Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-05-21

1
b0rnly batfied the craftsmanship o
expedients, for it was more than /
mere conflict CT opinion and interest
1t was conflict grounded deep il
the n raj nature of men--the slav
cry question. The anti-slavery move
mont found arrayed against itself al
the influences, all the agencies, al
the arguments which ordinarily con.
troll the actions of men. There nev
err was a more formidable combina
ton of interests and influences thar
that which confronted the anti.slav.
cry movement 10 It's earlier stages
And what was it's answer? "Wheth
er all you say be true or false, il
matters not; but slavery is wrong.
AT the time when Mr.. Sumner enter.
ed tho Senate, the hope Of final vic
tory appeared as distant as ever
but it only appeared so, for when the
slave pow err went so far as to demand
for slavery the great domain of the
nation which had been held sacred fol
freedom forever, then the people oil
the North suddenly understood that
the necessities of slavery demanded
what they could not yield. Then
the conscience of the masses was re-
lieved of the doubts and fears which
had held it so long in check
their moral impulses were quickoned
by practical perceptions ; tho moral
idea became a practical force, and
the final struggle began. 1t was
made inevitable by the necessities OF
slavery it was, indeed, an irrepres-
sible conflict.
MR.. SUMMERS COURAGE
was ola peculiar kind. He attacked
the slave power in the most unspar-
ing manner when its supporters were
most violent in resenting opposition,
and when that violence was always
apt to proceed from words to blows.
One day, while Sumner was deliver
ing one of his severest speeches,
Stephen A. Douglas, walking up and
down behind the Presidents char in
the old Senate chamber and listening
to him, remarked to friend edo
you hear that man? He may be a
fool, but | tell you that man has
pluck. Nobody can deny that, and
[ wonder whether he knows himself
what he is doing. | am not sure
whether should have the courage
to say those things to the men who
are scoWlipg around him." Of all
men in the Senate chamber, Sumner
was probably least aware that the
thing he did required pluck He
simply dad what he felt it his duty to
his cause to do. 1t was to him a
matter of course. Neither was he
conscious Of the singing force Of the
language he frequently employed.
He simply uttered what he felt to be
true in language fitting the strength
of his convictions. AS he possessed the
firmness and courage, SO be possessed
the faith OF the devotee. From the
beginning, and through ali the vicis-
STUDIES OF the anti-slayery movement,
his heart Tas profoundly assured
that mis- generation woald see slavery
wholly extinguished.
AFTER THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
Coming to the days of the war
Mr. Schurz SAID : Ono Of the dam
gers threatening us was foreign in
reference. No European powers
gave US their expressed sympathy
except Germany and Russia. The
governing classes of England, with
conspicuous individual exceptions,
always gratefully to be remembered.
were iIl-disposed towards the Union
cause. Tho permanent disruption of
the Republic was loudly predicted,
as if it were desired, and interven
tion-an Intervention which could be
only in favor Of the S0uth-was
openly spoken of. ] was obvious
that nothing but measure impress
sing beyond dispute upon our war g
decided anti-slavery character, maxi
ing it in profession what it was in
evitably destined to be in fact, war
of emancipation-could enlist on
our side tho ENLIGHTENED public op"
inion of the Old World SO strongly
as to restrain the hostile spirit Of
foreign governments. No European
government could we'll venture to
Interfere against those who had con-
WINGED the world that they were
fighting to give freedom to the slaves
of North America. Thus the moral
instinct did not orr. The emancipa
ton policy was not only the policy
of principle. but also the policy OF
safety. Mr. Sumner urged it with
impetuous and unhagging zeal. In the
Senate be found but little encourage
ment. The resolutions he introduced
in February, 1862, declaring State
suicide as the consequence of rebel
lion, and tho extinction of slavery
in the nsurrectionary States as toe
consequence of State suicide, were
looked upon as an iIl-timed and ha-
zardous demonstration, disturbing
all ideas of management. Abraham
Lincoln was a true child of the peo-
pie, and it was to such a man that
Sumner, during the most doubtful
days at the beginning Of the war,
addressed his appeals for immediate
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS impetuo1s
and impatient as they could spring
only from bis ardent and overriding
convictions, The President st first
passively resisted the vehement coun-
sci of the Senator, but be babe the
counsellor welcome, In Mr.. Sumner
no saw counsellor who was no pol
ilician, but who stood before him as
the true representative Of the moral
earnestness and the great inspira-
tons of their common cause. From
him be heard what was light, and
necessary and inevitable. BY the
former he was told what, in their
opinion, could prudently and safely
be done. Having heard them both,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN