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It was Sumner's felicity to move, February 1, 1865, in the Supreme Court, the admission as counsellor of J. S. Rock, a colored man, the first one of his race ever admitted there—a race which was by Taney's decision excluded from citizenship, and therefore from admission to that tribunal.1 Sumner had advised with the new chief-justice in advance, and was assured of a favorable result.
The public journals and some of his correspondents—Mr. Cobden among them-took note of the event as connected with the senator's career, and as an important step in the enfranchisement of the colored people; and Sumner himself regarded it as preparing the way for the full recognition of their rights as citizens and voters.
Sumner reported from the committee on foreign relations, Dec. 20, 1864, a resolution for giving to Great Britain notice for the termination of the Canadian reciprocity treaty.
His remarks in favor of the notice took into account chiefly the derangement to our war system of taxes, resulting from the treaty, and looked to a revision and suspension of the relation of reciprocity with Canada rather than to its final terminations2 The resolution passed by a large majority, and the notice was given.3 He also reported and advocated a resolution adopting and ratifying a notice already given by the President for terminating the treaty of 1817, by which the naval forces of the two powers on the lakes were limited.4 He replied to Davis of Kentucky, who maintained that the President's act was void and incapable of ratification.
A debate on the ‘St. Albans' Raid’ drew from him some remarks against any acts on our side which would furnish any seeming apology for foreign intervention.5
Sumner argued in the Senate that rich and poor, when relieving themselves from a draft by paying a sum as commutation, should be put on an equality by requiring, in addition to a fixed sum required of all, a further sum, annually, proportionate to income; but his view did not prevail, though it obtained a respectable vote.6 As the rebel debt was buoyed up in Europe
1 Works, vol. IX. pp. 229-232.
2 Letter to Mr. Bright, March 13 (in manuscript). Sumner supported earnestly a system of reciprocity with the Sandwich Islands, and received in 1868 a formal note of thanks from the king for his constant exertions in its behalf.
3 Dec. 21, 1864, Jan. 11 and 12, 1865; Works, vol. IX. pp. 178-191. The treaty expired March 17, 1866; and though the subject has been kept alive by discussion, no new one has been made.
4 Jan. 18, 1865. Works, vol. IX. pp. 201-205.
5 Dec. 19, 1864. Works, vol. IX. pp. 174-177.
6 Jan. 8,12, June 20, 1864; Feb. 7, 1865. Works, vol. VIII, pp 42-50.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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