National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-13
CHARLES SUMNER.
The Lecture BY George T, Dovnin,

The Lecture by George T. Downing.
A large audience assembled last evening at Lin
coin hall to listen to the lecture of Mr.. Geo. T.
Downing on the Life and Character of Charles
Sumner"
In the assembly were seen the races of many
Of the most prominent Zen of the city, both
white and eolored, On the stage were seated
Senators Aleorn and Bruce, the Hon. Horace
Maynard, H on. p. S. B. Pinchback, Allan Coffin,
Sidney MacFarland and A. M. Green, esqs. Mr..
Green, with appropriate remarks, announced the
selection Of Senator Alcorn to occupy the chair.
Mr.. Alcorn, after a few eloquent remarks de-
scribing the position that the late Charles Sum-
ner had occupied, and referring TO the struggle
that Sumner had maintained for years almost
single-handed TO lberate the colored race, intro
duced the speaker Of the evening, Mr.. george T.
Downing, who was received with great applause.
Mr.. Downing said that he had undertaken his
task this evening labor Of gratitude and love.
He gave a short sketch OF Mr.. Summers youth in
the central point Of thought and culture, New
England.
He described the connections which Mr. Sumner
had with the original Abolition party. Mr.. Sum-
ner he said desired to see the true principles Of
freedom founded in statutory law. He showed
the condition Of the great mass Of slaves in 1851
and alluded TO the strong feeling that was mani
tested towards any one who attempted anything
for their relief. Notwithstanding this feeling,
Charles Sumner took up the cause of the down
tIodden race. HOnored and esteemed in the most
refined circles Of Massachusetts, the welcome
quest Of the cultured in Europe, he did not hest
tate to become the apostle and leader Of despsed
Mr. Sumner inherited his principles Of Justice
and right from his mother, a noble, Christian
women, who, while on her death-bed, in answer
to question referring to her son, Charles, who
was in Washington advocating the cause Of the
eolOred people, she said, Tell him his country
needs him more than his mother does now" But
for Charles Sumner the condition Of the colored
race would be very different from 1t is at the
present day: Had he not been their staunch
friend, had he falteTed, the day Of freedom might
have been postponed for another century. The
speaker associated the subject Of his address with
Chase, Seward ,Gerritt Smith, and later with the
fort in this cause was to abolish the prescription
Of coloTed children from the schools OF Massachu
sets. His next was his grand effort that he made
in his liberty speech in Bos ton, 1.-THE True Gran
deur of Nations"
In Is4S be dissolved his connection with his old
party on account Of its prO-slaVery tendency. The
speaker quoted here from Mr.. Summers writings
and addresses, setting forth his reasons for this
measure. In 1851 he was elected to fill the sena-
tOrial seat made vacant by the death of Webster.
In 1855 the Republican party was formed In Mas
sachusetts, with Sumner at its head. He became
an object Of hatred to the South, because they
saw in him an incorporating enemy to slavery.
The lecturer again alluded to the sad cruelties
that his race had experienced, and described the
anguish Of proud heart degraded in bondage
with its grOans full Of intense misery. Happy
that time.
Summers sensitive nature was stung to the
quick by the act Of censure passed by the Massa-
chusetts Legislature. None knew what he felt.
| He was heroic. He was conscious Of no wrong
that he had committed; his lips were sealed.
That censure, which was afterwards retracted,
probably fastened his death. In 1866 he offered
the original civil rights bill, which was reflected
In sentiment in the later supplementary bill. Mr..
Sumner saw the slave liberated. He struggled
TO establish iraternAl relations between them, and
| considered that that reconciliation would again
| restore the South to prosperity. Charles SUM-
ners hospitality and generosity knew no distinc-
lions of race or color He did not turn a m an from
| his table because be was black or DOOR One of
| his last requests was Let the despised colOred
man follow my remains TO the grave"
The scholar and the statesman, the white man
and the black, together bowed their heads over
bis grave. They buried him not with pomp not
with military display, not even as a Senator but
as a great man-One who had loved the people
and whom the people loved. He had no ambition
other than to serve his felloW-man. His earnest
prayer was for the eolOred race. None knew how
this subject occupied his thoughts and weighed
him down.
A year has rolled away since he was laid in the
grave. We are here to do honor to the memory of
great man. We are thankful for our sense of
gratitude. Charles Sumner has a place in the
very centre Of the colored mans heart. ! need
not ask you to honor and revere him. Let his
spirit rest IN peace.
At the close Of Mr.. Downing's address, Mr..
VIM. Il. Matthews proposed the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted by a unanimous vote:
ResolUed, That the thanks Of this assemblage are
eminently due, and are herewith rendered, to Mr..
Geo. ]. Downing for the very instructive and able
address he has given us on the life and services OF
the late Charles Sumner, the defender Of human
rights; the champion Of universal brotherhood