Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 2

[355] be exchanged for the golden cestus of Peace, clothing all with celestial beauty. History dwells with fondness on the reverent homage that was bestowed by massacring soldiers on the spot occupied by the Sepulchre of the Lord. Vain man! to restrain his regard to a few feet of sacred mould! The whole earth is the Sepulchre of the Lord; nor can any righteous man profane any part thereof. Let us recognize this truth; and now, on this Sabbath of our country, lay a new stone in the grand Temple of Universal Peace, whose dome shall be as lofty as the firmament of Heaven, as broad and comprehensive as the earth itself.

Immediately after the oration, the customary dinner was served at Faneuil Hall to the members of the city government and invited guests. It is remembered that the officers of the navy, who had taken offence at what had been said of the inutility of their branch of the service, hesitated to attend; but being assured that their hosts, who were not advised of the tenor of the oration, could not properly be held responsible for it, they took their place in the procession. A banquet was spread at the hall, the floor of which was covered with tables, and the seats were filled. The Mayor, then suffering from a disease which proved fatal a few months later, retired before the dinner was fully served. Speeches followed, giving the freest opportunity for the criticism of the oration, for which many were waiting. Peleg W. Chandler, the President of the Common Council, occupying the chair at the Mayor's request, and wishing to protect Sumner as far as possible, recognized the strong feeling of displeasure hitherto suppressed, and gave it full vent as the best way to avoid an unseemly explosion,—meeting it at the same time with the humor of which he was always master. Dr. John G. Palfrey, who answered to a toast in honor of the Commonwealth, of which he was then the Secretary, was the first to speak. He said that ‘the good old ship Massachusetts’ had brought down from the past a rich freight of military glory, and he could not on the Fourth of July forget that she sent one soldier for every three to the army of the Revolution; and that he was not prepared to sustain fully the doctrines of the oration, believing war to be sometimes necessary,–though admitting Peace to have her greater victories.¹ Mr. Winthrop, then member of Congress,