The weekly Louisianian., 1874-05-09

~-74~s@~ tAsAssA - NV VAN00soS4
I months ef oonat.nt anxious :ser
'fsioe< e<iaa annthsr plaoe. lawey from
I Massachusetts,, I am permitted y
fstand among syous sageips my fellow
1etizen4 and 10 s1few. satisfaction
and strength :hom your ,generon,
|preseaee Life j. =tanl Of .ahang,
land CONTRAST From alaye soil.
havsneene TO reeeoil. From th.
tainted, breath Of Slavery I ha.t
passed into the brso soing 4ir Of F1ee
dom. And the heated entaeonis4
of debate, shooting forth it's 6erJ
einders is changed into this brim;
ming, oyerdowing welcome, while
seem to lean on the great heart o.
our beloved Commonwealth, az il
palpitates audibly in this crowded
assembly"
A little later Slavery, in ts.rapid
march, assailed the time honored
barrier which the compromise Of q
former generation had set up against
|sits advance over: our vast North
western territories. Mr., Snmne.
WAS now at the height ql bis powers,
His age was forty-three; his Sena-
torial experience was such IS 10
confirm his confidence in his own
powers and to concentrate upon
him the confidence and admiration
Of the friends of Freedom His
tory has been to me the delight and
study Of my life. but I know no
figure in History which commands
more Of my admiration than that Of
Charles Sumner in the Senate Of
the United States from the hour
when Douglas presented his Ill
omened measure for the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise until the
blow Of the assassin. laid him low.
Here was Re: rertection of moral
oons'ancy and daring. Here was
sleepless vigilance, unwearying la-
boz, hopefrlness born only Of deep
est faith, bouyant resolution caring
nothing for human odds, but Sc
renely abiding h.the perfect peace
which the unselfsh service of Truth
alone can bring. The issues then
before the country awakened his
profoundest alarm. The balance
seemed to him to be about to pass
from Freedom to Slavery. The
American Republic, go solemnly de-
dicated by the Fathers to Freedom,
seemed about to cut loose from all
her ancient moorings. Tho immin-
ence and greatness Of the danger
oppressed him. Listen to these
words, opening that speech which
seems to me perhaps the most per-
feet Of his life, in which he first op-
posed the removal of the Landmark
of Freedom: "Mr. President, I sp-
proach this discussion with awe.
The mighty question, with untold
issues, oppresses me. Like por-
tentous cloud surcharged with ire
storm and ruin, it seems. 10 |
Gil the whole heavens, making me
conscious how unequal to
the occasion I ,am,-how unequal,
also, is Ill that I can say to al that
I feel" But listen also to these |
words Of lofty cheer which Aay elose
the same speech, IN which, rising on
The wings Of Faith, he looks beyond
the storm, raging around him and
oontemplates that pursr and final
e Uuon, contemplated at the begin
ning against which the storms OF
faetion and The assaults Of foreign
power shaA beat in vain. - upon
The Rock Of Aees,-snd ImR1z,
seeking a firm toothold, WILL HAVE
IT LAST wHERDoN 10 STAND AND NOW
rHE WORLD
To such . man, 10 aiaith 20 clear
zighted, to = spirit 70 faithful to
God and His Truth, no disaster or
my isllow-c;tizena, can ever
come. Victory sits forever on his
triumphant CREST |
And in his final protest against
hat measnrs1sss wrong, see how
from the oppression Of temporary |
defeat, he rises to joyous heights ofl
peseue moral con6dance: Sir, more |
r. II