C. Edwards Lester, Life and public services of Charles Sumner: Born Jan. 6, 1811. Died March 11, 1874.

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[388] passed milestones—some of which are still standing, after two thousand years—telling him how near he was to the Eternal City. So, too, those who read our writings of this period, will trace with interest the Measures enacted by our government, which successfully marked the progress we were then making towards Universal Liberty. One of them will be an Act passed the 3d of June, 1862, recognizing the Independence of Hayti and Liberia. Although it seemed to concern but a handful of people, on the distant African coast, founded by American-born citizens, and fostered by the benevolence of the generous and the good in our own country, and which had, above all other communities on the earth, the first claim to our recognition and friendship; and the other, a people who had successfully achieved their independence in our neighborhood, striking for the same holy cause of Liberty which our fathers struck for; and although they had both vainly looked for official recognition by our Republic, yet the taint of color was on them —the curse of caste shut them out from the pale of our political charity, although they had encountered no such difficulty with any of the other nations of the globe.

Feeling that this disgrace had rested long enough on our government, Mr. Lincoln, in his first Annual Message, had proposed the recognition of the independence and sovereignty of Hayti and Liberia. Of course, it encountered the bitter opposition of every Pro-Slavery Senator, and every hater of the colored race. A resolution had been introduced into the Senate as long ago as July 1st, 1836; and again in January and March of the following year. But with the exception of that venerable Sage and apostle of Liberty, John Quincy Adams, scarcely a voice was heard in either House in