New-York tribune., 1874-03-12

lie, tnat ne called the young ch'husiaSs w eno Wv
of honor at his side.
Charles Sumner was born in Boston, Jan. o, lsli.
AT 10 wears of age he entered the public Latin
school of Boston, where he preparedsthimselt ior
collegiate course and won the prizes for English
composition and Latin poetry. beside gaming med
ais of distinction At this early age the love of his
tory began to manifest itself, which never dImin-
ished in fervor, and which furnished him the mate
nal on which he drew largely and so ielieltousiy
in after life for illustration metaphor, and appca
ton. His preparation for Harvard was continued
in Phillips Academy, and in 1880 he entered the
University on whose rolls appear the names
of q long line of Summers reaching BACK
to 1723. He was graduated in 1880, and alter
pursuing his studies privately for q year, he
entered the Law School at Cambridge, forming
there friendship with Judge Story which was only
broken by the death OF the great commentator ana
iurist His labors here were assduous and thorough
To the last degree He is said to have discarded the
aid of books and seeking the fountains OF legal
lore TO have familiarzed himself with all accessible
authorities and references, even running his re-
searches back into the Norman French IL isrelated
that "he could go into the law library OF which nc
was the librarian and find in the dark any volume
if in its proper place" While student, Mr.. sumner
wrote several articles for The american Jutst wbich
were highly commended, and which probably had
something to do with his assumption OF the editorial
chair of that paper which took place some years
afterward. He was admitted to the bar In Worces-
ter in 1884 but began in Boston the practice which
soon surpassed that of any other yonng lawyer
there lie was not long after made Reporter OF the
United States Circuit Court, and published three
volumes of Judge Storys decisions at the same time
editing the law journal mentioned above. During
the first three Winters following his entrance into
the profess,on he lecturod before the Law School in
the absence of Judge Story and Prof Greeneaf. and
with so much success that he was urged to take
Professors chair-a tattering offer which he refused
to accept Several years before he had edited with
great ability and discrimination, lreatise on the
Practice of the Courts of Admiralty in Civil Causes
of Maritime Jurisdiction by Andrew DUNLAP;
work undertaken IN consequence OF the Illness OF
Mr.. Dunlap, who praised the manner OF ITS execu-
ton even on his death-bed.
In 1881 his professional labors were interrupted by
n soonrn in Europe, which continued three years
He bore with him letters Of introduction from
distinguished Americans, the most noteworthy
among which was one written by Judge Story.
which, after bestOwing upon him the highest praise
for his professional atanments and predicting Tor
him brilliant future, requested that he might he
afforded the means Of witnessing adVantageously
the operation Of the Courts OF Westminster HAL
He was received with the most iatterng attentions
by eminent men Of all professions IN England,
and remained in London nearly year, an
attentive listener 10 the Parliamentary debates
ana q regular visitor m tue courts, where lie
was frequently bonored by a seat on the bench.
These marks of distinction were repeated IN
the principal capitals of the Continent into whose
oil ~ ba ai-
mission. In Paris he was constantly in the Cham
ber of Deputies AZ well as the lectureroOms OF the
sorbopne and the College of France, and became
well acquainted with the most eminent Jurists OF
the day in Germany he formed the friendship Of
Thibault Savlgny, Mittermaer Humboldt, Ranke.
Ritter. &C. beside many Heidelberg professors and
other men of distinguished attanments; in Italy he
studied art and literature and read many historical
and poetical works in the yernacular. In Paris his
art studies consumed much of his time he has re-
lated the story of his pleasant and profitable hours
in the galleries of tlfat city, and il hee doubt
less that he began his collection of enpayngs,
which came to be of the finest, if not the very
finest in private hands IN this country. While IN
Paris he wrote, at the request of Gen. Cass, theu
American Minister defense of our claim to the
North Eastern Boundary, which excited great adni-
ration in this country In 1910 he returned 20 Bos-
ton and resumed practice at once, although de
voting much of bis time to the study OF
the science of law. Three years after he was
again made lecturer at the Law School
and in 1916 he edited Yesey's Reports, work
consisting of 20 volumes. His execution OF this
laborious undertaking was warmly commended by
the law journals, the addition of biographical
sketches of distinguished lawyers and ct cxplana-
tory notes increasing greatly the value OF the
original work.
On the Fourth Of July. 1874, bis political career
NAV be said to have been begun. On that day he
pronounced before the authorities of the City Of
Boston an Grafton enutled The True Grandeur Of
Nations an address Of which the keynote may be
fonnd in his own words: " In our age there can be
no peace that il not honorable; there can be no
war thai is not dishonorable." 1t was a vigorous
protest against all wars unchristIan, and par
ticularly against the threatened conflict with
Mexico and was adorned with all the graces which
A bigh-minded enthusiasm for truth and justice.
the most impressive elOquence, aud the richest
stores of classical learning and elegant knowledge
could give to it. Golden prOnounccdit the nOblest
contribution ever made by any modern writer TO
the canse Of peace" As a mere Grafton IL will
probablv be found among the models Of the studentas
long as English is spoken this side of the Atlantic
its political significance was largely due tO the
atmosohere in which il was delivered and the pecu-
liar situation Of parties at that time. The Slave
Power was never more dominant never more aggres-
sive and insolent 1t held the Government at Wash
ington in the palm of its hand, and overawed public
sentiment all through the North. In Boston. Carl
son. on whose head the Governor and Legislature of
Georqia had set price an incendlary, had been
dragged through the streets with batter about his
neck. and even the most refined and cultivated
people of the city were avowedly Pro-Slavery. 1t
was from a visit to this social circle that young
Chase went away disheartened and disguised at tho
lack of sympathy with his AntiSlavery views which
> hon No yipan uar hop