Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-12-03
summers Last Day in the senate.


a friend OF humanity, his policy was
peace, and the settlement Of disputes
between nations by arbitration instead
of by war was one of his fondest
dreams. Possessed of such benignant
sentiments, on December 2, 1872, he
introduced bill which he requested to
have tread in full for information.
shall give it here; for to carry it to the
desk was one of my first acts as page.
1t was as follows:
"A Bill 10 regulate the Army Register
and the Regineatal Colors of the United
States.
WHEREAS, the national amity and good
will among fellow-citizens can be assured
only through oblivion of past differences,
andlt Is contrary to the usage of civilized
nations to pernetuate the memory of civil
war: THEREFORE,
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That the
names of battles with fellOw-citizens shat
not be continued in the Army Re lister or
placed on the regimental colors of the Uni
ted States"
The bill was ordered to be printed.
and that was the end of its pilgrimage
in Congress. 1t never became a law.
But it was discussed elsewhere! The
Legislature of Massachusetts heard of
1T with deepest Indignation. The act
of Senator Sumner was stigmatized as
''an attempt to degrade the loyal SOL
diery of the Union and their achieve
ments"; and q resolution of eensure
was introduced and passed by the
legislature of the State which had made
him its senator.
The resolution OF censure was an in
justice, which would have provoked
some men to. wrath. But with Mr.
Sumner it occasioned not anger, but
grief. He had served his State for
more than twenty years; and it had
stood proudly by him in all his efforts.
That it should now, after flis long and
faithful career, misinterpret his mo-
tiyes, and seem to brand him with re-
proach, was perhaps the saddest blow
he had ever sustained His manner
betrayed how it bore upon his mind.
Yet when December again appeared.
the senator was again found at his
seat on the opening day, this time to
introduce his famous Civil Rights Bill
the first bill of the session. But, as
the days slipped by, his face was less
ihcqueHtig SceH III tue senate. Decem-
Der. January, February passed-his
visits were few and brief.
On the 10th Of March, however, he
was in attendance. | remember it well.
had not seen him for quite while,
and he called me to his desk. Thought
he looked more cheerful than usual,
and | asked after his health. As he
whitfield pen, he smilingly chatted
with me, and stated that he had come
to the Senate to hear pleasant news.
He had scarcely made the remark, when
Senator Boutwell,, his colleague, arose
and sent up to the clerks desk to be
read resolution of the Massachusetts
Legislature. AS the clerk proceeded,
all eyes turned upon Senator Sumner,
who was eagerly listening. 1t was a
resolution resembling the vote of CEN
surel Within few moments after the
reading, the senator left the Chamber
and, as / parted from him at the door,
he shook hands kindly, and said:
"Good-byer'
Those were his last words to me.
The next day he was dead!-Ednsund
A(ton, IN ST. Nicholas for Nay.