“The speech of Charles Sumner yesterday was probably the most masterly and exhaustive argument against human bondage that has ever been made in this or any other country, since man first commenced to oppress his fellow-man. He took the floor at ten minutes past twelve, and spoke until a little after four. The tone of the speech was not vindictive, and yet there was a terrible severity running through it that literally awed the Southern side. There will, of course, be various opinions as to the _policy_ of this awful arraignment of the Slave Power, yet there can be but one opinion as to its extraordinary logical completeness, and, however it may affect public opinion to-day, it is an effort that will live in history long after the ephemeral contest of this age shall have passed away. Indeed, while listening to it, I could not but feel--and the same feeling was, I know, experienced by others--that the eloquent and brave orator was speaking rather to future generations, and to the impartial audience of the whole civilized world, than to the men of to-day, with a view of effecting any result upon elements with which he was immediately surrounded.” The correspondent of the _New York Evening Post_ wrote, under date of June 5:-- “Mr. Sumner’s speech was a tremendous attack upon Slavery, and was utterly devoid of personalities. He attacked _the institution_, and not individuals, but his language was very severe. There was no let-up in the severity from beginning to end. Facts were quoted, and _they_ were allowed to bear against States as well as individuals; but Mr. Sumner made no comment upon that class of facts. While he was exhibiting the barbarous character of Slave-Masters, there was a good deal of restlessness on the slaveholding side of the Senate Hall, as if it required great self-control to keep silence.” The correspondent of the _Boston Traveller_ wrote at length on the delivery, and the impression produced. Here is an extract:-- “So far as personal violence was to be apprehended, we think he was as unconcerned as a man could be. Anxiety on that account might have been felt by his friends, but not by him. He seemed to be all forgetful of himself, and to have his mind dwelling on the cause to which he was devoted, the race for which he was to plead, and on the responsibility under which he stood to his country and to generations to come.…