The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-03-26


ON the 4th of July on the "True Grandeur
Of Nations" in which he denounced war
- means of arbitrament Of information
al controversies, and insisted that, as
peaceful appeals to civil tribunals had
taken the place of the wager of battle be-
ween individuals, so peaceful arbitration
should be substituted for war in the deter
mination of international matters. The
Grafton was finished literary production,
and this fact and the subject of the dis.
course itself attracted to it great attention
in this country and Europe. As an orator
he was soon in demand, and other public
addresses followed in rapid succession.
In 1645, after the election of MIR. Polk
to the Presidency, the annexation of
Texas became part of the defined policy
Of the Democratic party. In November,
1S45, just before the meeting of Congress
which was to execute that policy, Mr..
Sumner delivered an Grafton in Faneuil
Hall, Boston, in opposition to the annexa-
ton Of Texas as q slave State. In 1916
Texas was admitted to the Union. Mr..
Sumner was now fairly enlisted in the
war against slavery, and in 1916 he I'D.
dressed the Massachusetts Wing State
Convention in favor of taking bold
ground against slavery. The Wings OF
Massachusetts, although opposed t, slav-
cry, were not AbOlitionists, and adhered
to the National Wing policy of non-action
on that subject. The Democratic party in
Massachusetts at that time was in q
minority, but not powerless as now. 1t
then had many able leaders, including N.
P. Banks, George 3 Boutwell,, Robert
Rantoul, Marcus Morton, B. F. Hallett
and others. Boston was then represented
in Congress by Robert G. Winthrop, q Wing
who voted in 1916 for the declaration of war
with Mexico. For this vote Mr.. Sumner
denounced him in published letter. The
Mexican war leading to the acquisition
of new territory, there was combination
in Massachusetts, of the Dem ocrats and
Wings who were in favor of excluding
slavery from the new territory and from
all the Territories of the United States.
This party in 184S nominated and sup
ported Van Buren, and Adams. Mr.. Sum
ner supported these candidates. In 1850
Mr.. Webster resigned his seat in the Sen.
ate of the United States to become Secre-
tary of State under Mr.. Fillmore. The
Governor of Massachusetts, appointed Mr..
Winthrop to I'LL the vacancy until the
Legislature should meet. The coalition
of Democrats and Free-Soil Wings made
successful fight that year, electing Bout
well as Governor, N. P. Banks and several
other Democrats as members of Congress,
and Frees Soil Legislature. This Legis-
lature was occupied several weeks in
trying to ill the vacancy in the Senate,
and at last elected Robert 8. Rantoul to
fill the unexpired term ending March,
1851, and Charles Sumner for the long
term beginning March 8, 1851.
Mr.. Sumner made his appearance in
the Senate in December, 1851. At that
time John P. Hale and Salmon p. Chase
were in the Senate, and these three were
the sole representatives of the Free-Soil
party. Neither party recognized them
and they were assigned to no committees.
On bill to repeal the Fugitive Slave law
of 1850, which had been passed a. one of
the compromise measures, Mr.. Sumner
made an elaborate speech, attacking the
whole institution of slavery. In 1854,
upon the proposition to sbrogate the Mis-
souri, Compromise line of Sc 80, he and
Mr.. Chase were conspicuous in the de-
bates. The bill, however, passed, and
then began the war in Kansas. In 1856
he delivered his greatspeech, The Crime
Against Kansas" taking two days in its
delivery. The speech was delivered May
10 and 30, and on May 20, while sitting
at his desk in the Senate chamber, en-
gagged in writing, he was approached by
Preston 8. Brooks, q Representative in
Congress from South Carolina, who pro-
ceeded to beat him over the head and
shoulders with q heavy gutta- percha cane.
/ Mr.. Sumner was 90 seated that he
could not rise, and in few minutes he
fell insensible to the floor. From
the injury thus received Mr.. Sumner
never fully recovered. He was unable
to resume his seat at that or the sue
ceeding session; but his term expiring
in March, 1857, the Legislature Of
Massachusetts,, by nearly unanimous
vote, reelected him. He went to Europe
in March, 1857, and the succeeding win
er occupied his seat in the Senate for .
brief time. In May, 1858, he again went
to Europe, and placed himself under med
ical treatment in Paris, and remained
there until the close of 1859. HIS health
was then seemingly restored. In the SEES
sion of 1859-60 he made his celebrated
speech entitled the Barbarism Of Slav
ery"-undoubtedly the greatest effort of
his life. This speech had an immense
circulation in the campaign literature of
the year 1860, and contributed powerfully
W Tug CACCtAOu VI 1AluCUk4 00U klUWn1IQs IN
the Reorganization of the Senate, March,
were in majority Of that body, with .
Republican as presiding officer. Mr..
Sumner was made Chairman of the Com
he filed to the honor of the country dur
ing the war and until . few years ago,
when he was removed and the place was
xrfey 81
During the war Mr.. Sumner was 4
consistent supporter of all measures look
ing to the emancipation of the slaves. In
1862 he had the satisfaction of securing
the repeal of the Fugitive Slave law.
After the rebellion had closed he took
an active part In maturing the recon.
structiOn measures, and from the first to
the last, even to the last hour of his official
life. he sought to incorporate In the
national law mandatory recognition Of
the social as we'll as the legal equality Of
the c0lored race. From 1854 he had en-.
deavored to have negro outrage made
part of the Constitution, and it was moi
until some years later that he could gel
the concurrence Of the required number
of Senators In that proposition. Since
1870 he has ct every session labored
earnestly to have his Civil Rights
bill enacted, that the colored citizens
nsy have legally the Same rights IN
hotels. In all public conveyances, and
in oil public places that are conceded
to the whites. Several times during
the present session be has endcayored b
have this bill considered. Some two
years ago Mr.. Sumner proposed In IL
Senate . joint resolution directing the
| 49, 3.~Snn Hen,m <ha AnE,,rn evun- .~.y.e~-.