The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-04-03
CHARLES SUMNER.

1
the earlier history of Massachu
sets, and Charles P. Sumner, faith.
er of the late Senator, was the son
of Major Job Sumner, who was
eminent on the Colonial side dur
ing the War of the Revolution.
His enthusiasm for liberty de.
scended to his grandson, and
bore noble fruit in him. Charles
was born in Boston, Jan. 6, 1911,
and early displayed zeal in the
pursuit of knowledge. He enter
ed the public Latin school at Bos-
ton in his tenth year, and gave
evidence then of his love for his
tory. His studies were continued
at Phillips Academy; in 1880 he
became a gradute of Harvard, and
after a years private study enter
ed the law school in Cambridge,
under Judge Story. In his TWEEN
ty-third year he became a member
of the bar of Worcester, Mass,
and obtained readily a large prac-
tice. While studying law his re-
searches extended back of the
text books to all available sources,
and his ability led to q life long
friendship with Judge Story, who
during his absence in Washington
appointed his young protege to
lecture III the University to the
law students, and at one time Mr..
Sumner had entire charge of the
Law school. His success led to
the offer of a professors chair,
which he refused. While a stu
dent, he wrote for the American
Jurist, and afterward became it's
editor.
He visited Europe in 1887, and
remained there for three years.
His letters of introduction brought
him the notice of eminent men in
England, and gave advantages
which he knew how to prize IN
listening to Parliamentary debates,
and in witnessing the operations
of the Courts in Westminster.
During his stay of one year in
London the most marked attention
was paid him, and he became the
friend of Lord Brougham, Disraeli,
John Bright and others; and his
visit, and their influence, combin-
ed, led him to become English in
his taste and habits while he re-
manned intensely American in his
opinions. The most flattering at
tentions were also paid him In
Paris and the principal capitals of
the Continent, which he visited,
and where he became acquainted
with the eminent jurists of the
day. He also formed friendships
with literary and scientific men,
and studied art both in Paris and
Italy, his collection of engravings,
which he began in Paris, becoming
one of the finest in the United
States. Returning in 1910, he
brought back "wealth of infor-
nation, a sincerity of devotion to
freedom, a ripeness of culture,
an earnestness in the pursuit of
truth and an independence of char
acter such as have been rarely
given to American statesmen"
Mr.. Sumner the same year re-
sumed the practice of law in Bos-
ton; three years after was again
made lecturer at the law schools
and in 1916 edited Vesey's Re-
ports, in twenty volumes. His po-
litical life began July 4, 1916, by
the Grafton, "The True Grandeur
of Nations" delivered in Boston,
which Richard Golden declared to
be 1.-THE noblest contribution ever
made by any modern writer to the
cause of peace" 1t brought him
into contact and partial sympathy
with Jno. P. Hale, Salmon P.
Chase, VIM. Lloyd Garrison, Wen
dell Phillips, and the anti-slavery
or free-soil party. 1t placed him
also in opposition to the then
dominent slave power, which
"held the government of Wash
ington in the palm of its hand,
and overawed public sentiment all
through the North" In 1916 he
delivered another address on the
duties of the Wing party, and
holding them disloyal to their
professions, in 1S48 he gave his
support to Van Buren, and Adams
on the free-soil ticket. In 1850,
the Frec-Soilers and Democrats
elected him to the U. S. Senate as
the successor of Daniel Webster.
The chief difference between his
views and those of Lloyd CARR
son were, that the latter denoun-
ced the Constitution as counter
ancing slavery, while Mr.. Sumner
held that its apparent sanction, as
claimed, was a perYersion of the
intent of the instrument, and that
it was nowhere recognized OF
known in the fundamental laws OF
the land. He was marked from
this time as formidable enemy Of
the slave oligarchy. In 1852, he
moved the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave Law, and Feb. 81, 1854, op
posed Senator Douglas on his re
peal of the Missouri Compromise
in a memorial speech.
About this time he delivered
many speeches, in and out of Con
gress, on the question of the day
But his great speech in the Senate
May 10 and 20, 1856, against the
repeal of the Missouri Compro
mise, entitled "The Crime against
Kansas" drew upon him the con
centrated hatred and wrath of the
slave power. His mastery effort
was so logical, so convincing
powerful and unanswerable, tina
it was resolved to kill the maj
whom they could not meet in ar
gument. Two days after th'
speech had been made, an attach
was made upon him in the Senatt
by Preston Brooks, from Soutl
Carolina, who approached hin
from behind, while writing at hi
: desk, and struck him repeated,
on the head with q heavy cane
beating him after he had fallen t.
the floor, bleeding and stunned
Mr.. Keitt, of Kentucky, stood by
armed, to prevent interference
and none had courage to rescu
; him till Senator Crittenden, c
KY, came forward. This bruta
L attemp caused extraordinary ez
citement through the country. I
the South, Brooks and Keitt wer
: regarded as heroes, and Sout
Carolina passed resolutions al
3 proving of their conduct. In th
). North intense indignation Wa
= felt and expressed, and . repol
being presented from commits
- advising the expulsion of Brook
q he resigned, but was again return
ed from South Carolina The il
:. juries Mr.. Sumner received wei
- so severe as to cause his retir
y ment for a time frnm nnhlice III