The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-18

that made that great statesmen the
idol of Massachusetts, and bat fe W OF
his faults, or his tenure of Office " ould
have been cut short in the political
changes that from time to time swept
over the country. But the rise and
fall of parties did not affect his rela-
tions to Massachusetts, and he re-
mained a Senator to the day of his
death. If he had lived through an
other term he would, in all human
probability, have been reelected, no
one opposing. In a State that boasts
of its superior culture and intelli-
gence, and where there is u sharp
competition for all places of honor
and distinction, it is marvellous that
neither political intrigue nor personal
rivalry could raise up an aspirant for
Charles Summers place who could for
a moment fatter himself with the
least nope of success.
Yet, withal, he was not a popular
man. He was too severely just for
politician. A man of great learn
ing and cultivated tastes, he had but
little patience with those who filled
high positions but did not adorn
them. He was both arrogant and
vain, and had an appreciation of him
self which his enemies dencminated
inordinate conceit. But these super
fetal defects could not conceal the
true nobility of his nature. He was
born gentleman, and he never forgot
the dignity that attaches TO the name.
In this circumstance may be found
the secret of some of his quarrels
with men of his own political faith.
He could not always conceal his con-
tempt for ignorance; be had no pa
tience with pretensiOns that were not
founded on solid requirements. Not
witbstanding this, he was the friend
of the lowly, and devoted his life to
securing equal and exact justice to
the humblest of his fellow men, but
it must be confessed that he KEEP
himself away from contact with the
masses for whose rights he labored
so zealously.
Mr.. Summers great powers matur-
ed early. He was writer on consti-
tutional law before he was admitted
to the Bar; and he was offered a
chair in the Law School of the Harv-
ard University before be tried a case
in Court. The orations which he de-
liyered thirty years ago are quite as
finished and classical as those which
brought him great fame after he en-
tered public life. Like Milton, be
delighted in showing his scholarship,
and he could not engage even in an
incidental debate without citing some
illustration from the classic authors.
He had habit of using Greek quo
tations in his prepared speeches which
were oftentimes, taken from authors
whom nobody but Greek professors
had ever heard of. His pedantry
was oftentimes annoying to his less
learned associates. When the able
Southerners were in the Senate his
technical knowledge of the law was
Of great advantage to him, and he
often used it with telling effect.
Although Whig, Mr. Sumner was
elected to the Senate by coalition
of Free Sellers and Democrats -
Upon the death of President Taylor
all the members of his Cabinet re-
signed. Mr.. Fillmore appointed Mr..
Webster to succeed Mr. Clayton as
Secretary Of State, and this made
the vacancy that brought Mr.. Sum-
ner into the arena of national poll
tics. His first great speech was a
protest against the enactment of the
Fugitive Slave law. Mr.. Fillmore
signed this bill and ended his politi-
cal career. Mr.. Sumner opposed it,
and won such power and influence
that the country could not afford to
do without his services to the day
of his death. 1t is a singular coinci-
dence that these two eminent men
should have ended their earthly jour
ney almost together. They represen-
ted two distinct types of Northern
craftsmanship, the conservative and
the progressive, and the retireme Mt
Of the one while in the full zenith of
his powers, and the labors and the tri-
umphs of the other through the event
ful years that succeeded, abundantly
show which served his country best.
Another coincidence we cannot
omit. In a time of great political
excitement, when partisan zeal usurp-
ed the place of reason and discretion,
the Massachusetts Legislature passed
a resolution censuring Mr. Sumner
for what was considered an ill-advis-
ad vote in the Senate. On the last
day that he spent in the Senate Cham
Der he saw his colleague, (Mr. Bout
WELL rise in his place and read the
certified record of the proceedings of
the Legislature which gave notice to
all the world that Massach usetts had
recalled the hasty act, and by unan-
imous vote had declared that her
illustrious son had done nothing
worthy of censure When his fell
low-citiZens read his last Injunction
to Judge Hoar how devoutly they
will thank Heaven that they were
pprmitted IN do thic act of incti.a ba