Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-15
sGMNRR,s LAST DAYS IN THE
SENATE.

A friend Of humanity, his policy was
peace, and the settlement Of disputes
between nations by arbitration instead
of by var was one of his fOndest
dreams. Possessed OF sach beRiRnsnt
septimeats, on December 2, 1872, be in
troduced bill which he requested to
have read ia full for inforrustion." l
shall give it here, for TO carry It to the
de Was one of my first acts as page.
Ii Was as follows:
"A Bill to Regulate the Army Register
and Rsgimental Colsrs of the United
States. Whereas, the national amity
and eoed will among FELLOW citizens
can be assured only through oblivion OF
past differences, and it 10 contrary to
the usage of civilized nations to per-
petuate the memors Of OWL war
Therefore be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives Of the
United States of America IN Congress
assem- bled, that the names OF battles
with fellow citizsas shall not 10 con-
tinued in the Army Register or placed
on the regimeRtal coiors Of the United
States"
The bill was ordered to be printed
and that was the end of its pilgrimage
in Congress. IL never became law.
Bat il was discussed elsewhere. The
Legislature of Massachusetts heard Of
IL with the deepest indignation. The
act Of Senator Sumner WAS stIgmatized
as IAN attempt to degrade the loyal
soIdiery Of the Union and their grand
achievements" and a resolution of GEN.
sare was introduced and passed by the
Legislature of the State which had
made him its Senator.
The resolution of censure was an act
Of injustice which weuid have provoked
some men to wrath. Bot with Mr..
Sumner 10 occasioned not anger, but
grief. He had served his State fsF
more than twenty years; and IL had
stood By him in all his efforts. That IL
should now, after his long and faithful
career, misinterpret his motives, and
seem to brand him with reproaoh, Was
perhaps the saddest blow be had ever
sustained. His manner betrayed how
it bore upon his mind. Yet when De.
oember again appeared. the Senator
was again found at his seat on the open
ing day. this time to introduce his IA
nous Civd Rights Bill the first Of the
session. But, as the days slipped by
his face vas less freq 1ently seen In the
Senate. December, Januaray, Febru
airy passed-his visits were few and
brief.
On the 10Th of March, however, be
was in attendance. 1 remember it we'll
had not seen him for quite while
and he called me to bis desk. Though
he looked more cheerful than usual
and ] asked after bis health. As b,
whitfield pen, be smilinRly chattst
. with me, and stated that be had com,
/, to the Senate to hear pleasant news. HI
had scarcely made the remark whel
, Senator Boutwell,, his colleague, aros,
and sent mp to the clerks desk TO b.
read res1lntion Of the Massachusett
Legislators. Az the CLERK proceeded al
eyes turned upon Senator Sumner, VIII
was eagerly listening. 1t Was resolu
sion resembling the veto Of censure
Within few moments after the read
, ina the senator left the chamber, and
. a. ! parted from him at the deor, b
shsok hands kindly, and said, "6ood
. byev' Those we're his last words to me
TIE nsxt day be vas dead!-Sf. Nicholas