Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 07 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 07 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
This final attempt to appease the spirit of Rebellion was on
the last legislative day of the session. The 3d of March being
Sunday, the Senate, without adjourning, took a recess from
Saturday evening till Sunday evening at seven o’clock, thus
making the 2d of March the concluding day of that Congress,
which was prolonged till noon of March 4th. During the sitting
of Sunday, from seven o’clock in the evening till midnight,
Mr. Sumner, who had never been in the habit of pairing, was
induced to pair with Mr. Polk, of Missouri, who was unwilling
to transact business on Sunday. His scruples did not prevent
him from joining the Rebellion, for which he was subsequently
expelled from the Senate on Mr. Sumner’s motion.
* * * * *
The Crittenden Compromise attracted attention not only in
Congress, but throughout the country.
Meanwhile a Boston committee arrived at Washington, composed
of leading citizens, with Hon. Edward Everett as chairman, to
urge an adjustment by mutual surrender. Mr. Everett called upon
Mr. Sumner at his lodgings, and with much emotion urged him
to bring forward some conciliatory proposition, saying, “You
are the only person who can introduce such a proposition with
chance of success.” Mr. Sumner replied: “You are mistaken in
supposing that I might have success with compromise, if I could
bring it forward. If I am strong with the North, it is because
of the conviction that I cannot compromise; but the moment I
compromised, I, too, should be lost.”
All in Massachusetts were not like this committee. The tone
of many was expressed by a venerable citizen, and an able
writer, connected with the press during a long life, Joseph T.
Buckingham, who closed a firm and courageous letter, under date
of January 11, 1861, with the words,--
“God bless _you_, and _all_ who keep a stiff backbone! For
those who yield, I care not what becomes of them.”
On the 19th of January, 1861, the General Assembly of Virginia
adopted a series of resolutions, proposing a Convention
of States at Washington, February 4, 1861, to attempt an
adjustment of the pending difficulties, and recommending the
propositions of Mr. Crittenden reinforced. The action of the
Virginia Assembly was communicated to the Senate by message of
President Buchanan, January 28th. Mr. Sumner, being against all
compromise, could not regard with favor any attempt in that
direction. A misrepresentation of his position was corrected by
the following telegram in Northern papers.
“WASHINGTON, January 30, 1861.
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