Year: 1872

His ExcuS< for InactiOn.


Boston, SEPT. Ex-senator Sumner be-
lore ieaU[lg for Europe, confided to F. w.
bro chairman of the Liberal Republican
otate Convention, for publication, speech
which be had intended to deliver in Fan
emil Hall this evening. Sumner in bis note
to Bird says:


had confidently hoped on returning
home to meet my fellow citizens in that
venerable forum so dear to us all, and to
speak once more on the great question IN
volving the welfare of our country, but re-
curing symptoms of a painful character,
warn me against any such an attempt. My
physician advises me that must not for
the present make any public effort, and he
prescribes rest. The address is entitled
ssPresidentlaI Election - Greeley or


Grant,


and is as follows in brief:


Preferring Horace Greeley, l have no
hesitation in assigning the reasons which
led me to this conclusion: Believing the
present incumbent unfit for the great Office
to which be aspires for a second term, and
not doubling that q vote for him would be
regarded as sanction of abuses and pre-
tensions unrepublican in character, l early
saw the difficulty of taking any part for his
reelection. Long ago declared while
recognizing party as an essential agency and
convenience, that l could not allow
it to constrain my conscience against
what seemed the requirements of the pub
lie good. Regarding always substance
rather than forms, have been Indifferent
to the name by which l might be called
and was nos impressed by the way in which
the candidate was urged. His support
ers, while admitting his failure, and even
the abuses and pretensions so notorious in
his civil life, commended his reelection as
necessary to uphold the party with which
have been associated. But it is easy to
say to all that, TO vote for such candidate
on such a reason, was to do evil that good
might come, which is forbidden in politics
as in morals. Two courses seemed open.
One was to abstain from voting, and con-
fess that this was my first inclination, but
it is not easy for me to be neutral, certainly
where ong-doing is In question; nor is it
my habit to shrink from responsibility.
But the doubt that beset me was removed
when saw the Democratic party adopt
candidate opposed to President Grant who
was an original Republican, and already
nominated by Republican convention, and
accept the Republican platform on
which he was nominated. An old party
which had long stood out against the Re-
publican cause had now placed itself on
Republican platform, the best ever adopted,
with Republican candidate who was the
most devoted Republican ever nominated,
thus completely accepting the results of the
war and offering the hand of reconciliation.
Atonce the character of the contest changed.
This was no common event. Pardon me
if l say, that to me it was of peculiar inter-
est. For years l have sought to establish
in the government the great principles
of the Declaration of Independence, avows
ing always that when this was done no.
body should surpass me in generosity to-
wards former Rebels. Not only by the logic
of my life, but by constant speeches was L
bound to welcome those who placed them
selves on this glorious platform. The ex-
tent of this obligation will appear before 1
close, and now its performance harmonizes
with opposition to the prolonged misrule of
the President incumbent. a