National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-06

of the immortal Sumner; and the milliopr n
hearts of those expressing gratitude for un-
paralleled bene6cence have failed to reach the
apex of their desire; therefore it is not unreae
sonable to suppose that your speaker is incapa-
be of performing the sacred duty assigned in Z
manner befltting the occasion, Il
CHARLES SUMNER
was born INF Boston, Mass, IN the year
1911, Jan. 6, 1c4 In early life became an &C
tive worker In the cause of liberty and equality,
It was his chief study to adopt and recommend
such course that would be both q credit to
himself and to the nation. In view Of this he
delivered an Grafton in Boston, the occasion
being the annual independence day, July 4
1S45, on "The true granduer Of Nations,
which attracted considerable attention both in
this country and In Europe 1t disclosed such
evidence of his ability that bis fame spread as
upon the wings of the morning.
OPPOSITION TO SLAVERY. Il
He could not tolerate the then existing opin-
ion that was so popular in this country that
slavery was an institution that was purely dt-
yine, and therefore ought to be perpetuated;
he denounced It as being unjust, barbarousi
and sinful, and to show his hatred to the in
stitution so-called, he strongly opposed the an
nexation of Texas to the United states. 4
WHEN HE COMMENCED. il
Mr., Sumner was not one of those who came
into sympathy with the oppressed since or at
the time of the rebellion. l do not wish to be
understood as speaking disparagingly of those
who did, nor did he espouse our cause because II
was popular, it was just the S1eHs-se-he COM
menced when it was considered a tcrime and
when but few dared speak in our d Once least
they insulted aristocratic monarchy of the
South But with renewed zeal and determine
ton he continued until God in his providence
raised a host great and patient to assist him in
the great work of freeing those who had
l'suffered long in cruel serVitude.
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
That Mr.. Sumner was a true and unfinchinS
advocate of human liberty can be seen from the
position he took in the first great speech he
made In the Senate against the fugitive slave
bill, that infamous law which was sanctioned
by Willard Fillmore, which gave the right to
shareholders to pursue and capture their slaves
IN any free State in the Union. be denounced
It in unanswerable language, regarding it as
| being too degrading for great and free nation
to have on It's statute books, and an American
President to sign. He also took prominent
part in the repeal of the Missouri compromise,
| and In the struggle for free Kansas. For Ian
puage used during debate in the latter case, he
was cowardly assaulted in his seat in the Sen
ate chamber by Preston Brooks, member OF
Congress from South Carolina, with cane
nno3 his head, until he fell from his chair and
|
did not deter him in the least from exposing
the wrongs imposed upon helpless and down.
trodden race for when he recovered he signal
lied II by a renewal of his efforts in their be-
half. This is clearly shown in the powerful
speech delivered by him in 1859, the effect OF
which was thrilling alike to friend and Toe.
| Araip, in February, 1864, he offered series OF
resolutions in which he affirmed that any sys-
tenn of reconstruction must be based upon in
controverti6e guarantees against the continued
existence of slavery and its consequent results,
and when the war closed he advocated the re-
construction of the Southern States on no other
basis than the fundamental principles OF hu-
man rights and equal suffrage
The subsequent measures introduced and ao-
yocated by Mr.. Sumner were not less favorable
| to us as a race than when five millions of hu-
man beings were held in letters. He saw that
a freedom which did not allow men TO exercise
the full powers delegated TO manhood, was not
that kind for which he battled; 1t was like free
| ing bird from its imprisonment, after clipping
| off its wings close to its body. Therefore, in
order that we might feel ourselves men, he
pressed strongly for the adoption of the four
| teenth amendment, which brought us within
the pale of recognized manhood; and he further
Supplemented the good work by originating and
urpipp to a successful issue the fifteenth amend
ment, which gave us the right to vote and be
voted for. Then, last of all, be framed and i'll
troduced the ''Civil Rights Bill, }" fitting key
stone to the arch of freedom designed and
erected by that peerless statesman, Charles
| Sumner.
You can, my dear friends, form some idea
from what has been said of the invaluable SER
vices rendered us as apeople by that great man,
whose life and great talents were devoted to
the benefit Of suffering humanity; and so de-
voted was he to the elevation of our race, that
/ almost every measure he introduced was for
| olo hot xubi no Wa hln q
true, patriotic friend-hsving labored in our
interest from the commencement of his public
career to the time of his death. All along the
| pathway of life his deeds may be seen-deeds
which cheer the hearts OF men-deeds WHICH
shine out upon the nation like the ,sunbeams
upon the green earth-deeds that have plowed
their way through mountain of prejudice and
found their way into the hearts of our most
malignant and bitter enemies, and caused them
to acknowledge reluctantly to the claims OF
| freedom and its champion.
BUNKER HILL.
The worthy and inestimable deeds performed
by this great man, Americas greatest ttates-
man and prince of Senators, will stand ont as
lofty and with as much grandeur as the proud
monument of Bunker Hill, in his own State,
and, when time will empty into oblivion the
deeds of thousands who have been considered
great, the name and deeds of Charles Sumner
will stand forth in all their greatness and
benefcence. II appear extravagant pardon
me, for feel to-day ss though l could wend
my way to the grave where the remains of his
mother lies in peace and bless her dust for Civ
ing birth TO a son so sympathetic, so noble, so
grand, and magnanimous as Hon. Charles Sum-
ner.
| Mr. Sumner labored necessarily with IN
varying diligence. Neither the infamous ridi-
cule of the public press nor the sarcastic fire
1 a. - To- rha
deeply dyed In prejudice as not to allow them
to recognize the black race as men, could deter
or force him to desert or lessen his efforts to-
ward bringing up q much-despised and de-
| fenceless race from that bottomless pit of sla-
very. The true character Of the man is best
depicted in his reply to friendly criticism,
when he replied that mo personal sacrifice
was too great, nor could anything tempt him
to desert his post; the Republican party must
remain intact until 1t completes its mission"
Mr.. Sumner, the speaker said, was not
specially tenacious to this life except so far as
the purpose of doing good. We learn that in
the winter of 1873, after he had recovered from
a severe attack, he remarked that If bis work
was only done, and death would only come to
him-not as skeleton with terror, but as the
| Greeks sculptured youth crowned with pop
pies, bringing rest-yet, said he, It will be well
in Gods own time; and when die wish my
body to be carried to the grave by the race I
have served so long, and to whose elevation my
| life has been consecrated.
The reverend gentleman was listened TO with
marked attention throughout the delivery of
his Grafton, which was delivered with visible
effect upon the large number present.
NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
GEORGETOWN.
Yesterday the beautiful new Presbyterian