law,
and IN the and habits OF society With this adj
vantage be had an armory o weapons and capacity
,lynap lalO
it useful in every emergency.
Mr. Sumner was aggressive. He could brook no oppo
son He was always for a clean victory or clean
defeat Ho would not yield, even on MINOR points, ana
would often fght for q phrase when he endangered
princple. He would sometimes turn his warfare upon
his best friends when they did not keep exactly abreast
with him. This feature OF his character lay at the
foundation OF many OF his controversies with his assoc
ates and was the weakest point OF his character with
the great multiplicity OF minds that must contribute 10
q common purpose this arena OF debate, there must
he Weddings OF minor things accomplish great things
Mr. Sumner was industrious to remarkable degree
His seat rarely vacant He was prompt and faith
rul in his attendance in committees OF which he was
member Genius accomplish nothing without In
dustry Education cannot be acquired without It,
Success in public life frequently depends upon in
dustry than upon natural ability. We can have no
eight hour law or en-bour law here. Mr.. Sumner was
always busy and social life either sought for OF
conveyed information. The eloquent speeches that will
| preserye his name the less valuable because
thew have been distilled by the midnight lamp.
Mr. Sumner was honest in the broadcast meaning OF
thar good old Roman word. He upright, free from
tricks and fraud No could suspect the purity or
his motives seek by improper means TO influence MS
conduct. He might be msled by prejudice, or party
HAS or local interests but never by personal interest
or hope of it, He not politician IN the sense OF
the word as IL is used-a man OF artfce or con-
trivance He was remarkably free from all artince He
AID not even use the arGce OF silence But he was y
potcian in the true and natural sense He was pro-
foundry versed in the science OF government 1t Is
CANNON error that he confined his attention TO the
slavery question. Far from it, No one in this
Senate was 80 familiar as he with all the
Iaws and usages that govern intercourse
With foreign nations. He deeply interested III
ouestions affecting the internal development OF the
country and of late years studied all financial questions
and contributed to their solution Next to his dying
wish for the passage Of the Civil Rights bill was his de-
re that the promise Of the United States should no
,onser he measured by depreciation of 10 to IA per
cent. . .,.. .,oev stotod that bave con
ceived ofiMr Sumner He sleeps upon Mount Auburn'
ond no word OF ours can give him care or grief He
awaits the mysteries OF the future and not long hence
MO must IN our turn Join him. How changed this scene
since few years past enerodi 1t. More than onehalf
met here are dead, and only three remain VINO were
than members OF the Senate. Charles Sumner was the
last OF tho funeral train. Who next' May We DC No
guided here that when our time comes our
NAV be able truly of US something Of the good
that ia this day said Of Charles Sumner
Mr.. Spencer of Alabama spoke OF the many good
traits in the personal character of Mr. Sumner, his
ability as a statesman, and his efforts against the
evil of human slavery.
SPEECH OF SENATOR MORRILL, OF VERMONT
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Here our numbers are not so large,
nor our differences any sort so great that we DO NOT