The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-30

| certain. however. that the grafton drew public
attention more than any other made In Con
| gress or elsewhere during tho year. It was
generally accepted throughout the North a.
an exhaustive exposition OF American slaverJ
altogether unmatched In our history. Sum
ner's was virtually the last speech on Ameri.
can slavery delivered In Congress. II was, az
his bioRrapher snys. fitting that he should
| close the debate.
VII.
Tho most memorable achievement Of Sum-
ner In the Senate during the civil war was his
defeat OF Mr.. Lincoln's reconstruc elton plan
| through the rejection OF the form OF State
| government proposed for Louisiana In Febru-
airy. 1855. This was Summers hardest parlia-
mentary contest. and no carried his point He
had an earnest coadjutor In Wade. but II was ad-
mitted In unfriendy quarters that his master
full spirit alone defeated the recognition OF the
| Etate Government Of Louisiana. He stood for
the complete citizenship OF the colored race.
and, on this ground. no then stood almost alone.
| His resistance rallied the anti slavery masses
to his advanced position to which. after agita-
| ton and contention. the people we're yet to
come. II President Lincoln's plan had pre-
vailed for Louisiana and the other rebel States.
1t would have resulted in the permanent ex-
clusion OF the colored people from the gu frrage
In all tho old slave States. 1t was clear to
Sumner then TINT equal suffrage. without dis
tinction OF color or rice. must be established
In conjunction with reconstruction. or not at
all: and subsequent events have borne witness
to his foresight The white population. sepa-
rated not only by the memories Of the slave
relation. but by the ineradicable brand OF
color would never. without national interven-
ton. have conferred the boon: and Mr. Pierce
alnaf IL, ia
been neither better nor worse than master
races 40 separated have always BEEN
1t follows that for veal or woe. wheth-
or we may deem II veal or III for the
black man and the country. It stands to Sum-
ners credit or discredit n statesman that
suffrage irrespective Of color or race became
fixed and universal In the American sys-
tenn. 1t is we'll known that President Lin
coin had set his heart on the very different
plan OF reconstruction outlined In the Louisi-
ana proposals. and was sorely disappointed at
it's failure. To friends and even to myers he
talked freely OF Summers course. and some
thought that the relations Of confidence which
had previously obtained between them would
now end: but those who thought thus did not
understand Mr.. Lnooln's largeness OF soul
He was tolerant and. while tenacious Of his
rights as President, he respected the rights OF
Senator. Moraver Sumner, while maintain
Ing the sole right OF Congress to initiate re-
construction had avoided all direct reflections
on tho Presidents action In the Louisiana
affair. It is pointed out that. during the few
weeks OF life that remained to him. Mr.. Lin
coin bestowed more tokens Of good will on
Sumner than on any other Senator.
Sumner was among the first to favor the Inn
parchment Of President Johnson. believing
that he had done infinite harm by his attempts
n thwnrt fha pol OF
reconstruction. He regarded Impeachment
as political rather than judicial procedure.
inasmuch as 1t involved expulsion from office
without punishment Of any other kind. He
held. therefore. that 1t ought to be conducted
without technically In procedure or with re-
gard to the admission Of evidence. He con-
sidered 1t o remedy. which. though extraordi-
nary. was not TO be shrunk from In a great
emergency; one which. without combining at
tention infinitely to each act or word Of offence
was intended to rid the Government OF an
officer who had impaired the public peace.
and brought the country to the verge Of civil
war. Mr.. Pierce is unQuestionably right in
thinking that this view would have prevailed
IL the time had been 1861 instead OF 1888
No nation In the throes Of a struggle for life
would have spared President on tho fine
points. which. upon the record secured the
acQulttal OF Andrew Johnson. Sumner main
tanning as we have said. that the proceeding
was political and not judicial. did not con-
slider that a Senator was bound before
hand to reserve his opinion In comments
upon the conduct OF the President. or that
he was exempt afterward from publ criticism
and disapproval for his action or final vote.
His opinion" reviewed the case at length In
1t he dwelt upon the political character Of the
proceeding. the true construction OF the act
concerning the tenure Of office. the various Of
fences OF the President standing by them
selves and as illustrated by his general char
acter. speeches. and conduct: and he rebuked
the professional dialectics upon which his de-
tenders at the bar and in the Senate had re-
lied Early In the proceedings he had argued
for the right Of Senator Wade. the President
pro tenn OF the Senate. to vote on all questions
during the trial Notwithstanding he would
become the Presidents SUCCESSOR IL the i'm
peachment should be carried. He also made
an argument In which. after a complete sur
vey OF the authorities. he contended that the
Chief Justice not being Senator. was not en-
side" to vote upon or decide any question. In
terlocutory or final Sumner made a reiuc-
tant protest against tho decision OF the Chief
Justice that he had the power to decide on |
questions. Ia which he refe RED
to their fellowship for long years. and &C
knowledGed his old friends fidelity and SER
vices. In letter to 7. W. Higginson he re-
PEELED the charge Of unworthy motives which |
had been imputed to the Chief Justice and de- |
clared his confidence that the latter would |
prove true to the principles he had supported
through lilo. 1t is pointed out by Mr.. Pierce |
In foot note that Gerrt Smith published q |
friendly criticism on Summers view OF the |
Chief Justices decision. in which he argued |
that the Massachusetts Senator had been
misled BIZ too much learning.
VIII.
Perhaps the most remarkable speech de-
lvered by Sumner upon international ques-
ions was that made on April IL, 1869. against
he treaty negotiated by Reverdy Johnson and
Lord Clarendon. AS Chairman OF the Commit
zee on Foreign Relations. he reported adversely
Upon tho treaty or convention. and proceeded
% state the reasons for its rejection. He
wooded matters Of aEgravation like the
Trent case and the st. Adams raid. and
t.~4,l ..l IA.