The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-17
evening State Su,srnal.
TUESDAY EvEG, MAR. II, 1874.
Hon. charles sumner.

- Hon. Charles summer.
ANTE-BELLUM LETTER OF MR.. SUMMER.
The following letter was read by Rev.
G. il. Hale at the meeting Of sorrow held
in Faneuil Hall, Boston, on Saturday.. 1t
was written, as will be seen, Immediately
preceding the firing on Fort Sumpter:
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 80, 1860.
Dear Hale--T doubt whether anything
can be done this winter for ancient history
that OF to day will be too absorbing. Mean
while pray keep Massachusetts,, noble and
true, at the head Of the column, where, in
character and intelligence, she belongs.
Nothing can be gained by subservIency or
by acute argument to find human freedom
and its safeguards unconstitutional. Not
in vain have studied my duty here, and |
know that nothing is more important than
for our dear commonwealth to stand as
she is precisely--no more, no less. In
the catastrophe which is imminent | wish
her to hold fast to the old flag. Pray help
her; but count upon her governor. God
bless you. Ever yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
~ count upon her governor" repeated
Mr.. Hale. [Applause.l "Young men,
remember that, and remember him in these
days when we want to bring the republic
back again where he left her. Remember
that the greatest man in the darkest mo-
ments counted on the governor.
[Cries of "Good !" and applause.l
vICE-PREsIDENT WILSON'S TRIBUTE.
Vice.President Wilson wrote letter to
the meeting, in which he says: Sin his
death impartial liberty has lost devoted
champion, the country true patriot aud
pure statesman, and republican institutions
throughout the world sympathizing and
undoubting friend. He had lived to see
the extirpation of slavery and the triumph
Of the Union. But trials, disappointments
and sickness came to him, yet none but
his intimate friends know how brave
ly he bore them. While, how
ever, he greatly feared he
might become incapable for labor and fur.
ther usefulness, he had not dread ofdeath.
Les, than one year ago, while sitting
alone with him in his room, giving him
that advice so easy to give and so hard to
take--to cease from labor and take the
much-needed rest-he said to me with great
earnestness, 'Ifmy works were compile.
ted, and my civil rights bill passed, no
visitor could enter the door that would be
more welcome than DEATH The failure to
complete that allotted task was his regret
in his last moments, and the civil rights
bill he commended to an honored col
league A letter highly culogstc Of the
departed Senator was also received from
Charles Francis Adams.
THE BATTLE-FLAG BILL.
The Springfield Republican of to-day
publishes letter from Mr.. Sumner to o
personal friend in that city dated March 20,
1873, in which, after abiding to his sick
ness, which he says ''goes back in its origin
to the injuries received seventeen years
ago,u he speaks as follows of the battle-Aag
bill: 1t seems to me unjust and hard to
understand that my bill can be called hos
tile to the soldiers or to the President,
when 1t was introduced by me May s,
1862, and then again February q,
1865, AMI when it has been COM
mended by General Scott, General Rob-
ert Anderson and General Thomas.
all good and true soldiers. If persons
would only consider candidly nv original
convictions on this question, they would
see how natural and inevitable has been
my conduct. AS if in such matter |
could have hostility or spite to anybody !!
am public servant, and never was l
moved by purer sense Of duty than in
this bill, all of which will be seen at last.
Meanwhile. men will founder in miscon-
ception and Misrepresentation, to be re-
GREETED in the day Of light.o
BEEcHER's TRIBUTE.
At Plymouth church, Brooklyn. last
evening, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher de-
livered an eloquent Grafton on the life and
character of Charles Sumner.
MIR. SUMMERS HERoIsM.
DR.. Brown-Sequard, in his Lowell In
stitute course, year ago, volunteered the
interjected remark, in illustrating point
under treatment, that he never in his
practice subjected patient to more ter
rble ordeal than he did Mr.. Sumner, after
his injury in the Senate chamber, and he
never saw the severest known treatment
endured by any man with more untiinch-
ing nerve than by that Senator.