Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
Tribute to Sumner from Henry
b. Anthony
Arrangements for the Funeral.


etSkfE.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The galleries
OF the Senate Chamber were crowded this
morning before the hour of meeting. The
chair ofthe late Senator Sumner was draped
in mourning, and large bouquet of white
flowers was placed on his desk.
The Chaplain IN his opening prayer said:
'so Lord our God, our father in heaven, we
all do fade as the leaf before thee. One
generation cometh and another goeth, and
so thou standeth this day to plead with thy
people. Two honored heads lie low and
the signing of sister cities responding In
their grief is heard in all the land. The
grave must receive its own. We bow in
silence and submission to thy stroke.
Christ is our only shield"
MIR. Anthony arose and said: ssMr. Pres
icent, on the absence of the Senator, to
whom this saddest duty appoints, and who
IS detained from the Senate by illness,
(BoutwelD, have been requested to make
to you the formal announcement of an
event which my heart refuses to accept,
and which my lips hesitate to disclose. II
is an event which needs not TO be an
nounced, for its dark shadow rests gloom
lily upon this chamber, and not only upon
the Senate and the capital, but upon the
whole country, and the intelligence of
which, borne on the mysterious wires that
underlie the sea, has been carried TO the
remotest lands and has aroused the pro-
foundest sympathy wherever humanity
weeps for friend; wherever liberty de-
plores an advocate. The oldest member of
this body, in continuous service, he who
yesterday was Oldest, beloved forthe graces
of his personal character, admired for his
genius and accomplishments, for the
fidelity with which he had adhered to his
convictions, illustrious for his services TO
the Republic and to the world, has crossed
the dark river that divides us from the un-
discovered country. Charles Sumner died
yesterday. To-day, in humble submission
to the divine will, we meet TO express
our respect for his character, our ven
Grafton for his memory. Tomorrow with
sOrrowing steps and with sOrrowing hearts
we shall bear him to that Massachusetts,
which he served so faithfully and which
loved him so well, and to her soil, precious
with the dust of patriotism and valor, of
letters and oI art, of craftsmanship and elo-
quence, We shall commit the body of one
who is worthy to rest by the side of the
nOblest and best Of those who in the centu-
ries of her history have made her the model
of free commonwealth. But the great
duty which illustrates his life shall not
lie with him, and never shall the earth
cover the immortal principles to which he
devoted every energy Of his soul, the con-
summation and vindication of which is
his highest reward a great God permitted
him to witness. Mr.. President, this is not
the time nor is the Office mine to pronounce
the words that are due TO this event. a
future hour and more fitting utterance shall
interpret to the American people the affec-
tiOnate respect of the Senate to our dead as
sociate and the homage which it renders to
his life and character. therefore offer the
following resolutions:
Resolved, that a committee of members
be appointedbytheP President pro tempore of
the Senate to take order for experimenting
the funeral of Charles Sumner, a member
ofthis body which will take place tO-mor-
row, Friday, at 1870 P. NJ, and the Senate
will attend the same.
Resolved, as further mark of respect by
the Senate for the memory of Chas. Sum
ner and his long and distinguished services
TO his country, that his remains be removed
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in
charge of the sargeant-at-arms and attended
by a committee of Senators to be appointed
by the President of the Senate pro tempore,
who shall have full power to carry those res
Olutions into effect.
Resolved, that as an additional mark of
respect to the memory of the deceased the
Senate do now adjourn.
Mr.. SchUuZ said: Mr.. President, | can
say nothing, but will offer the following
amendment to the resolutions:
Resolved, that the Secretary of the Sen
ate be directed to communicate these pro-
ceedings to the House of Representatives
and invite the House Of Representative, to
attend the funeral ceremonies in the Senate
Chamber tomorrow.
Mr.. COnkling said: Mr.. President, the
absence of a committee of our members to-
day following the corpse of one who once
presided here is quite enough to warn US
of the fitness of pausing for a space from
the din and business of the hour. 1t was
my purpose to move that the Senate adj
journ in observance Of the funeral of
Fillmore:
but in the meantime We stand in the shadow
of a nearer grief. A vacant chair is here,
long held by Senator of distinguished en-
inence and by one of the most illustrious
and honored of America. Surely it it is fit
that we should stop and pay TO him all the
hOnOrs within our power. l venture to say
that no tribute can be paid to him in which
lwOuld not join sincerely and respectfully,
and | second the resolution moved by the
Senator from Rhode Island, feeling quite
unable to contribute anything to the grace
full and elegant announcement which has
fallen from his lips.
The resolutions as amended were adopt
ed.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony the Presi-
dent pro TEN. was directed to fill the blank
in the resolutions as to the number of Sen
atorS to constitute the committee, and to
appoint the committee after adjournment.
The Senate then adjourned.
The Committees:
The following Senators were named as
the committee on the part of the Senate to
accompany Senator Summers remains to
Boston: Messrs. Anthony, Schurz, Sar-
gent, Sherman, Oglesby and Merrimon.
The President pro TEN. named the fol-
lowing as the Senate Committee of Ar
rangements for Mr.. Summers funeral ::
Messrs. Anthony, Schurz, Frelinghuysen,
Morrill, of Maine, Stevenson and Thurman.
They will meet and make arrangements
this evening.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The only al
luSiOn to Senator Summers death, in the
Chaplain's opening prayer, was an express