The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-03-25
RArE 0E ADyExTlsuNG.


Mr.. Summers term of Senatorial
service extended over nearly twenty
four years, and during that period, or
At least good portion of it, scarcely
any name has been brought more
prominently and continuously before
the American people than his, and of
all his contemporaries none labored
more earnestly in the cause of good
government and universal liberty than
he.
Mr. Sumner was the most learned
man in the Senate. lie was an able
lawyer. an accomplished linguist,
thoroughly eenversant with classical
literature, both ancient and modern, a
master of rhetoric and oratory, an ele-
CANT writer, a patron of science, and a
lover of art. There is hardly left in
the Senate greater lawyer. none to
equal him as a ERguist, none TO sur
pass him as writer and speaker, none
to compare with him in knowledge of
bellies lettres, none to approach him
in extensive and critical knowledge of
art. His house in Washington was
perfect museum of fine arts, abound
ing with the choicest specimens of
painting and statuary, and with rare
and curious objects. Ills library was
tIISt anu Naiuahlts anu nc Fdsstu
much time among his books. He was
an ineessant and laborious student.
and gathered intellectual stores from
every source and from all directions.
America has produced no statesman
whose speeches give more striking
evidence of wide range, tircless re-
search. close thought, and exhaustive
treatment Whatever he undertook
/ Il, al sharap.fbtx ..p.i xr.,rl
! of his life shows the hand OF a master.
In all the anti-siavery measures dis
cussed and acted upon dufing the war,
including the repeal of the fugitive
slave law and the passage OF the
amendments of the CONSTITUTION by
which slavery was abolished and civil
rights guaranteed to the freedmen.
| Mr.. Sumner took deep interest OF
| late years he devoted himself mainly
| to an effort to perfect the civil rights
| law. Though unquestionably honest
| and sincere in his public course, Mr..
Sumner lacked that element oil prac-
| ticability which is necessary TO the
composition OF the successful politi-
clan or statesman. He could not
adapt himself to the circumstances of
the times, nor work with patience at
the task of bringing about desired
end through tortuous ways, and. as a
] consequence, was often led to doubt
the sincerity OF those who were .as
true TO principle as himself. but who
| better understood how to control pub
| lie sentiment. He always attacked in
front, and flank movement in poll
ties be abhorred. 1t was through this
characteristic of Mr.. Sumner that he
was, in measure. alicnated from his
party Distrustfnl of his old political
associates, he held aloof in the cam
| paign of 1872, and feeling that he
could not put his heart into the strug-
gle for the Republican party, and be-
ing but little inclined To aid the so
called Liberal movement, he took ad-
vantage of the leisure afforded him by
the Congressional vacation and visited
Europe, returning home again late in
the season. During his absence he
was rendered the nomination for Gov
ernor Of Massachusetts by the Liber-
ais. but declined to make the race.
The chief cause which led TO Mr..
Summers s estrangement from the ad-
ministration was the course pursued
by the latter, pending the negotiation
for the annexation of Santo Domingo,
which he construed into a menace
against the black Republic of Hayti.
Upon any point touching the welfare
! of the negro race he was peculiarly
| sensitive, and though often over zeal
| ous in that behalf he was always con-
1 sistent and unyieiding.