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

Mr. Chase, the Senator from Ohio, used also the following noble language in adopting the argument of Mr. Sumner against the Fugitive Slave Bill, and in a personal vindication of the orator himself: ‘In the argument which my friend from Massachusetts has addressed to us to-day, there was no assault upon the Constitution. It was a noble vindication of that great charter of government, from the perversions of the advocates of the Fugitive Slave Act. He only asserted that the Fugitive servant clause of the Constitution is a clause of compact between the States, and confers no legislative power upon Congress; and he has arrayed history and reason in support of this proposition. I therefore avow my conviction, that logically and historically, the argument is impregnable–entirely impregnable. Let me add, Mr. President, that, in my judgment, this speech will mark an era in American history. It will distinguish the day when the advocates of that theory of governmental policy —Constitution construction—which he has so nobly defended, and so brilliantly illustrated, no longer content to stand on the defence in the contest with Slavery, boldly attacks the very citadel of its power, in that doctrine of finality which two of the political parties of the country, through their national organizations, are endeavoring to establish, as the impregnable defence of its usurpation.’

Mr. Seward happened to be absent—fact that was very widely commented on, but satisfactorily explained to the minds of many, by his feeling constrained to keep away, because of the prominent support he had rendered, and seemed disposed to continue to render, to Gen.