The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-01-13
Sumner and FeSSenden.
1.-THE Hon. J. d. Alley at the Meeting of the Massa
chnsettS Clnh.1


1.-THE Hon. j. q. Alley at the Meeting of the Massa-
chusetts Club
Upon the adjournment of the Senate that
day (of the speech against Andrew Johnson IS
policy he came over to the House, and asked
me to ride home with him, telling at the same
time his experience in the Senate during that
day. We rode from the Capitol to his loig-
ings, and we passed ON our way the funeral
cortege of Governor Corwin, and as we gazed
upon the casket containing his remains, he
said: THAT is the end of most eminent citi-
.zen's career, and how wish my mission was
over, and 1 could be in his place; for it makes
me so unhappy to differ so widely from person.
al and political friends whom esteem so
highly. But must do my duty" His per-
sonal antagonisms, though generally unavoid-
able by one governed by such rigid sense of
duty, injured his reputation and made for him
many bitter enemies. 1t is well known among
his friends that for many years he and Sena-
Tor Fessenden were not on speaking terms.
1t was a source of great discomfort and pain to
the numerous friends Of both the distinguished
Senators. / said one day to Mr.. Sumner that
it seemed shame, if not disgraceful, that the
statesmen of New England should indulge in
personal quarrel with each other. He re-
piled that it was not his fault. Senator Fes-
senden said the same to me, ''that he was not
In fault" few days afterward Mr.. Sumner
was informed that Senator Fessenden spoke in
nigh praise of his debating powers upon one
occasion, which indicated he thought, that
the Maine Senator really appreciated and felt
kindly toward him. The next day they in
formed me that they had become reconciled,
without either OF them apologzing.
They remained mutually friendly and ad-
miring for some time, when a newspaper re-
porter gave to the public conversation had
with sumner, i'll which he spoke Of Fessenden
in terms which angered the latter very much,
and he refused from that time forward, until
the 18th April, 1868, to recognize or speak to
Mr. Summer. On the 18th of April, it59, the
great speech of the Massachusetts Sei 4tor up
on the Alabama claims, which create such a
profound sensation both in Europe and Ameri-
ca, was delivered in the Senate in secret ses-
sion, and it was this speech that made the SET
tlement of the Alabama claims possible, upon
abetter basis than the one proposed Imme-
diately upon the conclusion of this speech Mr..
Fessenden arose and spoke as follows:
II rise to express my gratitude and thanks
to the distinguished Senator from Massachu-
setts for the powerful and exhaustive speech
which he has just delivered-a speech so accu-
rate in statement, so powerful in argument, so
excellent in tone and temper, placing our
country before the world in its true relations
speech which no other man in this country
is competent to make, and speech which, in
my judgment, is the greatest and the ablest
ever made within the walls of this Capitol !;
and thank him for it from the bottom of my
heart
EaThis of course brought them together again,
and they remained warm friends until the de-
cease of the great Maine Senator few months
later. Two day. before the death of Mr.. Fes-
sended report was circulated that Charles
Sumner was dead.
A few days after the death Of Senator Fes-
senden [ entered the room of Mr.. Sumner and
found him reading letter, in which he
seemed deeply interested. He remarked;
Here is a letter which / cannot show, bur
would like to have you read, 1t was from
Judge Shepley which related an incident
| which have never since heard mentioned,
and do not think has ever been made public
| The Judge, alluded to the false report of the
Senator's death, said that when he saw the
report upon the bulletin board he hastened tt
! the bedside of the dying Senator, ana told him
Of the report. What" he exclaimed
| "Chares Sumner ad-impossible! The
greatest, the wisest, and the,best man in the Ssh
ate of the United States, how can the country
! spare him?" and again exclaimed, "The
| greatest, the wisest. and the best taken from
amongst us! How mysterious are the ways OF
Providence" Such was the dying testimony
OF the distinguished Senator from Maine tC
| the great qualities of head and heart of the
! illustrous Charles Sumner. Our great Sena
| tor for a brief period abandoned the Republi
can organization, but had the infinite salts
faction of hearing from his own lips the last
4 time saw him, but short time before his
death, as I parted from him in his own chamber
past midnight: "There is no safety for the
republic but in the success of the Republican
| party" eHV aa.rl a-frtfstc.