Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-06-18
5fiscellamu.
Charles Sumner - The Assassins
who Came to His HOnse the Night
Lincoln was Killed.


ness, of California. On receipt of the
news, doubling its truth, he jumped into
a carriage and drove at once to the
White House, where the tidings had not
yet been received. Robert Lincoln Of
whom inquiry was made, accompanied
Mr.. Sumner, and his driver was so i'm
pressed with the necessity for haste that
he galloped his horses all the way to
the theater. They found that the dying
man had been carried to the house op-
posite, and then Mr.. Sumner joined the
circle around the death bed.
When all was over he started for Mr..
Stewards. Gen. Halleck offered to drive
him over. They stopped only to warn
Andrew johnson not to leave his house
(Kirkwood's hoteD without a guard,
and in this way announced to him that
he was now President.
General Halleck left the Senator at
the house of the Secretary of State.
Soldiers met him at the door. They
knew him to be one who was familiar
with the inmates, and readily admitted
him.
No, you cannot see Gov. Seward
he is dangerously hurt.
"But Mr.. Frederick"
"Oh, sir, he is dying
/" But you can send my card to Mrs
Seward or Miss Fannie; they will wish
to see me-"
This was done. Mrs. Seward sent for
him to come to her. She met him on
the stairs in her night dress. " Charles, y
she said, they have murdered my hus-
band-they have murdered my son. y
All that he, the long timed friend, could
say to console her was said, but he went
away with those words ringing in his
ears: they have murdered my son. =
When next he saw that face it was al
peace; Mrs. Seward died soon after
She never rallied from the shock of that
night
1t was nearly eight o'clock when Mr.
Sumner reached his own lodgings. He
found his house surrounded by guard
The officer in charge informed him that
the soldiers had been stationed there fol
his protection, and told him of the anx-
iety felt at his absence from home, and
that, while some friends were seeking
for him in every direction, others were
waiting his return in his rooms.
That terrible morning! As the Sen
ator sat stern and haggard over his un-
tasted breakfast, friend after friend came
/ in to assure themselves of his safety
Their tone was gloomy some were al
most hopeless as to the future. But Mr.
Sumner was steady in mind and unshak.
en- in courage. In that atmosphere o.
terror, when so many lost nerve, he re
manned calm, and had the full use O
his powers. To one who feared that al
was lost he said
"No; nothing is lost, all is assured
This last dying throe of the rebellion
has cost us inexpressibly valuable lives
but it will separate from the lost cause
it's best men. No fear of a second re-
bellion. Those who fought us are sol
diers, not assassins. Once there wa:
danger that sympathy of the unthink.
ing might go with the defeated That
is past. Rebellion, successful, would as
revolution, have received the welcome
of the world; but defeated, and degrad
ed to assassination, it has covered itselt
with the worlds contempt. These live;
have given US back the South. Those
who carried the sword will revolt at the
knife. The work of last night, much
as 1t has cost us, has won more for u;
than any battle field. tell you it has
shown the South where treason leads
and what is its spirit. No fears Of q
guerrilla war now Our soldiers defeat
ed their armies but the eliminating
crime of the rebellion has destroyed
their cause"
"Yet," said one, "our leaders are
gone"
"But the Republic remains" replied
the Senator. While all are useful
who is indispensable? A successor al
ways appears, whoever falls"
And so he reassured the faint-hearted
and comforted those who were weak in
the faith.
As the days passed the city settled
down to its daily work. 1t was found
that the conspiracy had expended its
full force, but still the soldiers wert
kept at Mr.. Summers door. Always an
noyed by such precautions, he was doub
ly annoyed now. He sent forthe officer
of the guard and asked that the atten
ton be discontinued. 1t was replied
that they we're there by order, and mus
stay while the order continued in force
But would the officer give his compli'
ments to the colonel with this request
Certainly was the answer. But the next
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