New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30

tasks ever imposed upon the craftsmanship Vi any
and any country.
MR. SUMMERS sINGLENEss OF VIEW.
But 20 Mr.. Summers mind the problem OF recon-
srucon did not appear perplexing at all Believing, as
he always did. that Democratic idea, as he found
defined in the Declaration of Independence human
rights in their utmost expansion contained an UNI
mately certain solution OF all difficulties, he saw tue
principal aim TO be reached by any reconstruction pocy
in the investment of the emancpated slaves with an te
rights and privileges OF American cltzeushlp Inc cum
plexty OF tne problem the % in in the
he had for himself laid down the theory tn oy i
very act of rebellion, the insurreet0nary states n
destroyed themselves as sucn so ne i nc
assured consistency, that those states hd reapseu
a territorial condition.; that the National GoVernehS
had TO I'LL the void by creations OF lts OWL s ther
dong the establishment OF universal suuIage tD ~.
unavoidable necessity. Thus ne marched ior
ward 70 the realization OF his IDEAL the straighes
line and with the rmness OF profound conviction,
In the discussions which followed he had the advan
tage OF man who knows exactly what he wants, anu
who mperturably, religously convinced that ne Is
measures he proposed found little favor Congress
The public mind struggled long against the results ne
President Johnsons Administration was employed 70
lead the development of things IN another dlrecuon'
But through all the yaclauOns OF puOhc OpihlOh'
through all the perpeXities in which Congress ehIan
ged itself the necessity OF things seemed 10 press
toward the ends which Sumner aud those who Thought
like him had advocated from the beginning.
Leavlng'Out OF view the soundness OF MI. summers
territorial theory TO the status OF the nsurrecuonay
States after the 1t NAV be said ana IN fact nave
heard it said by many southern men that hau Ind'
theory consistently adhered to- and had IN accord
with the Southern States been Kept longer uhr
national control honestly and uiclousy exereisedi me
results as 10 their general interests would probably nave
been satisfactory 20 the SOuthern people incur
selves. than those produced Dy the pocy acIaiy iS
loved But. however that may be, Mr. Sumner saw me
fOndest dreams OF his life soon realized Slavery was
forevr biotted ont in this Republic ny the Thirteenth
Amendment TO the Constitution. BY the Fourteenth
the emancpated slaves were secured IN thels rights Oh
before the la w. and the Fifteenth guaranteed
them tine right TO vote.
II was, indeed most astonishing. marvellous con
Summation What ten years before not even the most
the profound faith OF the devOtee could believe possible
was done And Who nad a better right than Charles
Sumner. to claim for himself preemnen share IN tnat
great cOnsummatiOnf He had Indeed not Deen Tue
orr gnator Of the practical measures OF ega
ton by which such results reached. He had even
combited Of them as ~ conflict with MS theories
II did not possess the peculiar ABILITY OF CONSTRUCTING
policies In detail, Of taking account Oh existing ecu
stances and advantage OF opportunities But ne nau
resOutey marched ahead Of public opinion IN marking
the ends reached. Nobody had done more TO IN
spire and strengthen the moral spirit Oh the autr
Slavery cause He stood foremost among the prOpeng,
driving which pushed on the great work with u
daunted untiring effort Irresistible energy anu
religious DEVOTION No mans slhgIehe,s U! putP
fidelity and faith surpassed his ana when by future gen
erations the names are cae9 Wncn a.e lns9 ps
from Slavery name viii be called before his own.
SERVICES OTHER THAN IN RESPECT To SLAVERY
While the championship OF human rights Is MS nrst
tito TO fame should be unjust to his merit did omit
70 mention the services he rendered another field OF
action When, 1861, the secession Of the Southern
states left the ant-savery party the majority in the
Senate OF the United States, Charles sumner was placed
as Chairman at the head OF the Committee on Foreign
Relations 1t high Distinction and no selection
Cuuau Hi'o 80, 49, h said mr. az fine MANY abe
then and since IN the senate MI sumner
was by far tho n.test for that responsible
posltion He had ever since his college DAYS made
international law special and tayorte study, ana
perfectly familiar with its principles the history OF
its development and its literature, Nothing OF lmp0r-
had been published on that SUBJECT IN any
language that had escaped his attention Ills knowledge
OF history was uncOmmOny extensive and accurate ana
all the leading International law cases, wn their incl
dents In detail their theories and settlements nc had at
MS nhgers ends ana ~ MS as iay ne ell Ic
fatgaOle IN inquiry Moreover he had seen the world
be had studied the institutions ana policies OF foreign
countries, on their own SOIL aided by ms personal inter
with many OF their leading statesmen not Few
whom remained in friendly correspondence win MIN
ever since their first acquaintance.
