Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-18

his demands when he saw the opportunity
to enforce them. On the questions OF re-
construction, the civil rights bill aud
ether Kindred topics, he held advanced
ground, asd in ssMe cases refused to vote
fer pesding measures because they did
not satisfy his ideas of what exact justice
to the freemsa required. Hs resented
and opposed with all his pswsr what he
regarded as the usurpsticHs Of President
Johnson, and vstsd him guilty sn the
several courts in the impeachment by the
house Of representatives; and he was SO
strongly convinced that the President had
been guilty Of Official crimes that be did
not hesitate 10 eensure those Of his repub-
lican colleagues who did not think with him.
Re this period belongs Mr.. Summers pow
erful advocacy of the purchase of Alaska,
in one Of the greatest speeches be ever
delivered in the senate. To his earnest
hostility was in a great measure due the
rejection of the johnson Caredon treaty
for the settlement Of the Alabama ques-
ton. Mr.. sumner took extreme ground
on that controversy, and although the
public mind was at that time undoubtedly
in sympathy with him, our government
was at the last unable to enforce its full
demands.
The history Of the last five years, since
the inauguration of President Grant in
1869, shows Mr.. Sumner iu a light arpa-
rently different from that in which he had
previously appeared, though in his swn
mind his course was entirely consistent
with all bis preceding public life. There
were many points sr which Mr.. Sumner
differed from the President and from his
party in and out sfths senate. He was
not only opposed to the treatythat was to
annex the Domican republic to the United
States, but he regarded the means by
which the treaty was negotiated as u.s.
urpation on the part of the Executive.
He was opposed to the settlement of the
Alabama question by the treaty of Wash
ington, as a surrender of our case. lie
believed the sale of arms to France to
have been an act illegal In itself and ylo'
lative of the law of nations. He objected
to the appointments by the President He
was thoroughly convinced Of the nccessi.
ty for and the justice of the supplemental
ry civil rights bill, and felt keenly the re.
fusa Of a republican Congress to pass it
In addition to this, his personal relation;
with the President were such that his
continuance in confidential position wa.
deemed impossible by his republican col
leagues. The breach between him auG
his party was widened by his deposition
from the craftsmanship which he had held
for ten years, and mutual bitterness wal
generated. Mr.. Sumner. therefore, cord
tally entered into the movement which re
suited in the nomination of Mr.. Greeley
and, in spite Of the insincerity of thu
democrats in taking up the cause. adhered
to him to the end. Yet he never abatet
his efforts to secure the passage of meas
ures which he had SO long and so fruit
'essly advocated, and, except in his choic,
of associates, betrayed no inconsistency
In the heat Of anger at Mr.. Summers ap
parent desertion Of his old friends, th
Massachusetts, legislature censured hin
for an act which was merely repetition
Of what he had done ten years or NOR
before. The reconsideration came late
two years after the censure, but i
came in season to reach him before hi
death. 1t is but one week since the reso
lutions Of the Massachusetts, legislator
resipding the action of two years az
were presented to Congress. And durin
the present session Mr.. Sumner, althoug
protesting no repentance for past act
and making no promises for the future
has been quietly taken back by his reput
: lican colleagues as q member Of the part
and by them assigned to place of CON
mlttee.
The disease, angina pectoris, whic
i, caused the death of the eminent Senator
is one to which he has been subject fl
some years, In 1872 he was so seriousl
i'll with it that fears were then entertaius
that he would not recover, but the rest I,
trip to Europe and the recuperati,
power of naturally strong constitution tr
umphed, and he was able to resume h
seat during the last session. There ha
: been no intimation that he was not in b
ordinary health, and the intelligence
: his serious illness, followed by the tidin,
Of his death has caused universal su
" prise as well as hearty and sincere rcgre
" ia verdict in favor Of the dem
d cratic party" is what the World calls Il
/? resul. in New Hampshire. A verdict
! favor of the Mohammedan religion or L
y. n,ruinion N bynoth os,. SIC, n r,uoh