[521] five o'clock. It was supposed by the Senator's friends that he might be able to do something to save his life. A telegram was received from Dr. Sequard stating that he had left New York on the early train, and recommending that an electric bath be administered. When this was received, the Senator's nervous system was so prostrated that the physicians in attendance feared the bath might result in violent convulsions, and they did not like to take the responsibility. He grew worse; became unconscious, and at times delirious. Occasionally, however, he would recognize those around him. Among those almost constantly in attendance in the Senator's bed-chamber were Senator Schurz, Judge E. Rockwood Hoar, Mr. Pierce, and Mr. Hooper. To those around him he frequently expressed regrets about the unfinished condition of his works. He said: ‘I should not regret this, if my book was finished,’ alluding to his speeches and writings, now in course of publication. He was always in the habit of calling this his ‘Book.’ This appeared to be constantly on his mind; and, when suffering intense agony and rolling about in the bed, he would exclaim, ‘My book, my book,’ in a tone of utter hopelessness. At one time he said, and this was the last allusion he made to the subject, “My book will not be finished, but the great account is closed.” 1 It is the opinion of his secretary that his allusion to the great account meant his account with American slavery and the conflict engendered. When Judge Hoar entered the Senator's room at 10 o'clock, this morning, he immediately recognized him. Mr. Johnson had lifted him up, and had his arm under him. He said, ‘Don't let the bill be lost,’ to which Mr. Johnson replied, ‘Certainly not, Senator.’ Mr. Sumner answered, ‘You mistake: I mean the Civil Rights Bill;’ and then turning to Judge Hoar, who was holding his hand, he said, ‘Judge, the Civil Rights Bill; don't let it be lost.’ Upon each appearance of Judge Hoar after that, the Senator said something about the Civil Rights Bill, until his secretary, supposing that the presence of Judge Hoar called this to his mind and disturbed him, suggested that he withdraw.
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1 It was reported, says the N. Y. Tribune, that Mr. Sumner expressed his regret that he must die before his book was completed, and the natural inference was that he alluded to his forthcoming volume on the ‘Prophetic Voices Concerning America.’ But it seems the word he really used was his ‘work,’ and that he thus referred to his pending bill for securing full civil rights to the freedmen he had done so much to redeem from bondage.
The Tribune is doubtless correct. His life-work, and not a book, was his ‘ruling passion strong in death.’
United States Publishing Company, 1874.
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