11-70-47 PREFACE. IN preparing the following brief Mem:ir of the Hon. CHARLES SUMNER, we would mention three principal objects which we have had in view: 1st, The presentation of the leading events in his public life, in a chronological order; 2d, The introduction of the choicest specimens of his eloquence, especially those passages which best illustrate his character as an advocate of human rights, and, at the same time, afford the finest examples of his style of composition; and 3d, The delineation of his oratorical character. The dates and circumstances connected with the delivery of his numerous orations and speeches are given, with comments on the passages quoted, particularly with regard to the style, the grandeur of their conception, or the happy and forcible illustration of their subjects. Nothing need be said in commendation of the great speech on Kansas, which we have added as the masterpiece of Mr. Sumner. It speaks for itself, and we earnestly request every American citizen to peruse it carefully. The ingenuous reader will admire it as an eloquent production, a manly declaration of the noble sentiments of its author on an important question, and a glorious defence of Liberty in an oppressed Territory. It is full of the beautiful and sublime, grand in its diction, rich and instructive in its historical details, logical in its deductions, and powerful in its appeals. In the Appendix will be found the scathing speech of Daniel Lord, Esq., delivered at the indignation meeting in New York, and the remarks made at the indignation meeting in Faneuil Hall, Boston, together with the speeches of Rev. Drs. Halley and Hague, at a similar meeting in Albany. We would here remark that the speeches of these distinguished clergymen are among the most eloquent and spirit-stirring that have been made on such occasions, and reflect much credit upon the genius and patriotism of their authors. This biographical sketch, accompanied by an inmortal speech, is now respectfully offered to the public, in the hope that it may prove both interesting and instructive to the thousands of our citizens who are manifesting their sympathy for the stricken senator. Would that it were a more worthy tribute of honor to the man, whose blood, unrighteously shed, calls aloud to heaven and earth for avenging justice, and whose name shall be transmitted to the most distant posterity, among the noble army of martyrs to the cause of Liberty! May the reader rise from the perusal of this volume with feelings of admiration for CHARLES SUMNER, the ripe scholar, the able lawyer, the eloquent orator, the accomplished statesman, the noble champion of FREEDOM. ARGYLE, N. Y., October, 1856. Be the appeal made same that rejects it. There is a law above "Tell me not of rights-talk not of the property of the planter in his slaves. I deny the right--I acknowledge not the property. The principles, the feelings of our common nature, rise in rebellion against it. to the understanding or to the heart, the sentence is the In vain you tell me of laws that sanction such a claim! all the enactments of human codes-the same throughout the world, the same in all times; it is the law written by the finger of God on the heart of man; and by that law, unchangeable and eternal, while men despise fraud, and loathe rapine and abhor blood, they will reject, with indignation, the wild and guilty phantasy that man can hold property in man."-LORD BROUGHAM. CONTENTS. His birth-notice of his father-early education-wins several lite- rary prizes a clee student of history-his youth-early associ- ations-passage from Mr. Everett-remarks of Mr. Sumner on Boston-graduates at Harvard College-studies law-a diligent student eloquent passage from Dr. Chalmers, on genius and in- dustry-Mr. Sumner writes for the American Jurist-becomes its editor-admitted to the bar-practices in Boston-appointed re- porter of the Circuit Court-lectures to the law students of Visit to Europe-letters of introduction-received in England with marked attention-attends the debates in Parliament-favorably received by members of the English Bar, &c.-visits Paris-writes a defence of the American claim to the Northeastern boundary- visits Italy-studies art and literature there-visits Germany- returns to Boston--again lectures in Cambridge-publishes an edition of Vesey's Reports-delivers his oration, entitled the True Grandeur of Nations-Judge Story's opinion of it-eloquent pas- |