Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18
Onr Washington Letter.
MAsnlNnroN. Mrrch IA. 49,

NASHlNOTON, Nhrcu 49, ioff
MtsUs Editors - Before the WArcBuAN
again greets its readers, they will have learned
through the metropolitan dailes, Of the death
Of Senator Sumner.
A few additional particulars, however, Of
the sad event, and the way in which It's sudden
announcement was received in Washington,
may not be uninteresting to them The long
and labored reports in the local papers are cal
culated to convey the impression that the city
was shroudcd in gloom and filed with fearful
mourners, as it was upon the death Of Lincoln.
Nothing could be farther from the fact.
Mr. Sumner had spent the larger part Of the
twenty-five years Of his public life at Wash
ngton. lie always opposed an adjournment Of
Congress, and generally fingered here long ai-
ter the adjournment But his presence or alb
sence were almost unknown, and his coming
or going attracted no attention.
Naturally devoid of all the elements OF
popular iavorite, his naughty exclusveness and
ever preserved secluson, prevented the people
from coming in personal contact with him
Even in society he moved, like drop of oil
floating upon water, In apparent contact,
but without touching. Among the wealthy
and refined residents Of Washington he had
few acqunintances and fewer friends while TO
the common people he was unknown exceptby
name and sight. The humble admrer of his
genius, or the follower Of his precepts, never
dared presume to approach him Familiarity or
to take his hand. theoretically devoted to the
great interests Of mankind, he never appeared
to sympathize with men, Ms individuals ANY
personal appeal for his aid or his influence by
a colorcd man, was answered and repealed by
the question: " Am not deyoting my life to
the interests Of your rdce?n II is noticeable
fact that in his will no bcquest is made TO, nor
mention made Of, any colored man or institu-
ton. lie dwelt in the cold atmosphere Of the
intellect, and knew nothing Of the warm i'm
pulses and humanitarian sympathies Of the
heart 1t is not to be wondered at, therefore,
that when he died the people did not weep.
| It is also true, doubtless, that there is no
place in the country where political likes or
dislikes are more strongly felt than at the Ma
tional Capital And here Mr.. Sumner had
fewer political friends than almost any other
public man The Democratic element could
never forget his old time antagonism to their
party and principles and the Republican ele-
ment could not forgive his recent desertion of
the Republican party. The announcement Of
his dangerous illness on Wednesday, and the
almost immediate announcement OF his death,
excited surprise, but few expressions of sorrow
that indicated anything like a feeling of per
sonal bereavement
| | have heard the announcement Of the death,
and seen the funeral cortege pass through the
streets of Washington, Of Lincoln, Foot Stan
ton, Rawlings, Chase, Baxter and others. In
each case it was evident that death had struck
the great heart Of humanity that sorrowing
mourners followed the hearse, aud that heart
felt tears were shed upon the coffin, as it was
not upon this occasion Everything was done
that the proprieties required, and that the
honor and dignity Of the Senate demanded
In the sick room there had been
"A lack Of woman's nursing dear,h Of wousn's
teprs"
In the death chamber, detail Of capitol
police kept their involuntary vigil.
stood in front Of the house as the casket,
containing the great Senator, was brought out
and placed in the plain hearse Not twenty
other bystanders had been attracted to the
place by sympathy, interest, or curiosity. a
few carriages containing the pall-bcarers and
a few congressional associates, and score or
two colored men on foot, followed the hearso
down the avenue to the capitol. No black
housings draped the hearse or horses. Noem
blems Of mourning were displayed along the
streets. No crowds gathered to see the pro-
cession pass As quietly, and attracting as
little attention as an ordinary funeral, the re-
mains Of him whose eloquenee rad conyulsed
the nation, and who had
Broken with his thunder
The iron walls asunder "
that protected the institution Of slavery, were
borne through the streets ofthe national capital.
One could not help recalling the grand pa
geant that swept through the same streets, as
the lamented Lincoln was borne to the same
place, and the hundred thousand people that
swarmed upon the house-t tops, aud crowded
the sidewalks to see it pass; and the scarcely
less extensive display Of the funeral honors
paid to Stanton and Rawlings-and the mile
and half Of carriages that followed Chase TO
the tomb. One could not help asking himself
the question, " II Sumner had died three years
ago. would not this quiet and meager process
sion have swelled to largerproportions and been
attended by larger popular demonstration.
At the Capitol large crowd had been at
tracted by the announcement that the remains
would be exposed to view for an hour or two in
the rotunda. At halfpast twelve O'Clock the
remains were conveyed to the Senate Chamber,
where a briefand meagre funeral ceremony was
performed, entirely in keeping with the eere-
monies that had preceded, No solemn hymn
was sung no elegiac pronounced no sermon
spoken-onlya few cold words of formal prayer
were uttered by the Chapains Of the House and
Senate, which sounded more as though ad-
dressed to the audience than to the Throne of
Grace, and the painfully unimpressive ceremony
was over. The remains were taken immedi-
ately to the depot, and, accompanied by de-
taehment Of capitol police, the Massachusetts,
delegation and committee Of the House and
Senate, they left Washington by special train
for Boston. Let it be hoped that the proud
city and monwealth-forgettng his later
fraities and mistakes, and remembering only
his former services in the cause Of liberty and
humanity-will honor his remains and his
memory with greater tribute of respect.
1t may not be creditable to Washington, or
rather to the statesmen, Legislators and poll
tielans here assembled, that their late associ-
ate and former leader should have fallen and
been borne from among them with so little said
and so little done to mark the event. Ii may
be less so to know that the first expressions of
surprise at his sudden death were coupled with
a speculation as to who would grasp the prize
Of the Senatorial succession. Neither ambition
nor ayarice halt at the tomb. The feet of the
living are ever waiting for dead mems shoes,
and the throne is seldom allowed to long re-