But Sumner, The man of princely integrity, Accepted no defeat, acknowledged no tempter! The lobbyist, Engaged in tunneling under human nature, Fled from before his face! The briber, Whose soft insinuating palm Takes kindly to the hands of his fellow man! He, Who cometh with a smile, And asketh for no receipt! He, Whose loosened purse strings, bind The tender conscience With cords, gripped by the sinewy hand Of Satan, Turns aside to let Sumner pass on; _The utterly incorruptible!_ 'Tis thus, Viewing the great Defender of the constitution surrounded By an atmosphere of bribery and corruption Of men Selling the very sinews of their country For just so many dollars Of bitter enemies, Of unstable friends; Of hurry and rush Of weak legislation; Of "the groans of wounded souls;" Of falsehood and moral contagion That we love him best. For amidst the soulless throng He stood up in his peerless manhood Like a pillar of truth, And carried with him the brightest Stars of the age! 'Twas not in vain He sat, A studious disciple At the royal feet of wisdom! Culling the sweets of knowledge from her tomes! Not in vain Did he visit other lands, and other climes, Filling up The vast storehouses of his mind, With the rarest And richest gems of culture, The grand position he had taken in the great Human family Needed this! He stood like a great tree in the forest, The branches of which stretched out So far As to cover the oppressed ones Of the whole world!