Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-16
CHARLES SUMNER.
An Eloquent aud Touching Tribute 10y "a
BLACK Wan.

Inc UfSt anniversary OF t1e uedth VI
Charles Sumner was observed in Boston
last Thursday. Joshua Il. Smith, as MEM
Der of the legislature, made the following
speech before thet body. As n tribute to
his memory in pathos and eloquence, it
cannot be excelled;
Mr.. SPEAKER :-Thirty-five years have
passed since Col Robert G. Shaw was
babe in the cradle. on an occasion that l
we'll remember, Charles Sumner was
guest at his fathers table, and 1 was a SER
want standing behind his chair. The ques-
ton of slavery, then the general topic of
conversation, was under discussion. One
of the guests gave expression TO the most
bitter feeling l ever heard, saying that
"Abolitionists, with their negro friends
ought to be hanged" But Mr.. and Mrs.
Shaw, the father and mother of the infant,
spoke strongly in favor ofjustice and free
dom. The gentleman who had been speak
ing so bitterly asked Mr.. Sumner what he
thought of the negro question. Pointing
to me he replied: "Would you have that
man a slaveP" And that expression, with
other words then spoken, cost him his So
cial position for years in Boston. Slavery
had struck its roots wide and deep; but for
me the star ofjustice rose in that hour, and
saw it shining, for the first time, through
the dark clouds of prejudice that surround
ed me.
\ few years AFTER that 1 was with that
child on Boston Common. As we were
sitting there, noticed that he looked in
tently at me, and presently he said, "Smith,
what makes your hands black ?" "Why,
my boy, God made them So" l replied.
"well," said he, "if God made them so,
why do people find fault with it?" "Be-
cause they are bad" I answered. He
gazed at me few moments without speak
ing, and then he said, "Smitb, some day
I'll fight for you."
When he was only twenty-five years of
age this child was made Colonel of the
Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, the
first regiment of colored soldiers recruited
in this State; and then, Col. Shaw led the
colored troops at Fort Wagner, and there
gave his life for his country and for that
Justice and freedom that had been part of
his early training.
Thirty-two years after the noble express
ion referred to of Mr.. Sumner, 1 was a
we were seated there party of Southern
ers from Georgia called upon Mr.. Sumner
to secure his influence in what he consider
ed would be unjust legislation. The great
Senator turned again pointing 10 me, and
said: "There is my friend-my equal at
home, and your equal anywhere; and
when you are ready to make eternal JUS
tice law, then call on me and will help
you, and not before"
Mr.. Speaker Il have lived out two gem
erations, and have tasted the bitter fruit of
the seed planted by our fathers eighty
years ago. 1 have had the doors of the
church and the State House shut in my
face; but have lived 10 enjoy the bless
ings ofliberty, and to-day stand the peer
ofevery man in this House, and this, as
believe, through the life and labor of
Charles Sumner. What a change has taken
place within the forty years of my remem-
brance! wish could picture it. In those
days was servant in family travelling
through the Sontb. They stopped in
Washington, and there saw, for the first
time, men, women and children sold on
the auction block as cattle are sold. No
regard was paid to age, sex or relationship.
Husband and wife, mother and child, were
parted to meet no more. At that time, if
black mans child or dying wife cried for
water after 10 o'clock at night, he dared
not go out into the streets to get it, for fear
of arrest and the watch house. And if the
master did not pay the fine the next morn
ing, thirty-nine lashes on the bare back
was the black mans penalty. In those
days L would have given a kingdom to
have been a dog with collar on my neck
with the owners name upon it, for that
would have protected me.
The family to which 1 have referred was
invited into the country to dine and
stood to wait upon them. After dinner
heard the sound of the lash and voice
crying, 80 God, have mercy" stepped
out into the garden, and, looking about
me, saw a poor girl with the blood run
ming down her neck, with her eyes fixed
on the shining clouds towards the setting
sun, and saying, 80, Jesus, will soon be
with thee, and then my soul will shine as
those clouds, and will be thy child" It
was the first prayer had ever heard, and
there l swore eternal hatred to slavery.
Forty years after that 1 went again 10
Washington. Slavery had disappeared.
The whipping-p post and auction-block were
gone. The star that saw rising was then
in its meridian. 1t shone full in my face.
l was in a new world. 1 was free as air.
went as any.gentleman might go. went
to Arlington and heard no word of insult.
had every attention paid me as a gentle
man, and should not have known that 1
was black man if had not looked in the
mirror
Now, Mr. speaker, Charles Sumner did
it. Five and twenty years ago the anti
slavery sentiment OF New England fixed
upon Sumner as the man TO go to Washing
ton TO strike the first blow. You speak of
Sherman's march from Atlanta TO the sea
as great victory. But that was nothing
compared to the success of Sumner. Sher-
man had the nation at mis- back. Sumner
simple justice. Sherman had a hundred
thousand men. Sumner fought single
handed and alone. Sherman had the wealth
of the nation laid at his feet, and Sumner
had only the prayers Of the poor.
Mr. Speaker, stand here amazed. One
year ago to-day placed in the hands of
our great senator the resembling resolutions
of this legislature. As he read them, he
turned his head and wept as 1 never saw
man weep before. He then said, 81 knew
Massachusetts would do me justice"
AS stood there could not but think of
that passage ofScripture which says, "Jesus
wept." Not for himself but for a poor I'M
believing world. Sumner wCpt; not for
himself, but for the State he loved and