, 1874-05-23

first names of the Republican party appear in his
Cabinet, but every able man in Congress was
always invited as an adviser, whether his views
agreed with those of the President or not. But
Mr.. Sumner he treated as a taVorite counselor,
almost like a Minister of State, outside of the
Cabinet. There were statesmen around the Pre-
sident who were also politicians, understanding
the art of management. Mr.. Lincoln appreciated
the value Of their advice as to what was prudent
and practicable. But he knew also how to dis
criminate. In Mr.. Sumner he saw q counselor
who was no politician, but who stood before him
as the true representative of the moral earnest
ness, and the great inspirations of their common
cause. From him he heard what was right, and
necessary, and inevitable. BY the former he
was told what, in their opinion, could prudcntly
and safely be done. Having heard them both,
Abraham Lincoln counseled with himself, and
formed his resolution. Thus Mr.. Lincoln, while
scarcely ever fully and speedily following Sum
ner's advice, never ceased to ask for it, for he
knew its significance. And Sumner. while almost
always dissatisfied with Lincoln's cautious hesita-
ton, never grew weary in giving his advice, for
he never dlstrusted Lincoln's fidelity. Always
agreed as to the Ultimate end, they almost always
differed as to times and means but while differ
ing, they firmly trusted, for they understood one
another.
And thus their mutual respect grew into an
attectionate friendship, which no clash of dis
agreeing opinions could break. Sumner loved to
tell his friends, after Lincoln's death,-and |
heard him relate it often, never without an ex-
preston of tenderness,-how at one time those
who disliked and feared his intimacy with the
President, and desired to see it disrupted, thought
It was lrreparably broken. 1t was at the close of
Lincoln's administration, in 1865, when the Presi-
dent had proposed certain measures Of recoustruc-
ton, touching the State of Louisiana.
The end of the session of Congress was near
at hand. and the success of the bill depended on a
vote Of the Senate before the hour of adjourn
mont on the 4th Of March. Mr.. Lincoln had the
measure very much at heart. But Sumner oppos-
ed it, because it did not contain sufficient guaran
tees for the right of the colored people, and by a
parliamentary vancouver, simply consuming time
until the adjournment came, he with two or three
other Senators succeeded in defeating it. Lin
coin was reported to be deeply chagrined at
Summers action, and the newspapers already an
nounced that the breach between Lincoln and
Sumner was complete and could not be healed.
But those who said so did not know the men.
On the night of the 9th of March, two days after
Llncoln's second Inauguration, tho customary
Inauguration ball was to take place. Sumner did
not think of attending it. But towards evening
he received a card from the President, which
read thus dear Mr.. Summer, unless you send
me word to the contrary, [ shall this evening call
with my carriage at your house, to take you with
me to the Inauguration ball. Sincerely yours,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN Mr.. Sumner, deeply touch
ed, at once made up his mind to go to an inaugu-
ration ball for the first time. Soon the carriage
arrived, the President invited Sumner to take a
seat in it with him, and Sumner found there Mrs.
Lincoln and MIR. ColfaX, the Speaker Of the House
Of Representatives Arrived at the ballroom,
the President asked Mr.. Sumner to offer his arm
to Mrs. Lincoln, and the astonished spectators,
who had been made to believe that the breach
between Lincoln and Sumner was irreparable,
beheld the Presidents wife on the arm of the
Senator, and the Senator, on that occasion of
State, invited to take the seat Of honor by the
Presidents side. Not a word passed between
them about their disagreement.
The world became convinced that such a friend
ship between such men could not be broken by G
mere honest difference of opinion. Abraham
Lincoln, a man of sincere and profound conyic-
tons himself, esteemed and honored sincere and
profound convictions in others. 1t was thus that
Abraham Lincoln composed his quarrels with his
friends, and at his bedside, when he died, there
was no mourner more deeply afflicted than
Charles Sumner.