The New York Herald Newspaper, March 12, 1874, Page 3

SUMNER. Sudden Death of the Croat Massachusetts Senator. He Passes Away Quietly After Dreadful Suffering. GENERAL SURPRISE AND SORROW. The President and Legislators in Mourning. Conscious and Recognizing friends to the Last. LAST ACTS AND WORDS. “My Book, My Book; I Shouldn’t Regard This Had I Finished My Book.” WASHINGTON, March 11, 1874, Triumph, them death. So ina few words might be written the grand epitome of the life and his- tory of Charles Sumner, who died to-day, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, at his Senatorial resi- dence, corner of Vermont avenue and H street. Yesterday Mr. Sumner appeared for the last ume in the Senate. Thefe was nothing outwardly to indicate the mutterings of that terrible complaint, angina pectoris, which has upon several occasions im the last few years threatened the life of the great Senator. Those who saw him during his de- livery of the speech against the international feature of the Centennial Exhibition, last Friday, would not have recognized any outward change in the caim appearance ofthe orator and statesman yesterday; but those who know him best, and to whom any allusion to his ailment was always con- sidered the highest mark of his friendship, say that not only yesterday, but for several days past, the old complaint bad threatened a renewal in all its £ IN THE SENATE. Notwithstanding the premonitions of Sunday and Monday Mr. Sumner ventured to the Capitol, | that he might be present with his colleague. Mr, Boutwell presented the resolution relative to the Tescindment of the resolutions passed by the Massachusetts Legislature two years ago concern- ing Mr. Sumner’s proposition to strike the names of battles trom our flags. Mr. Sumuer’s seat is on the outer circie, to the leit of the Vice President, and when Mr. Boutwell arose and had announced his purpose every eve was turned on Mr. Sumner, Who, apparently unconcerned, busied himself in writing aletter. Tne task of his colleague occu- pied but a few minutes, and was gracelully per- formed. Once during the reading Mr. Sumner raised his massive head, merely glancing at the speaker and about the chamber in an indifferent sort of way, dut those who conversed with him immediately after the action of Mr. Boutwell noticed a hectic Hush on his cheeks and something iu his manner indicating that his will was not mas- ter of the merve force. He became pale and nushed ‘yy varus and restless in his manner, sought quict im retirement from the chamber, uatil, later in the aiternoon, he returned to his residence, still feeling the cfect of the excitement brought aoout by what must have been an occasion of sudden exul- tation to Lim. PRESIDENT GRANT NOTIFIED, The nows of Mr. Sumner’s death was made Known to the President atew minutes after three o'clock. He was in the East Room when the mes: senger arrived and the object of his visit was made known, The announcement was simply—‘Mr. President, Senator Sumner is dead.” The words fell like thunder on the President's ear. Alter 4 moment's reflection he said, in a tone of | the tenderest sympathy, “Is it possible?’ and bowed his head, as he walked slowly across the room. The President had heard this morning of | Mr. Sumner's illness, the summoning of the best | medical advisers and the great solicitude on the part of his iriends jor his recovery, but he had not | an idea that death was beckoning bim away until the sad news was made known to him, CLOSING OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION. When General Badcock returned the President @ave direction to close the Executive Mansion to- morrow to everybody—a mark of respect to the Memory of Mr. Sumner that had not been deter- mined even though it was the day on which the funeral of ex-President Fillmore 1s to take place. FIRST CAUSE OF HIS AILMENT. | Charles Sumner never recovered irom the effects | Of the assault made. on him in 1856 by Preston 8, | Brooks, @ Representative from Soutn Carolin: who died bere of laryngitis on January 27, 1%: About two years since Mr, Sumner began to suffer frum. intense pains in the heart, caused by a | paralysis of the cardiac plexus of the nerves con- Bected with the spinal cord, the heart having no longer power to propel the blood to the surface, Last summer he thought that ne was reiieved ander the treatment of Dr. Brown Sequard; but alter bis hurried visit to New York this Winter, to speak at the New England Society's dinner, the anginis pectoris, or pam of the heart, returned. Cessation from night study and great care again brought | reliei, but jast week Mr. Sumner Was greatly ex- | cited by the debates on the Centennial celebration in open session, and on the confirmation of Sim- mons a4 Collector for the port of Boston im secret session, Forgetting his condition, he spoke at | length several times aud with great animation. He «id not, however, experience any ill effects | from this over-exertion until sunday night. He bad dined with his triend, Mr, Hooper, who had invited him, Senator Anthony and Major Poore, to meet Mr. J. B. Smith, who had come as a mes- genger from the Governor of Massachusetts to bring the resolution resciuding the ceusure resolu- tions passed last winter. This reversai of the un- just action of his State was extremely grateful to Mr. Sumner, who was in excellent spirits, THE ATTACKS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. | Op his rewrn home, however, he experienced | the familiar pains, and took, to assuage them, an | snodyne which Dr. Brown, Sequard had prescribed for him, It had no effect, and it was not unti | aiter be had heard the clock strike four in we | morning that he could obtain any sleep. He, how- ever, went to the Senate on Monday, and carefully concealed the return of his pain trom his triends, On Monday night the pain returned, and he sent for his attending physician, Dr. J ph Tabor Johnson, a brother of his private secretary tor many years, A. B, Johnson, now Chief Clerk of the Light House Board. He asked for reilef by sub- cutaneous injections of morphine, which were given him, and he soon sunk into a quiet slumber, ANNOYED BY INSULTING LETTERS, On Tuesday morning he went to the Senate, where he was gratified by hearing his colleague, Senator Boutwell, present the Massachusetps re- scinding resolution, as above stated, He conversed | with Senator Sargent about their opposition to the Centennial exposition, regretting that # Philadelphians had sent bim anonymous letters on | the subject, He #iso taiked with Senator Ferry, of | Connecticut, Whose spinal cord is avected and mho is lorced to Seek rehel by taking morphine, While in the Senate he experienced some twinges | di pain, and told Senator Schurz that he might not de able to speak on the finance question as he had | Intended