Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
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life and Times Of George Msson-A
Biography Of Charles sumner
Light Literature.

YORK ana London, Inc hnlCkeIpochei
Press.
This is a work that should be in every
library III Virginia. II is full of names OF
families distinguished in our history, ana
tho letters and speeches which IL contains
give charming picture of the life
Of our people du-ing the revolutionary
period, and fairly set forth the purposes
that animated them in taking up arms
against the British Crown, and later in
forming the Federal Union.
Mr.. Mason was descended from family
which came TO Stafford county from Eng
land in 1886, and was himself born in that
portion Of Stafford (Mason's Neck which
is now included in Fairfax, but after his
marriage he built Gunston Hall, on the
Potomac. and resided there.
In 1863 he drew up the non-importa-
ton resolutions" which were presented
by WASHINGTON in the Virginia Assembly
and unanimously adopted, and one OF
which pledged the Virginia planters to
purchase no slaves that should bo brought
into the country after November lst OF
that year. He was member Of the Com
mittee of Safety, which was charged with
the executive government of the colony
in 1776. and he drafted the Declaration OF
Rights and the Constitution OF Virginia,
which were adopted.
A fac sin1e of the Declaration of Rights
from the Ms. original, which is exhibited
in frame in the LIBRARY of Virginia, ap-
pears in Volume |.
In 1777 Mr.. Mason was elected to the
Continental Congress, but declined TO
serve, Ten years later he was member
of the convention that framed the Consti-
tuition Of the United States. In some OF
his attempts TO render the Constitution
more democratic Mr. Mason was defeated
| IN the convention, and he therefore de-
clined to sign the instrument when 1t was
| completed
In the Virginia convention which was
called to ratify the Constitution, with
PATRICK HESRY. he led the opposition to
| It's adoption, insisting on certain amend
| ments. He was elected the first United
States senator from Virginia, but declined
| TO serve and retired to Gunston Hall,
where he died October 1892.
This is brief outline of the life whose
| story is written-to a considerable extent
| in bis own letters-in these two large vol
umes. General Ike says Of Mason in his
| introduction to this work that he was
indeed the peoples man in the peoples
| government, The tent of his faith was
pitched upon the bedrock of the freedom
| of the citizen. Great was his belief in the
security of a purely republican form OF
government. Sublime was his reliance IL
the power of the people" MApIsoS said OF
MASON that he had never known a greater
man in debate; and that he was master
of the pen IS shown by the numerous i'm
| portant public documents that he pre-
pared, and which ran the gauntlet OF the
criticism Of the great men of that day, and
! by the letters which he wrote 70 his family
and friends. and which now appear IN
print for the first time.
The authoress has done her work well.
What great labor it cost her only those who
| have had experience in similar under
takings can fully appreciate. She has not
only assembled historical facts i'll attrac-
tive form. but has reproduced many a
quaint and forgotten picture of the home
| life of the wealthy Nirginians of the
period concerning which she writes Sc
gracefully.
For sale by WEST, JOHNSTON & Co.
| Charles Sumner. he Scholar in Politics Vol
ume Will, American Reformersm, Sc
ries. BY ARCHIBALD GBMKE. Cloth
| 12mo., Ala pages. With portrait and IN
dex. $50 Funk & Wagnall5 Company
| New York. London, and Toronto.
| Viewed from the standpoint which even
| MI. SUMMERS own grandfather occupied
| this book Is a venomous production. Hi'
| name was Job. and the thought arises how
his patience would have been exercised
| had he seen such work In his day anC
generation. He was imbued with some OF
the spirit of 1916 and 1851. His attitude to
| wards slavery was certainly not hostile
for under IA appointment from Congress
| IN 1885 he became resident or georgia
and there was tradition that her Leglsa
ture gsve him, shortly before his death, {
fattering vote for her governorshlp. he
| named his son CHARLES PISCKNEf, after tn'
southern patriot of that name. Oul
author saws he was a friend Of the master
ana not Of the slave" and had mo tOuci
| of the Puritan in him. but rather y" I
strain of the Cavalier" His ambition foi
| excellence and distinction descended witt
the maternal estate TO CHARLES PINChNEY
| This son WIGS well educated and had IN
| fathers taste and thirst for knowledge
but n very different disposition and very
different sentiments. After his graduation
| at Harvard, he studied amt practlced law
| in Boston and married, but was not very
successful. Fortunately he oDtaiheI
the Office OF high sheriff, whicl
| gave him more than competence
Tor some fourteen years, and enabled hiu
TO send his eldest son TO Harvard. Ihi'
was CHARLFs, Mr.. CRIMES grand hero
| There was "a twin sister, VINO died. Wits
the father was sheriff two fugitive slaves
! made their escape during the trial OF thel
case. and the sentiment OF Boston ran s.
strongly against him that he rendered M
| resignation TO Governor EDWARD EVERETT
Our author SAYS: 1T is TO the credit O
the eloquent dough-faced executive tina
he did not sacrifice the brave old man t(
the pro-slavery clamor OF his consltu
| entsh He delights TO berate and vllif!
! EyrRYTT. WEBSTER. WINTHROP, DOUGLAS
and ali the great leaders VINO would MOI
| 90 with his hero in mis- abolition schemes
Sheriff SUMNER opposed the spirit o
caste, was entirely willing, TO occupy
seat on the bench by the side OF negro
| mdge. was opposed TO the exclusion o
| tOiOICu llOAA biA' fNH''N
of the city: also TO the statutory prohlDi
ton of the intermarrlage OF the whites anC
| blacks" Surely the strain of the Caya
her" mad disappeared and the touch o
the Puritan" was there. Under suci
auspices, though his home was not ge
NAL one, CHARLES without any PlScGsEY
| SUMNER was literally educated, studied
and taught law at Harvard and practiceC
| il IN Boston: spent over two years II
Europe and became noted for ms genera
| scholarship. He was a great advocate iol
peace and the extinction OF war amongs
ali nations. but at last devoted himself e
the abolition of slavery IN the southern
| States and harked on the dogs of war
He tried to have the Wing party committee
TO anti-slavery. and falling, aided In tn
formation of the Free-Soll and Repubiicai
party. As q senator from Massachusetts
no exerted all his fine powers; native an'
ACQUIRED, against slavery and the South
| The author exhibits for him a passionate
| sympathy, and follows him with applaus'
and approval IN nearly everything that n
does and says. 10 him, slavery IN tn'
south was "the sum of all viliainies
1.-THE deep-rooted lie and sin OF the land.
SUMMER was the great defender Oh hu
msnity," the lay preacher OF the gospe
of national righteousness" the hercules
destroying the Lernean hydra" DC.
| tha i1aa that any northern