With deep emotion I have read the abstract of your testimony. How a cultivated heathen could differ from me I do not understand. History is full of examples to sustain me; only the sea and tiger are as blind and senseless in ferocity as party hate. I long to state the case. Twice before, once in 1862, I offered this resolution with the applause of General Scott and General Robert Anderson. Where is Massachusetts civilization? Thus far our Commonwealth has led in the great battle of liberty and equality. By the blessing of God she shall lead again in smoothing the wrinkled front of war. Thanks, and God bless you!To E. L. Pierce he wrote gratefully for his ‘effort before the committee, which was so much praised. I feel it in my heart.’3 Sumner did not anticipate when he arrived from Europe the prostration which was at hand. He wrote, November 28, the day before he reached Washington: ‘My strength is perceptibly increasing. ’
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No other consideration or feeling had so much influence as this in setting the current.
The movement for rescinding, however, accomplished incidental results more important than success in the Legislature.
It enlightened the public as to the true character of the senator's proposition, which was now seen to be in no sense unpatriotic or unjust to the soldier.
It revealed the hold which he still retained on the people of the State.
Those who resisted the removal of the censure were driven to stand on apologetic and technical rather than on substantial grounds; and there was a general sentiment to the effect that while what had been done could not well be undone, it would not now be attempted if no action had been taken.
The fruit of the agitation was to be postponed for only a few months.1 Sumner felt keenly the legislative censure,—far more so than he would have felt it when younger and stronger.2 He at once determined to defend his position, and gathered materials and authorities for the purpose.
He wrote on Christmas Day to James Freeman Clarke, who had three days before in a sermon sharply condemned the action of the Legislature:—
1 The Boston Commonwealth, July 25, August 1 and 8, 1874, contains ‘an historical statement,’—‘Charles Sumner and the Battle Flags,’ by E. L. Pierce, which gives in detail what the text attempts to give only in substance.
2 Longfellow wrote in his diary, Christmas, 1872: ‘Carl Schurz came to see me yesterday, and staved to dinner. He said a good deal about Sumner, and thinks he feels keenly the action of the Massachusetts Legislature. Well he may; for it was vindictive and brutal.’
3 His letter to Mrs. Claflin, March 11, 1873, is printed in Chaplin's ‘Life of Sumner,’ p. 438.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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