doing. RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATOR scnwne, ‘The first alarming sign that Mr. Schurz noticed | Was yesterday when he first came to his seat in the Senate. Mr, Sumner came to sit down near him and toid him that he had intended to make a soeoch in bis support om the finance debate, which he seemed to consider a sort of duty of friendship, as they had Stood together im many debates, sometimes clone; put he ssid that his old ‘ailment had at tucked him agein two nights before, and that he felt himself physically anable to undertake any- — thing which would require great exertion. Mr. Scturz assured nim that it would not be necessary atali, and urged nim to be very careful; but ne kept repeating the same thing, as if he wanted to hnpress Mr. Schurz with the sincerity of his desire | to stand by him, and he (Mr. Schurz) then noticed for the first time that his conversation betrayed a certain anxiety on his part. But it did not alarm him much, because he found bim generally stronger and in far better condition than last winter, when | he had several attacks of angina pectoris, which made it impossible jor nim to attend the meetings of the Senate. Before leaving the Senate Chamber Mr. Sumner felt quite well again, aud he strode forth, with erect carriage and firm step as of yore. He had invited to dine with him Mr. Henry L. Pierce, of Boston, and Major Poore, and he was unusually chatty during the two hours they sat attable. Mr. Pierce remained after Major Poore left, and had quite a talk with Mr, Sumner on matters of mutual inter- est. Soon after he went away Mr. Sumner felt a retarn of pain, and sent for Dr. Johnson, whocame at once, accompanied by his brother, A. B. John- son. On their arrival at Mr. Sumner’s study, they found him waiking to and fro, like a man suffering from the toothache or ang.other severe pain. He welcomed the doctor, afd asked for relief by a hypodermic injection of morphine. Dr. Johnson replied that he must undress and go to bed, to which Mr. Sumner at first objected, but fmally consented, apologizing all the while for giving so much trouble. The first injection not producing the desired effect, Mr. Sumner asked for and re- ceived a second one, and Mr. A. B. Johnson bathed his feet in warm mustara water. Soon the pain apparently ceased, and Mr. Sumner said, in a pleas- ant tone, “I’ve turned the corner, and am on the road to sleep. Do go home, Doctor, and you, Johnson, go to bed.” Dr. Johnson and his brother retired to the next room, Mr. Sumner’s study. where they were soon gratified by hearing his full and regular breathing as he enjoyed a quiet sleep, In about half an hour they HEARD HIM START AND GROAN, as ifin pain, and soon found that a second attack had occurred, with more severity than the first one, which was soon followed by great prostra- tion. Dr. Lincoln was at once sent to for consul- tation, but he was not at home, and Dr. W. P. Johnston came with Mr. Sam Hooper, H. lL. Pierce and Major Poore, who had been summoned. Meanwhile Dr. Joseph Taber Johnson had administered brandy and carbonate of ammonia, and had with the help of Mr. Wormley, applied bottles of hot water and mustard poultices to almost every part of his body, hoping thereby to produce re@@tion. Dr. Johnston, on his arrival, approved what had been done, but decided there was no hope of recovery. Mr. Sumner graduaily sank, giving but few evidences of consciousness during the night. His pulse was several times so weak as to be scarcely percepti- ble. At times he dozed for a few moments; then the pain would arouse him, and he would exclaim, “My book—my book! I should not regret this had [ finished my book.” This idea he repeated over and over again, in slightly varied language during the night. At six this morning Dr. ‘Taber Joanson telegraphed to Dr. BrowneSequard at New York, urging him to hasten here; he also requested Surgeon General Barnes and Dr. N.S. Lincoln to meet him for consultation, and they were at the patient's bedside at eight o’clock, ‘The result of their consultation banished all hope of Mr, Sumner’s recovery. They stated in profes- sional language that the nerves around the heart Were so affected that the heart was unable to use its full force in expelling the blood into the arte- ries, so that it became stagnant and poisoned. Every exertion was used to restore warmth and consciousness, with such partial success at times as to encourage his friends with hopes of his re- covery; but the experienced medjcal practitioners saw no hope. There was also a constant collec- tion of mucus 1m his throat, which caused a rat- uing respiration, and at times he expectorated bloody mucus. » CLERican Wie STRATION. Rey. Dr. Sunderland, the Chaplain of the Senate, calied in the morning, but the suffering patient was in no condition to talk with him. The rev- erend gentleman retired to the library, with sev- eral of the Senator’s triends, to offer appropriate devotions. He first read selections from the four- teenth chapter of St. Jokn, and then fervently prayed that it might be the Divine will to spare him; but if it must prove otherwise, that he might be supported in his last hours by the presence of his Father and his God. SINKING GRADUALLY TO THE END. Meanwhile the sufferer was sinking graduaily, Without feeling entirely conscious of his weakness or exhaustion. He would sleep for a few moments ata time, then wake up, turn over, and seek rest ina new position, frequently exclaiming, “On, I am very tired; can I not have relict?’ At two o’clock Judge Moar, who was with him, sent this message to Speaker Biaine, at the Capitol:—“There is no material change in Mr. Sumner’s condition. His pnysicians think him sinking. Ithink he will survive your session of to-day. E. R. HOAR.” A SLEEP, BUT CONSCIOUS WHEN WAKING. Soon aiter this Mr. Sumner slept a little and had | his consciousness periect, except when in a doze, untii ten minutes before his death. Three quar- ters of an hour betore his death Judge Hoar, who sat holding his hands, said, “I wish we could do something to make your hands warm.” To which he answered, ‘You never will.” He several times commended the Civil Rights bill to Judge Hoar, saying, “Don’t let the bill be lost,” and was grati- fied by the Judge’s assurance that he would look after it. A LAST MESSAGE. About ten minutes beiore his death, as Judge Hoar was sitting at his bedside, he turned towards | him and gave him this message for their mutual Jriend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, at Concord, Said he, “Tell Emerson how much I love and revere him,’ The Judge replied, “Emerson said of you | that he never knew so whole a soul.” LAST WORDS, Mr. Sumner turned over in bed and appeared to be suffering greatly. Just then Mr. Hooper came in, and Mr, Wormley said, “Mr. Sumner, this is Mr. Hooper.” Mr. Sumner turned over, opened his eyes, looked at his old triend, and said, waveing bis hand, “Sit down.” These were his last words, DEAD. Mr. Hooper ana Judge Hoar soon alterwards left | the room, thinking that Mr. Sumner was sleeping, but he was almost immediately seized with a vio- lent spasm, succeeded by vomiting. When Judge Hoar returned he found them bathing his face. ‘The Judge toek his hand. He made one or two | Movements of his mouth as if to speak, but the spirit had devarted, There were present at his death Judge Hoar, A. 8. Jonnson, Dr, Joseph Taber Johnson and Mr. Downing. When all thougnt him dead Judge Hoar relinquished his grasp of his hand, which fell motionless, and Dr. Johnson, placing his ear to his heart, announced that it had ceased to beat. FIRST GRIEF, dust then Montgomery Blair and Senator Schurz entered the room, All present were greatly affected, and when the sad tidings reached those in the parlors down stairs and the crowd around the outer door, nearly all wept, especially the many colored people present. THE NEWS IN THE SENATE, In the Senate, as soon ag convened this morn- ing, an adjournment Was almost immediately had, u motion of Mr. Sherman, who announced that yr, Sumner lying in a critteal condivion, ‘the news spread a gloom ali over the Senate, and many hastened to the telegraph operators to learn the latest mteliigence. There seemed to be a mingled doubt and hope amoug the few Senators who maimed, which Was born of the reflection following quick upon the shock. So recently in harness, sitting at bis desk but yesterday, in the outwardly appearing vigor of & ripe manhood; so caim, in- dustrious and so imposing in his elegant and im- dressive exterior; so bland and well balanced, with his long, yes comely judicial locks, an alr of vast reflection and latent power about him he seemed in his apparent tranquillity, like a leviathan resting in the very luxury of a vis inertia. A sudden pall seemed to have set iteelfin and about the precincts of the Senate Chamber, and there was @ parallel in tue sudden dropping of hands trom wearying legisiative busi- hess like the suspension of work by a stip’s crew when their vessel is hard upon the breakers and & sudden calamity makes breathless mariners | Ponder on what is next, This Senator referred | | Kiodly to those digering strongly with him in | polities, An affectionate solicituae on the part of every | ‘one pervaded the floor of the Senate for the provi- | dentiat recovery of him who had just been vindi- | cated from the severest aspersions which had f been cast upon him, and it was remarked that it was singular that the Legisiature of Massachusetts, which had con- doned the offence against her wounded servant, Would be now called to nominate his successor. THE NEWS IN THE HOUSE. In the House the effect of the news was even more striking in the sadness and silent astonish- Ment which it occasioned. Actively engaged in the busy work of disposing of the Legislative Ap- Propriation bili, everything was suddenly sus- pended, and all business for the day was at an end, wi little after three it was stated by a telegram to the Speaker that Charles Sumner had died. For a jong time after adjournment members | kept their seats and mused regretfully over the sad intelligence, The effect on the House, as it reached the body was described by a member as traly startling and undefinabile. GRIEF OF THE COLORED PROPLE. The anxiety of the colored people of the District of Columbia, to whom Mr. Sumner had pvecome endeared by his lifelong advocacy of their cause, knew no bounds when it was published that nis illness would undoubtedly prove fatal. From early this morning until after dark groups of colored | men and women gathered about his residence to hear how he was and whether the story of his death wastrae. Throughout the District there are to-night many thousands ofsorrowtu! hearts among the lowly colored occupants of tenement and cabin. On M street, near Massachusetts avenue, stands_one of the finest school buildings in the city of Washington, named in honor of Senator Sumner and devoted exclusively to the use of the colored children. Other monuments to his mem: ory will be erected, but none more enduring than his fame among the enfranchised colored citizens. Mr. Sumner’s residence was in itself an art gal- lery, filled with gems of antiquity. Rare paintings, line and steel engravings and photographs of an- cient ruins completely hide the walls of every room. His library was more like the editorial room of a great newspaper than a place suited to the re- tirement of astatesman. Off from this study was his chamber, where he breathed his last. Stretched on the bed, lifeless, yet lifelike, lay the body of the man whose whole history was hidden in the gems of art he had so patiently col- lected. The hands of friends guarded the apart- ment, and only a few, very few, were permitted to visit the room where Mr. Sumner died, The scene of desolation was most apparent in the ibrary. While everything was in confusion to the living the silent occupant of the house alone knew where to find every book, pamphlet ana paper in the dark. Business in both wings of the Capitol was sus- pended, and on all sides a funereal shadow threw its saddeuing tints alike on tne faces ofall, and the but recently crowded and busy apartments of the Capitol were deserted at once as soon as it be- came known that the news was confirmed. The last article which Mr. Sumner ever wrote for any | newspaper was jor the HERALD, in which he gave his views on finance. A remarkable change had come over what would ‘have been ordinarily supposed to be Mr. Sumner's absolute and exclusive views an party lines, and this was widened beautifully in the softened tone and generous liberality of his views of late in regard to what was a pet project of his, as one of the Senate Committee of Public | Grounds and Buildings, which was the | adornment of some of the panels of | the Capito! with the portraits of some ofthe most distinguished men who had done the country good service. In enumerating some of the names with Mr. Clark, who, as architect of the Capitol, would have this matter in charge, he ex- hibited his non-partisanship by mentioning those of Silas Wright and Stephen A. Douglas and others, who had been patriotic and national democrats, | as proper to be among: those selected. THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL SERVICES + willbe determined to-morrow. If Senator Bout- well is not able Senator Anthony will announce the | death of Mr. Sumner in the Senate and move that acommittee be appointed to co-operate with the House committee to make preparations for the services at the Capitol The Senate will then adjourn, Governor Washburn and a committee of the Massachusetts Legislature is expected here to- morrow night, together with Vice President Wilson, to act as escort of the remains to Boston. Dr. Brown Sequard arrived jrom New York on the five o’clock tram, and remained only long enough to sce the physicians who attended Mr. Sumner. After hearing their diagnosis of his dis- ease, as manifested yesterday and to-day, he said the case was beyond the skill of the physician, He left for New York on the night train, \ THE CAUSE OF DEATH. The physicians who attended Mr. Sumner in his last illness all agree in the opinion | that his death was caused by angina pectoris, a | disease arising from the ossification of the coro- nary artery, and which invariably proves fatal | after a few paroxysms. Dr. Brown-Sequard, on | the other hand, expressed the opinion to-night that death had resulted from the rup- ture of a blood vessel at the heart. Alter Mr. Sumner had the paroxysms his body re- | mained cold and clammy and his pulse very feeble, breathing slowly, but with some rattling in the chest, The late Admiral Dahigren and B. B. | French both died of a similar disease to that of Mr. Sumner. Soon after tne bath the body of the | late Senator showed signs of discoloration, and it became evident that decomposition had set in, | ‘The work of embalming the body was commenced | to-night about eight o’clock, and upon the success of this process depends somewhat the fixing of the time for the fune! Should the embalming be | successful the body will be detained here until the | arrival of the committee to be appointed by the | Massachusetts Legislature. ABOUT THE LAST worps. | of the deceased Senator were expressed to Juage E. R. Hoar, and were, ‘Tell Eiuerson I love him and revere him.’ This sentence was uttered | about ten minutes before his death, and just after | | it escaped his lips a paroxysm seized him, in | which he appeared to suffer severely, and he passed away a few minutes alter the spasm. THE SAD NEWS IN BOSTON. Adjournment of the Legislature in | Anticipation of the Announcement | of the Death of Senator Sumncr—Deep Cniversal Sorrow tor the Departure of the Great Statesman—Public Marks of Respect for His Memory. Boston, March 11, 1874, | The brief telegrams received in this city late last | night, announcing the sudden and serious attack of sickness upon Senator Sumner at Washington, and their appearance in the morning papers, has been the all absorbing topic of conversation | throughout the day among tbe entire community, ‘rhesv sudden and unexpected sad tidings were re- ceived with downcast countenances, noticeabie among all classes, the question often being, “Will he recover ?”” ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE. As the day wore along telegrams were continu- ally arriving from Washington announcing the Senator’s condition, At the Stare House, where the Legislature was in session, the wildest excite- ment and confusion existed, Members were dis. cussing the serious aspect of affairs. On motion of the Hon, N. P, Banks the Senate adjourned about two o’clock without taking any action, only to anxiousiy await future telegrams. ‘he House re- Mained In session for nearly an hour aiter the Sen- | especially with the recent political strife just | candidates will loom up from ali parts of the State } with | & committee of five to draft resolutions expressive about three o’clock until to-morrow, every member seemingly anxious to gain the latest information, ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END. Shortly after both bodies had adjourned over for the day telegrams were received announcing Sen- | ator Sumner’s death. Words are inadequate to describe the solemnity of the occa- | sion, At the State House men who had been openly opposed to Mr. Sumner’s political course in life wore sad countenances, and not since the death of either Lincoln, Everett or Andrews has such @ solemn and impressive scene been witnessed. The legislative body will meet | to-morrow forenoon, when the particulars of this | sad event willbe more tuliy known to them and suitavle action taken thereon. Resolutions de- | ploring the loss of Mr. Sumner will be framed and passed. UNIVERSAL SENTIMENT OF SORROW. The death of this great statesman and scholar is fully realized as 4 great public calamity. The event will not only be felt the more in this, his native State, but the world will regret such a loss, Coming as the news did at a late hour in the day, the authorities have not taken any action, except- ing that the Mayor has called a special session of both branches of the City Council for to-morrow at noon, when fitting tributes of respect will be paid. THE LYING IN STATE OF THE REMAINS. An informal conference was had by the Mayor | and a number of the Aldermen this afternoon, rel- ative to the course to be pursuea by the city upon the death of Senator Sumner. As ne had no family residence in the State, but made Boston his abid- | ing place while away from Washington, it was thought that it would be rignt and proper to de- posit the remains in Faneuil Hall and to allow them to remain in state at least two days. By each and every person in ‘the city grief is Strongly manifested. In the deaths of ex-Pres- ident Fillmore and Charles Sumner the nation, as well as Massachusetts, has a sad calamity thrust upon it in tuts the hour when there is greatest need of such great and good statesmen in the na tional councils, TOKENS OF MOURNINO. Upon all the city and government buildings fags are at half mast, in token of respect to both of the deceased public men; but with the coming morrow the public will take full notice of the death. Leaving, as this now does, ®& vacancy in the Senate, and closed for prominent offices in Massachusetts by those in power at Washington, many have already been the surmises as to the probable successor of Charles Sumner; out, be he who he may, to secure again such traits of pure character, honesty of pur- pose, integrity and cultivated statesmanship as but a few hours azo were embodied in the brain of this great statesman, but now departed to another world, will be a difficult task before the represent- atives of this Commonwealth. It is useless to name any one man who would be glad to receive the honor to be bestowed by this Legislature, as within the next few hours, and a lively canvass may be looked for. ACTION OF THE NEW YORK LEGIS- LATURE. In the Senate the President read a telegram in- forming the Senate of the death of Charles Sum- ner, at Washington, and appointed Messrs. Jacobs, Selkreg and Tobey a committee to draft resolu: tions in regard thereto. In the Assembly the Speaker announced the re- ceipt of a despatch stating the death of the distin- guished Senator, when Mr. Beebe spoke as fol- lows :— MR. SPEAKER—In view of the solemn dispensa- tion which has so suddenly berelt this country of one ol her imost illustrious statesmen, It does | seem to me to be becoming for the Legislature of | the State of New York to take immediate | action with reference to the event. Perhaps, few exceptions, never have we been so solemnly admonisied of the truth that “in | the midst of lie we are tn death.” lorious | career at the tune when the honored individual | stood forth belore the nation with his reputation | as bright, if not brighter, than at any other time during his long political career, while ministering, as it were, as one of the anointed o1 the peopie in | the very temples of their liberty, by a dispensation | irom that Power to waich all living creatures must bow he has been stricken down indeatn. Ido not intend, sir, at this time to enter upon any ex- tended remarks, nor to say a word tn eulogy of the reat man whe lies cold indeach, 1 thank my onored friend from Onondaga and the House tor the courtesy which, throug him, has been ex- tended me. I move, sir,"that the Speaker appoint | of the sentiments of this House in view of the sud- den death of the Hon, Charles Sumner, a United States Senator from our sister State of Massa- chusetts, Mr. C, S, Spencer, in seconding the motion, said :—His long, Weary struggle with the terrible shock to bis nervous system inflicted eighteen years ago by Preston Brooks, of South Carolina, 18 ended, and Charies Sumner to-day died as sarely bv the hand o1 this brooks as if he had died imme- diately upon the assault. One more aposile of lib- erty, one more pioneer of emancipation, one more great, pure man has gone to reward; one more is added to the army Of martyrs, one more states- man Christian has gone to the better world, leav- ing the pages of his country’s history, during his mortal career, Wluminated with the record of nis lue. He died with his armor on. ie has fought tne good fight, and his memory should be to all good men ever dear. [second the motion. The motion was agreed to unanimously, and the Speaker appointed as such committee Messrs, Beebe, Vedder, Wright, C. S, Spencer and Prince, SORROW IN THE CITY. 5 The news of the death of Charlies Sumner, the statesman and orator, fell like a bombshell on the | residents of this city, and during the aiternoon the clubs, hotels, restaurants and business centres were crowded with small groups of men, discuss- ing the sad news and relating to one another some reminiscences and anecdotes of the great deceased. The first report of Mr. Sumner’s death arrived about noon, and as the bulletins of the evening journals posted up the news crowds gathered = around and slowly read off | the words that told a tale which, car- | ried home by the anxious readers, formed the | subject oi many a fireside conversation, The first | report was soon afterwards contradicted, and it | was not until near three P. M. that the fluat | as the powerful guardian of the repose and happi- | hess ol thirty-one sovereign States clasped by tne | in‘elligence arrived, and once more the bulletins displayed the sad news, and the shrill voices of | the newsboys, plying their busy vocation, an- | | nounced to those whose cyes had not already re- fected the tact that Cuarles Sumner was no more. | For the moment business was forgotten. The mes- | Senger boy taking the alternoon’s mail to the Post Ofice, the clerk hurrying to make the day’s de- | posit before the close of the bank, the merchant on bis way to the business exchange, the itinerant vender of tumbling dolls at his stand on the cor- | ner of the street, the colored porter carrying a Package of goods to its destination, and hundreds of others, stopped jorthe moment, and a look of blank dismay was visible on every counteuance. “Poor Charles Sumner!’ was muttered on all sides. Everybody seemed to feel the blow more or less, and all expressed a heartfelt regret at tae loss their country had suffered. One respectable looh- ing man, standing on a@ corner of the H»naLp Building, and who had just read the news pasted up on the bulletin of the Evening Telegram, said “The American people have now lost tue most emi- Nent statesman and orator of the day and one of the purest and most conscientious men that were ever engaged in & political career.” Ihere was not adissenting voice raised against that brief | eulogy on tne deceased, and a colored man stand: ing close by added: —“Y es, and if it had not been for Charles Sumner and some few others of his religion dis child would stl be slaving down in North Care olina instead Of earning an honest living and | breathing the pure air ot Ireedom |" As the aiternoon wore on and the business | community begao to feed the stream that poured | up Broadway the death of the Massachusetts | Senator was still foremost in the thoughts of all. | lis public career was freely discussed, and al- | though: there were y that disagreed with his political views all were united in regretting Mis | loss. A group of well Known repubiican politicians 5 were talking over the matter in the parlors of an uptown hotel, and although they were all sup. porters ol the present administration, and conse. the quently political antagonists of deceased | during tie recent Presidential ign, there Wis not an unkind word spoken, and each of the Party made allusion to some action of the de- ceased that was worthy of emulation. G Alarge number of the members of the Union | League were present last evening in their club | house, on the corner of Twenty-sixth street and | Madison avenue, In that republican centre the | death of Charles Sumner was the subject of conve sation at every table. A Heraty represeutatt held a short conversation with Mr, Charles Water: & prominent member of the club, and was 1 formed that, although Mr. Sumner and the larger ate, On motion of a member they adjourned Portion of the members of the Umson League were | of the Cabinet were Allen Hi ; NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. _ ranged under different banners during the recent Presidential campaign, bis loss was oniver- sally regretted us a scienufle scholar, ao | eminent statesman and a brilliant orator. A special meeting of the cinb would have been called to-day in order to express the sentiments of | the club, but the reguiar monthly meeting took place on Thursday evening the subject would be then brought forward, A8 a body there are, perhaps, no class of people that, tn their quiet way, ieel the death of Charles Sumner with as much regret as the colored popu- | lation of this city. Many of them were born and bred in slavery and tolling down on the planta- | tons, under the broiling sun, and they learned to love the man who was working so earnestly for their freedom. A promtment colored man was called upon yesterday evening by a HeRALD repre- | sentative, Wo stated that measures would be im. | meaiately taken by his people to show tne earnest | gratitude and love that they felt for the great | deceased. SKETCH OF CHARLES SUMNER’S LIFE, Charles Sumner died yesterday afternoon in Washington city, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was born in Boston, Mass., January 6, | 1811. He received an education at a local school | and became a graduate’ of Harvard in 1830. After | this he continued his studies at Cambridge, and entered the law school under the tuition of Judge | Story, with whom he continued on intimate | friendship. In the twenty-third year of his age he | became a member of the Bar, and obtained at once @ large practice. While practising law he | publisued “Sumner’s Reports of Dectsions by | Judge Story” and edited The Amertcan Jurtst, a quarterly law journal. During the absence of Judge Story at Washington he was appointed | lecturer to the law students, and at one time had sole charge of the school. In 1837 he visited Eu- | rope and remaimed three years, studying and travelling, spending one year in England and the Temainder of the time in Italy, Germany and France. LIFE 1N ENGLAND. His life in England exercised a vast infuente upon his career. He came into London society at the close of the reign of William tne Fourth and the be- ginning of the reign of Victoria. It was a brilliant | society; and he circled round Gore House and Holland House and other famous English saloons, and became the intimate friend of distinguished men. Hereehe met Disraeli, Lord Brougham, Count D’Orsay, Napoleon III., Dake of Argyle, Mor- peth and John Bright, with whom aud many others he matntained during nis life the warmest relations. | The influence of English society on his mind was maniiested in his intéliectual development and the ripeness of his scholarship. He was always a friend of England, and those who criticised and censured him spoke of his English tastes and ways as though they were a reproach to his character. But he brought back from bis European trip a wealth of information, @ sincerity of devotion to freedom, @ ripeness of culture, an earnestness in the pursuit of truth and an independence of char- | acter such as have been rarely given to American statesmen, Although English in his tastes and fashion, he was almost fanatically American in his opinions; the result being with him, as with many others who have resided abroad, to make him re- gurd his own country greater in some respects while she is smaller in others—smaller in what she has achieved, perhaps, compared with other nations, but greater in the future. BEGINNING LIFE, On his return to America Mr, Sumner resumed the practice of the law, and published an elaborate Jaw work—“Vesey’s Reports.” He took no active | part in politics, although his tendencies were in favor of tue whigs; but when the annexation of | ‘Texas was proposed he opposed it in a speech delivered in Faneuil Hall on the Fourtn of July, 1845, entitled “The True Grandeur of Nations,” which Cobden considered to be the most noble contribution made by any modern writer tothe cause of peace. The same year he delivered another address on American slavery and the duties of the whig party, and so pro- | nounced was this in antipathy to slavery that , when Van Buren and Adams were nominated, in 1848, as free soilers, he withdrew trom the whist | party and gave those gentlemen his support. This | was his first appearance in pubic life, and the re- sult was that after Webster resigned irom the Sen- ate toaccept the office of Secretary of St om Mr. Fillmore, in 1850, the iree soilers who had ten | chosen to the Assembly made a union with the democrats and elected Mr. Sumner to the Senate | of the United States. | SENATOR. | When Mr. Sumner, then in the prime of manhood, | entered into pubitc liie as Senator jor Massachu- | setts, he had, as we have shown, been chosen bya | Ii combination of free svilers and democrats at the | close of one of the most exciting contests Known | in the political history of Massachusetts. The | year 1851 was a marked era in our politics. Old men, who had controlled the country irom the | time of the administration of Madison down to | that of Taylor, were passing away. Webster | had resigned his seat as Senator to become Secte- | tary of State to Fillmore, then President. Clay was lingering on the road to aspeedy death. Mr. Cathoun had just passed away, and it is noticeable that the event which brought Mr. Sumner into ublic life as Senator for Massachusetts made Mr. outwell Governor of that State. In his letter ad- dressed to the Legislature of the State, accepting the honor of Senatorship, he speaks of the appointment finding him in a private station. He accepts the office = with “@ grateful consciousness of personal independ- ence,” as an office that came to him “‘unsought and undesired.” “I accept 1t,”” he continues, “as the servant of Massachusetts, mindful of the senti- ments solemnly uttered by her successive Legisia- tures, of the genius which inspires her history, and of the men, her perpetual pride and ornament, who would breathe into her that breath of liberty which early made her an example to her sister States, With me the Union 1s twice blessed—first, endearing name of country; and next, as the model of that all-embracing federation of States by whicu unity, peace and concord will finaily be organized among the nations.” In this letter he expresses himself as resolved to oppose | any effort to introduce “the sectional evil ot | slavery into the free States.’ He claimed to fol- | low the example ot the great triumvirate of Ameri- | can freedom—Washington, Franklin and Jeffer- son—and, in the words of Washington, he con- | cludes :— ‘I see my daty, that in standing up for the | liberties of my country, whatever difficulties and discouragements lie in my way, I dare not shrink | irom it; and Irely on that Betng who has not lett tous a choice of duties, that, while 1 shail con- | scientiously discharge mune, I shall not finally lose my reward.” | “PREE SOULER.” | Mr. Sumner’s name is printed in the Senate lists of 1851 as a “free soiler.”” There were but three who claimed that distinction, the other two being Sal- | mon P. Chase, then Senator from Ohio, and John P, Hale, Senator irom New Hampshire. Amoug | his colieagues we note Willlam H. Seward, from | New York; Henry Clay, of Kentucky; Hamilton Fish, from New York and’now Secretary of State; Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, still living in retire- | ment; John Bell, of Tennessee, afterwards candi- date Jor the Presidency and jormerly Secretary of | War under Harrison, who voted with the whig party, aithougu some of them were soon to become conspicuous as republicans. We ob- serve also William R. King, of Alabama, after- wards Vice President under Pierce; Jamos A. Bayard, of Delaware; Stephen A. Douglas, of Illi- nois, afterwards Mr. Summer’s conspicuous antag- onist on the Kansas-Nebraska question; the by it jaunt but erratic Pierre Soulé, of Louistana; Han- nibal Hamlin, rwards Vice President under Lincoln, but who had not then left the democratic party; y; Lewis Cass, of Michigan, Pace a candi- date jor the Presidency; Rk. Barnwell hett, of South Cavolina; Samuel Houston, President of the Texas Repupic and chiel among the pioneers of that t er, aiterwards Secre- | tary of cy eect under | Jederson Davis, and James M. Mason, of virginia, who became iamous in his companionship with Slidell, In the House we observe Alexander | H. Stephens and Robert Toombs, and poor Dick | Yates, who died the other day ending a sad life; a, Marsoall, of Kentucky; Jonn ©. Breck- enridge, aiterwards Vice President, and Israel | Washburne, Jr., from Maine, the head of the present Washburne tamily; Preston King, from New York; Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, aiterwaras “the great commoner” ot the republicans; Galusha A. Grow, irom the same State, who was to ve | Speaker of the House ten years later, and finally to become a railroad president in Texas. Ten- Dessee sent as head of its delegation Andrew Jonpson, who was to become President. In this Congress so Weak was Mr. Sumner’s party that we find only three iree soilers in the Senate and five in the House. The | five who claimed this distinction were Charies | Alien and Horace Mann, of Massachusetts; Joshua KR. Giddings, of Ohio: Amos tuck, of New Hampsture, and Charles Dunkee, o Wisconsin. | Out of a legtsiative body of nearly 300 there were | only eight who would avow themselves members Oo. & party which, ten years later, was to ciect the President of the United States and lead to the de- struction of slavery by @ gigantic war, On thas | day Daniel Weoster was ptate to Millard Fillmore, who now lies dead at Butalo; Thomas Corwin, of Onio, was head of « Treasury; Joun J. Crittenden, of Kentuek: Attorney eral; otuer members Staart, W. A. Graham, les M. Conrad and K. Hail, We mention their nates a8 matter of history, At the same me we cannot but reiect upon the mutability Of human greatness, and ask | He showed that tne | vure ang its early t sel | Know 0 ee how many there are of our readers who heara Of those gentiemen who were famous mn their day. WKLCOME TO KOssUTa. Speech in the Senate be Sumees msde Lod first on the 10th of December, 1451, in support Seward’s resoiution offering Louis hecency Resa come to the United States, as the carly, consistens and incorruptible champion of the ltberai cause in Hungary; declaring that there was no eveut more calculated to touch the 1 mation than the visit o; Kossuth to England, ‘a character,” he con. ‘anued, “that will live in history—a living Waliace, aliving Teil, a living Wasbington, and deserving of all homage.” There was a rich extravagance 1 the style of Mr. Sumner’s early speeches; bus we do not find that, during his frst days in Congress, ne took @ leading part in the debates, We notice tbat in 182 oe took ground upon what afterwards became @ moat Mnportant question—namely, the policy of ung lands for the construction of railways. Mr. Hun- ter, the Senator irom Virginia, had objected to the jand grants on the ground that the West was Stealing the public lands, and, second, that the public lands were the public domain. We find, however, that Mr, Samuer assisted the measure, Justifying himself by the vote of the delegation irom Massachusetts thirty years before. He con- tended that @ liberal policy demanded the encour> agement of these grants; that they could only be eucouraged by enabiing enterprisers to buiid railways; “for,” said the Senator, “their goldew age is beiore us and not belind’ us.” He cone tended that by the construction of railways vile Sages, towns, counties and States would be drawn together into a tellowstip that could not be broken. It 1s noticeable, however, that be did not anticipate the extravagant policy that aiterwards became so conspicuous during the Pace Kallroad and Crédit Mobiiter setfemes by gorging railroad corporauons with vast and ube necessary subsidies, but simply justified the nas tional government in aiding the development of new countries, We ilud, also, that he supported tue original scheme for cheap ocean postage, and about the same time made an argument to Presic dent Fillmore, which then attracted muca atten- tion, asking for the pardon ol two persons named JJayton and Sayers, Woo were detained in Wash- ington for aidiug the escape of slaves. In response to this appeal President Fillmore, who had dee ‘linea to pardon those persons,’ consented to ‘their release. Mr. Sumner had aiso made a speech in the same year in nonor of Robert Rentral, a member froin Massachusetts, who died during the session, honoring fim as’ “a reforming cone servative and a conservative reformer bota, From the love of tamily, the affection of friends and the attachment of fellow citizens he had been re- jeaving behind the cares ot life, the con- cerns Of State, and the wretched strifes ot party, ie bas ascended Lo those mansions waere there is no strife, concern or care. At last he stands face to face with Him before whose throne there ts per- aect ireedoui ‘These speeches were simply preparations for the great work Mr, Summer had to do, He came into bubiic lie as the champion of anti-slavery, and it Was in this championsuip he was afterwards ta win his marvellous and enduring fame. Ak though he bad not associated himself as directly with the movement as men like Wen- deil Philips, Witham Lioyd Garrison and others, who took the extreme ground that the existenca of slavery made citizenship impossible as a matter of conscience, yet lits Work Was to be as brilliant, and, i Many respects, more effective than that of his radical contemporaries. “FREE NATIONAL, SLAVERY SECTION AL,”? In 1852 he deitvered his speech which was ta make his character as a Senator and upon whica his tame was largely W rest, He began it on the 26th of May, 1s62, by offering a bill to repeal the Fugitive slave law au psvUling to the Senate at the same me a me frou the Society of Friends, When he rose au efort was made by the President, Senator King, to anticipate the discuse sion. ort was su iul. ‘The matter wag again resummed on July 25 by a resolution declaring the repeal, He was prevented from speaking op this occasion vote of 10 in favor of and 32 against the consideration of his motion, among those voting against him bemg Mr. Fish avd Mr. King, Amon his — supportera were Mr. Hamlin, Seward and Mr. Wade A monch later, August 24, 1552, upon the con: sideration of the Civil Diplomatic Appropriation bul, Mr. Samuer introduce an amendment repealing the Fugitive Siave law, and took oceasion to deliver iis aduress, It is entitied, edom, National; ery, Sectional,” and is an argument in tavor of tree speech, It had reter- ence to the relation of toe national government to the question of siavery and to tie degradaticn of freedom by being mado \, and tue elevas tion ot slavery by makin ered elaborately the true relati of the national | government to slavery, contending taat it had no Xistence im a free constituuion; that the wawe ‘slavery’? should not pollute the charter of our Mverties; that slavery found its only shelter im local laws; that the government which we at 4 Jounded Was Hot slavetolding in its chare acter; that such men as Jolin Adams and John Jay regarded Siavery as an iniquity and a crime. cnurei of America a nounced siavery. He quoted, fox, Baxter, Hopkins and Joshua Edwards to show their levlings, and waintained tat the colleges of the land, its litera- isiation were ail devoted to the “discouragement,” as Frauklin said, “ot cls Species of Lraiiic in tle persous of our jeliow men,” After Gemonstrating that slavery bad no existence in Engiand aiter the celebrated decision of Lord Mansieid, dischargiog the uegro Somerset, asa wien brougut to bk ud under a writ of corpus, Mr, Sumner couteuded, in offering: the resolution on the Fugitive Slave tall, shat it Was 8 compromise Which could pot be mentioned Without shane, ite showed what the iegislauion of Congress nd beeu on alt such questions, and contended that it Was an iniringemeut of the con- SQUUMOD Ob discharging the Writ of liaveas corpua in authorizing a judguient on ex parte evidence. t hud been considered that Congress had na power over the subject. Mr, Sumner argued in a most @Xhaustive manner that 18 power Was su- preme, and he continued to show that slavery as system was incompatible with tie Ameri Union; it violated the constitution, shocked the puwlic conscience aud ouended the divine law. “By the supreme law,” he said, “which command me to do no injustice; by the comprehensive and conscientious jaw of brotherhood; by the consti: vation whica | have sworn to support, | am bound to disobey this act, and never, in any circum stances, can 1 render voluntary aid to its execu: tion. Fains and penalties 1 wil enaure. This great wrongl will not do. Better suffer injustice Vhan do it; better be the victim than the instru- ment of wrong.” He concluded with these earnest Words :—“xepeal this enactment and let its terrors no longer rage through tae iand., Miudful of the Jowly that ib pursues; nmindiui of the good men whose principles by this enactment have been Violated, 1a the name of charity.—in the name of the constitution, repeal tus enactment votaiiy and without dela’ Se Inspired by the exXampie of Washington; ve admouished by those Words o! oriental piety: “Beware Of the groans of wounded souls; Oppress not to utwost a siugie heart; jor ong solitary sigh has power to overseca whule Worla.” ‘This famous specch ot Mr. Sumner was really the beginning of What we way cail the legislative phase ol the anti-slavery discussion, bul ne Was practically without support in Congress, with the exception of the few gentlemen we have pained, who Were free soilers f.om pri ciple. Im 1852 the Senate tound no addition to their number. There were the same three iree soilers—Hule, Chase and Sumner—standing alone and despised. Even Wade, Seward and Hamlin hesitaved to avow political sympathies with them. In 1563 the number in the Senate fell to two, Mr. Hale having retired, to give way to Mr. Williams, In 1854 the number had ime creased to five, Mr, Gillette, of Connecticut; Menry Wilson, of Massacnusetts, and Lawrence Brainard, of Vermont, accepting this designation. While it had increased in the Senate it haa fallen off te three in the House, the leading divisions of whig and democ retaimmng their commanding influe 1 in 1859 parties began to break, and we ob- newmen coming upon the stage—whigs, Nothings, pro-siavery men, anti-siavery men aud the various phases Or political opiniun massing together in the Senate under the sing! name of “opposiuon’” to the administration, It Was not a large opposition to Franklin Pierce, He nad been chosen — President oy, a triumphant majority, and Jefferson avis was bis Secretary of War. In the Senate the administration had a majority of tweive, while in the House it was even larger. But it was durin this time, in 1854, when vhe democrats had almos absolute power, that under the lead of Stephen A. Douglas, they attempted to repeal the Missouri Compromise and interfere with the settlement of Kausas. Ins motion for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise Was made on the 22d of May, 1854, and the bill was Opposed. among those voung lor it in the House was William M. Tweed, of New York, aud among those voting aguinst 1t were Genera) Banks, &. B. Morgan, of New York; Gerritt swith ‘homas H. Benton, Mr. Fish, of New York; B Waue, Joun M. Clayton, of Delaware: Mr. Hamlin and Jonn Bell, of tennessee. Mr. Sumner, on the 2ist oi February, 1854, made an important speech opposing the repeal of the Compromise, Mr. Dougias had attacked him im connection with Mr. Chase as “Abolition Coniederates,” and alter briefly replying to Mr. Douglas, Senator Sumner opened the debate, which coutinued trom day to day. He comprehended rally the meaning of the proposed repeal, jor he vegan his speech with these soiemn words:—“L approacil this discussion with awe. It is lke a portentous cloud surcharged ‘With storm and rato that seems to fall with heavie ness and makes me painfully conscious now un equal | am to the occasion and how unequal law to all I should say and all | can feel.” Then he uttered an earnest entreaty in javor of the com promise, Which was an appeal on behalt of the puplic jaith. Mr. Sumner gave a history of the compromise and showed that the North and South were bound to support it. He appealed to the Senators irom the Southern States, and especially to the Senator trom Keutucky, not to repeal the policy of Henry Ulay. He | made @ thorough analysis of history and law and made an eilective appeal for freedom, speech was very earnest and became very remark able jor one passage, Which has become colebrated, and im whieh be compared the influence of slavery o the blick maguelic mountain of the Aravian Story, under Whose irresistible attraction the iron boits which neld together the strong timbers of a stately sit», securely touting on the distant wave, were drawn out iil the Whole fell apart and be- came a disjointed wreck, Alas,” he exclaimed, ‘toa ten those principles which give consiste! ins aividuality «nd orm to the Northern character, whian render it staunch, strong and seaworthy, which bind it together as with iron, are sucked out one by “one, like the bolts of the li-tated vessel, and irom the —miseravi¢ loosened fragments is iormed that humar CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE,