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freedom of the slaves.1 Sumner's relations with him and his family had been intimate for many years; and he was at the time United States district attorney,—an appointment which the senator had taken pleasure in promoting.2 These relations hampered Mr. Dana, and he withheld from the convention the real grounds of his opposition, confining himself to the narrow point of expediency,—that the nominating resolution would not do the senator any good.
When the customary motion for a committee on resolutions was made, Dana, fearing the composition of such a committee, moved as a substitute a brief resolution supporting the government in the prosecution of the war. J. Q. A. Griffin3 promptly moved an amendment, which approved the conduct of the two senators from Massachusetts, and nominated Sumner for re-election as ‘a statesman, a scholar, a patriot, and a man of whom any republic in any age might be proud.’
He maintained his substitute in a trenchant speech, in which he handled roughly Dana and others co-operating with him. Mr. Griffin never took part in any controversy outside of his own State, and he died before the full fruition of his powers;4 but in a rich combination of logic, humor, and sarcasm, no lawyer or politician of Massachusetts at that time equalled him. He had a quick-witted sense of the currents of a popular assembly, and a strong and impressive voice, which he used effectively in saying: ‘Remember, it is our duty not only to sustain the arms of the generals in the field, but likewise to sustain the President in his seat, the Cabinet in its councils, the governor in his chair, and above all the fearless legislator in his duty.’
Other delegates, among them George F. Hoar, followed in the same line; and the resolutions were referred to a committee, of which Griffin was chairman and Dana a member.
In committee Dana opposed without success the contested resolution, and another which called for the extermination of slavery as the principal
1 Letters of Mr. Dana to Sumner in manuscript, June 4 and Sept. 13, 1862; Adams's ‘Biography’ of Dana, vol. II. pp. 259, 263.
2 Adams's ‘Biography’ of Dana, vol. II. pp. 257. Dana expressed surprise that Sumner was for some time less cordial than before; but he could hardly have expected a different result from his leadership in a movement of such a personal character against the senator. (Ibid., p.265.) Indeed, Dana, if the positions had been reversed, would have been less tolerant than Sumner. The coldness, however, was but temporary. Sumner afterwards had no sincerer friend and admirer than Dana. Ibid., vol. II. pp. 339. 340, 361, 363.
3 F. W. Bird, William Claflin, and other supporters of Sumner had selected Griffin in a conference as their leader in the convention.
4 He died in 1866 at the age of forty.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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