Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 4

[589] the front who were once bitterly the other way! Knowing Cushing as I did, would it not have been mean and craven for me to turn against him, or to skulk in silence? This is not my way with friends. Such is not my idea of friendship. But no earthly friendship could make me put in jeopardy our cause. 1 confess that I am glad of the sensibility shown for the safeguards of reconstruction. Thank W. S. Robinson; but what shall we do with other possible nominees? Who will vouch for B. R. C.? And who will vouch for some accepted Republicans with whom technicality is a peril to principle¹

While abstaining at this time from personal questions, Sumner in February spoke and voted against the confirmation of W. A. Simmons as collector of the port of Boston, doing so in conformity with the general opinion of the merchants and the best people. General Butler had presented the name to the President. The nominee belonged to a type of men then much in favor,—like Babcock (the President's secretary), Murphy (collector of the port of New York), and A. R. Shepherd (governor of the District of Columbia). The protests against the nomination from merchants and members of Congress were of no avail,² and the President refused to substitute another name. The Senate committee (Boutwell chairman) reported adversely to a confirmation. It was, however, supported in debate by Conkling and Carpenter; but even with their aid it would have failed except for the strenuous efforts of General Butler, whose influence was more effective with the set then controlling the Senate than any public man who was not a member of that body. Two years later, by a similar intervention, he obtained from the same body the rejection of R. H. Dana, Jr., as minister to England. Simmons's career in office was such that President Hayes refused to give him a second term; and his later connection with a department of the municipal administration of Boston appears in court records.

The Massachusetts Legislature, by large majorities in both houses, rescinded and annulled in February, 1874, the resolution of censure which in 1872 had been passed on Sumner for his bill against continuing the names of battles with fellow-citizens in the Army Register, or placing them on the regimental colors of the United States.³ The rescinding resolution was supported