No puDc man had higher appreciation OF the posi-
one was liable he to be- carried driven
20 nasty and HlcOnsdered steps by excited popular
rights, while his Of justice did not permit him 20
ne regardless Of the rights OF other nations;
His aDnOrrence OF the DarDarities OF war, and
MS ardent love Of peace, led MN earnestly 10
seA I1p gES and Where No settlement eond be
reached by the direct negotiations OF diplomacy the
idea of arbitration always uppermost IN his mind
He desired 10 the Republic 70 the hgh 0iee 81
missionary OF peace and ciyiiZ alton he was there
fore. not only an uncommony w'il-niormed, ehllght
ened. aud experienced, but also an enlneuty conserve
tive, cautious, and safe counselor; anu the few
instances in which he appeared more lmpulsye
than prudent Will, upon candid lnVesIlsatlon,
NOT impu.n this statement l am far from claiming
for him absolute correctness OI veW, hnH maui ,
bity Of Judgment in every case but taxing MS whoe
!
whole history Of the Republic. the Senate OF the United
states ever possessed chairman OF the Committee GU
Foreign Relations vino united in himself IN sucn com
peteness, the qualifications necessary anu Ior
the Important and delicate duties or That position TINS
may sound ike the extrayagant praise OF personal
friend; but II is the sooer opinion OF men most coVe
tent TO Judge that it does not 10 beyond MS merits
war one of the gallant pins Of navy arrested the
British mail steamer Trent running from one neutral
port TO the nien and TOOK from her by
force Mason aud sldei Two ehisSaies VI Tue Coheu-
crate Government and their dispatches Toe
Tue secretary OF the Navy approved it, Tne
House OF Representatives eommeuded It In reso-
ciined TO stand by it. The British Government in
threatening Tone demanded the instant restitution OF
the prlsOner ana an apology The people or tue North
responded with shout OF indignation at British inso-
lence. The excitement seemed rrepressloe Those in
quest OF popularity saw chahee " WIN IL easily ny oeI-
But among who felt tho weight OF responsibility
more moderate counsels prevailed The Government
wisely resolved 10 surrender the prisoners and peace
with Great Britain was preserved
against the violent drift Of puolie opinion In speech
Senate 10 less remarkable Tor patriotic spirit than
legal aud ingenious and Irresistible argument,
~ onnd t6at during our struggle with the Rebellion
we we're not in a condition " 20 10 war with Great
Britain, but on the hiEner grO1h1 that the sur
render, demanded oy Great bria. na,on ~ Viols,
TO the rights OF begerents was in perfect accord with
precedent and the advanced principles OF our
Government concerning the rights OF neutras ana that
tn very act therefore, would for all time constitute
and conspicuous precedent m the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF more humane rules for the protection
OF neutras and tho mitigation OF the In
iustice and barbarlty attending maritime war.
The success OF this argument was complete. l turned
the tide of public opinion II convinced the American
peope that this not act OF pusillanmIty, but
Of instice: not humiliation OF the the republic but
noble vIndcatiOn OF her tme-honOred principles, anu
service rendered to the cause OF progress.
other complications followed. Tao interference OF
European Powers ,n Mexico came Excited demands
for intervention on part made IN the senate,
and Mr. Sumner trusting that the victory OF the Union
over he r. DeOn would bring the deliverance OF
Mexico IN It's trn with signal moderation and tact pre-
vented the agitation OF 50 dangerous a policy IL Is
needless 10 mention the subsequent Instances in
winch his wisdom and skill rendered the Republic
slILLar service.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS,