New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-06
MIR. SUMMERS PROTEST.

In Difference to the wishes of Mr.. Summers
most intimate and trusted friends, we print
this morning what cannot but be considered
the most important contribution to the history
of his life. 1t is a speech prepared after the
consummation of the act which must always
reflect discredit upon every man who partici-
pated in it or sanctioned it, by which the
great Republican Senator was excluded from
the councils of the Republican major
ity, and dismissed from the Committees
where he had done such noble service
for the country and for civilization The only
excuse for this stupid and cruel injustice was
that Mr.. Sumner was not upon friendly social
terms with the President ana the State De-
partment. He prepared this speech to show
why his friendly relations in these quarters
had been interrupted, but, yielding to the
iudcious representations OF Senators Irumbull
and SchurZ, he refrained from deliver
ing it, and for three years suffered In
silence the most ssfoffensive inspirations
from those who were equally unable to
appreciate his loyal support or his disinter-
ested opposition. In the opinion of his
friends, the time has como when this speech
suppressed by its illustriOus author from the
highest considerations of dignity and patriot
ism, should be given to the country, i'll ex-
PLANTATION of the circumstances which lost to
the Senate the influence of its greatest and
purest member, and by which the Admins
tration deprived itself of o friend as powerful
as he was unselfsh., ~'S
We presume the essential facts of this dis
closure will remain undisputed. AS to the
- 30 ho than fhnra ara
many who will disagree with Mr.. Sumner as
to the share of responsibility which should rest
upon the Secretary of State for the course
pursued by the Administration toward Mr.
Motley. 1t is probable that the Senator may
havetrev1sed his own judgment at later day, as
1t is certain that he gave his hearty support
and approval to the course of the Secretary OF
State in reference to the seizure of the Vir
ginius. The facts here brought forward would
seem to point TO what every candid person
must regard as the vulnerable feature OF the
Secretarys adminstratiOn-his tendency to
Weld to the vulgar malice and ignorant ca
prices of the President, instead of obeying his
own instincts, and resisting or resigning.
The chief discredit, however, as we have
said before falls upon the Senate of the
United States. Ibclr most Valuable ana us
tinguished member opposed, in frank and
open manner with his usual energy, but with
his usual courtesy also, plan of the President
TO acquire by unconstitutional means, neigh
boring island. He succeeded in defeating this
scheme in the Senate. The President,
upon this, dismissed our Minister at
London, because he was an intimate friend
of Mr.. Sumner; he also said "that if
"he were not President he would call Mr..
Sumner to account" his Aide-de-Camp, the
messenger between the Executive Mansion
and the Senate Chamber, said, " If he were
not an officer of the army he would chastise
"Mr. Sumner" The Senate, far from resent
ing these indecent attacks, sided with
the Executive against their colleague, and
fastened to propitiate the angry President by
depriving the Massachusetts, Senator of his
places on the Committees where he had no
rival. Into the vast vacancy which he made
at the head of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee Mr.. Simon Cameron was put by the vote
of Senate which seemed to have lost
with Its conscience its sense of humOr,
and the most scholarly statesman of our time
was further grossly insulted by being placed