The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-03-26
SUMMER.
some Interesting Points About his Hab-
its and Character

Washington Special to Courier-Journal.
Mr.. Sumner has been frequently in
/ the senate this winter. He was very
much excited In regard 10 the nomina-
/ tion of Simmons as collector of Boston.
which he regarded as being mainly in
| spired by the presidents personal hos
tility to him (Sumner). The president
| he considered as implacable. He had.
on his part, In Difference to the opinions
of his Massachusetts friends, who felt
/ differently from himself about General
Grant, refrained for a long time from
! assailing him in his conversation but
he had been informed (ho said) that the
president had, on passing near his
house, remarked: There is q man
who spends his whole time in denoun-
cling me"
The nomination of Simmons was con-
firmed in spite of Mr.. Summers protest.
but, for this disappointment, he was In
part eonsoled by the action of the Mas
saehusetts legislature in resembling their
resolutions of censure upon his course
for proposing TO strike from the army
flags the references to the late civil war
Whatever the proximate cause of Mr..
Summers death may be, it is certain
that the attack of Mr. Brooks upon him
had nothing to do with it. 1t is simply
the familiar story of hearty and full liv-
ing, severe habits of study and a seden-
tary life, without particle of exercise
In the summer season Mr.. Sumner oc-
casionally rode in carriage, but never
walked or rode on horseback, nor did
he take any outdoor exercise. lie
went to the capitol in street car and
eturned the same way. The wonder is
that, with such habits, he survived as
long as he did but, as he once stated
to an old friend, he had a perfect diges-
tion and physical organization.
There can be no doubt that his death
was accelerated by the wounded feel
ing and disappointment on finding him
self repudiated and denounced by his
own party, after helping to build it up,
and also by the negroes, and that even
in Massachusetts, the president, for
whom he had hearty contempt, was
stronger than himself.
Mr.. Sumner was a close and constant
student. Though capital off-hand de-
batter, he usually prepared his speeches
with the greatest care and pains. His
life was divided between his library and
the senate chamber. He never went to
amusements or lectures, or to parties,
levees or receptions. Sometimes, but
very rarely, he went out to dinner. He
had a number of friends who habitually
visited him, and to these as we'll as
strangers he was especially courteous
and hospirab!e, carefully avoiding any
thing in uttering his own political views
which might give offense.
Among his special personal friends
were LonPf llow. Whittier, Wendell
Phillips, Carl Schurz, Senator Fenton,
Montgomery Blair, Caleb Gushing. the
Marquis de ChambruD, Mr.. Boutwell,,
Mr.. Hooper, and most of the Massa-
chusetts delegation, Ben Butler being a
notable exception. Recent political
events had severed Mr.. Summers friend
ship with many prominent representa-
tives in congress and, on the other
hand, cordial relations had grown up
with a number of such democratic sena-
tors as Thurman, Bayard, Casserly,
Stockton and others. For Mr.. Bayard
he frequently expressed the warmest
admiration to gentlemenof the press.
Mr.. Sumner was unusually accessi-
BILE, courteous and communicative, CIV
ing his own views with the utmost
frankness. No man was more keenly
solicitous to know all important politi-
cal events or movements in progress. !
Mr.. Sumner was connected with no
church, and if he had any special relig- |
ious views your correspondent never |
heard them expressed.