Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 06 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 06 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
the spirit of an hero and the wisdom of a patriot.”[7] This old man
carried the Venetian Republic over to the Crusaders, and exposed his
person freely to all the perils of war, so that the historian describes
him, in words again applicable to our day, saying: “In the midst of the
conflict, the Doge, a venerable and conspicuous form, stood aloft, in
complete armor, on the prow of his galley,” while “the great standard
of St. Mark was displayed before him.”[8] Before the form of our
venerable head is displayed the standard of a greater republic than
Venice, thrilling with its sight greater multitudes than ever gazed on
the standard of St. Mark, while a sublimer cause is ours than the cause
of the Crusaders; for our task is not to ransom an empty sepulchre,
but to rescue the Saviour himself, in the bodies of his innumerable
children,--not to dislodge the Infidel from a distant foreign soil, but
to displace him from the very Jerusalem of our Liberties.
* * * * *
May it please your Excellency, I forbear to proceed further. With
thanks for this welcome, accept also my new vows of duty. In all
simplicity let me say that I seek nothing but the triumph of Truth.
To this I offer my best efforts, careless of office or honor. Show me
that I am wrong, and I stop at once; but in the complete conviction
of right I shall persevere against all temptations, against all odds,
against all perils, against all threats,--knowing well, that, whatever
may be my fate, the Right will surely prevail. Terrestrial place is
determined by celestial observation. Only by watching the stars can
the mariner safely pursue his course; and it is only by obeying those
lofty principles which are above men and human passion that we can make
our way safely through the duties of life. In such obedience I hope to
live, while, as a servant of Massachusetts, I avoid no labor, shrink
from no exposure, and complain of no hardship.
The cavalcade then moved rapidly away, escorting Mr. Sumner to
his home in Hancock Street.
On arriving there, he was again welcomed with unbounded
enthusiasm by a large crowd assembled in the street and on the
sidewalks, the windows being filled on both sides up and down
the street. The crowd cheered vociferously for Mr. Sumner, his
mother, the Governor, Hon. Josiah Quincy, Hon. N. P. Banks, and
Hon. Anson Burlingame. Mr. Sumner and his mother appeared at
the window and bowed their acknowledgments, which called forth
general and enthusiastic plaudits. The multitude then, giving
three parting cheers for the distinguished Senator, separated,
and the ceremonies of reception terminated.
Many of the business firms closed their stores during the
afternoon. The paper agreeing to do so was headed by A. & A.
Lawrence & Co., Gardner Brewer & Co., Parker, Wilder, & Co.,
Denny, Rice, & Gardner, Wilkinson, Stetson, & Co., Blake,
Bigelow, & Co., Pierce Brothers & Flanders, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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