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question of equal representation.
And I cannot but think you are doing good by such efforts in. the way of enlightening the community.
I say this from the heart, and for your encouragement.1
Rev. R. S. Storrs, of
Braintree, wrote:—
I do thank you most cordially for the addresses of Mr. Chase, Mr. Wade, Mr. Houston, and your own,—the best of all, I have often said to others, though delicacy may seem to forbid saying it to you. It has given me great pleasure as well as much instruction on points previously ill understood.
May the Senate long be adorned by your presence, enlightened by your counsels, and awed by the sternness of your high integrity! . .. Sooner or later you will share the gratitude of the country,—the whole country from the St. Croix to the Rio Grande; and in the homage already paid to your talents and virtue, devoted to so great and glorious a cause, none rejoice more sincerely nor enter more deeply than your much obliged friend and humble servant.
The speech found generous approval with many who had been much opposed to
Sumner's political course.
Conservative Whigs expressed in letters their full satisfaction with its doctrines and spirit, and their confidence in him as the representative of the opinions and policy of
Massachusetts, with the regret that
Everett had failed to represent them in a critical hour.
Among those who wrote their full approval was
Linus Child, who had supported
Winthrop in the Whig convention in 1846.
Prescott wrote, ‘I don't see but what all
Boston has got round; in fact, we must call him [Sumner]
the Massachusetts senator.’
George Livermore, of
Cambridge, a merchant and a conservative Whig, wrote, May 4:—
I asked an old Whig friend to-day (one who wondered last year that I could say a word in favor of Sumner when I thought you unreasonably assailed) if he had read your last speech on the Nebraska bill.
“Yes,” said he, “I have read it; and I wish every man in the country had read it. It ought to be printed in letters of gold.”
These are the words of a Hunker Whig, a Webster Compromise Whig.
They are but the true expression of a general feeling which gladdens my heart and justifies my assertion that a brighter day begins to dawn. . . . I have written to you, for I know a word of sympathy from one not of the party to which you belonged may cheer you. You have my head, my heart, my conscience, and my cordial thanks.
Hillard wrote, March 15:—
I purposely abstained from reading your speech till I had it in a pamphlet form.
It is a truly excellent speech,—on the whole, the best thing
