Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-03-19
SENATOR CHARLES SUMNER.
Sketch of His Life and Death.
A Great Statesman and Staunch A6.
vocate Of Human Rights.

/
SUMNER life, and his last hours, W
herewith subj"in the following:
Mr.. SUMNER LIFE.
Charles Sumner was born in Boston
Mass ON the 9th of January, Is |, q
that at his death he had but recent,
completed his sixty third year. Fl
WAS the son of Charles Pinckney Sum
ner, High Sheriff Of tn county o
Sntf'lk, a soldier, lawyer, and maj
OF no mean literary attainnrnts. II
1880, Charles Sumner, ut the age o
10, graduated, with high honors, a
Harvard College, after which he be
came a pupii of Judge Storey, in th,
law school at Cambridge. He becam,
attached TO Mr. Justice Storey, then
member Of the Supreme Court Of thu
United States, who, notwithstanding!
the disparity in their ages, became F;
devoted friend of the young man, il
whom he saw promise OF future great
ness. 1t was by his advice that Mr.
Sumner engaged in the study of tn,
law under Justice Storey, who used
every endeavor to develop those quail
tiles of mind that have since rendered
Mr. Sumner conspicuous in the history
of the nation. In 1854, he was al
mli:ed to the Bar in Massachusetts
practiced law in Boston, and was ap.
pointed reporter in the Circuit Court
Of the United States. During that
year, he paid his first visit to Was D.
lngton Young Sumner had come I,
attend the Supreme Court, and il was
then, for the first time, upon the stage
road between Baltimore and the CAPT
tai, that he beheld a slave.
In the course of the next three years
he published three volumes of Mass
achusetts Circuit Court Reports, con.
tanning the decisions of Judge Storey.
He was also the editor of The quarter
ly journal called the american J"riSf
During several winters, while Judge
ORGY was absent at Washington, Mr..
Sumner, took his place as lectur in
the Law School, and also, in the Oc.
casional absences of MIR. Greenlea ,
nd sole charge of the school In
1886, he declined professorship in
the Law School, and next year visited
Europe where he spent three years.
During his stay there, he resided in
Italy, Germany, and France, giving an
entire year to England In this tour
he laid the foundation of that intimate
acquaintance with foreign courts and
customs which, in the brilliant Years
of his after career, gave him such
power Ia cOnneCtiu" 49, ""' rIrIEH
relations. He resumed his law prac-
licc on his return. and in ls44-6 edited
an edition of "Vesey'e Reports" III
twenty volumes He had, up u ls45,
taken no part IN politics. In that year
he delivered an Grafton on the 4ih OF
July on the True Grandeur OF Ma.
TONS" in " hich the den,unct d war as
a means of albitrament OF information
al controversies, and insisted that, a.
peaceful appeals 10 civil tribunals had
taken the place OF the wager OF battle
between individuals, SO peaceful ar.
bItraton $hould be substituted for war
IN The determination Of international
matters The Grafton vas finished
literary production, aud his facts. and
the subject of the discourse itself, AT
tracted To it great attention u. this
country and Europe. As an orator,
he was soon in demand, and other pub
lIc addresses followed in rapid sue
cesssion
In 1915, after the election Of Mr..
Polk 10 the Presidency, the annexa
ton OF Texas became IA part ot the
defined policy of the Democratic par.
w In November, ls45, just before
the meeting of Congress which was
to execute that policy. Mr.. Summer
| delivered an Grafton in Faneuil Hall
Boston, in opposition to the annex
tor of Texas as slave State. IL
1916, Texas was admitted to the Tn
ion. Mr. Sumner was now fairly en-
listed in the war against slavery, anC
in 1876, he addressed the Wassachu
~etts Wing State Convention in favor
Of taking bold ground against slavery
The Wings of Massachusetts, although
opposed TO slavery, were not Abo /
tionists, and adhered to the Na'iona
Wing policy Of nor-actlon on that shb
iect. The Democratic party in Massa
chusetts at that time was in ninori
~, but not powerless as now. 1t thrl
had many able leaders, inc 'uding N
Z Banks, George s. Boutwell,, Rober
Rantoul, Marcus Morton, b. + Hal
lett, and others Boston was then re
presented in Congress by Robert c
Winthrop, a Wing, who voted in 1874
for the declaration of war with Mex
co. For tn vote, Mr.. Sumner dc
nounced him IN published letter. :
TIE Mexican War leading to the &C
uuisiti n of new territory, there wa
A combination in Massachusetts, of tn
Democrats and Wings who were j
favor Of excluding slavery from III
new territory and from all the Terrific
ries of the United States. This part,
in lS4S, nominated aud supported Va
Buren, and Adams. Mr.. Sumner sul
ported csc candidates. In 1885,
Mr.. Webster resigned his seat in tn
Senate of the United States Ia beconl
| Secretary of State under Mr.. FL NOR
The Governor of Massachusetts al
pointed Mr.. Winthrop to fill the VI
cancy anti the Legislature shout
meet The coalition of Democrat
and Frep-Soil Wings made 4 success
ia fight that year, electing B"utwt
as Governor. n =. Banks and scI e
al other Democrats a. members I
, Congress, and Free Soil lrgisla,ur
! THIS legislature was occupied sever
weeks in trying 10 fill the vacancy
the Srrate. and at last elected Robe
;. Rsntoul In ell .he untxpired ter
ending March. 1851, and Charles Sun
ner for the long term beginning Mare
8. 1851
Mr.. Sumner made his appearance
the Senlte in December, 1851 I
! ~ .;,,,o In - n oil. aui Salmon