Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 3

[250] sent hearty messages of congratulation to the new senator. Few omitted to observe that Massachusetts had put the seal of disapproval on Webster's ‘Seventh of march’ speech. Theodore Parker, failing to find Sumner at his office, wrote, April 26: ‘You told me once that you were in morals, not in politics. Now I hope you will show that you are still in morals although in politics. I hope you will be the senator with at conscience.’ Seward wrote: ‘I take new courage in the cause of political truth and justice when I see a senator coming from Massachusetts imbued with the uncompromising devotion to freedom and humanity of John Quincy Adams.’ Richard S. Storrs, Jr., wrote from Brooklyn: ‘I am sure that there are many thousands of hearts outside of Massachusetts which have thrilled with deep and unexpected happiness at this most honorable and auspicious event. I confess that to me the whole aspect of the future is brighter and more attractive.’ William H. Furness wrote from Philadelphia of the inexpressible satisfaction which he and others had taken in the result, and congratulated him with a whole heart on the greatness of his position, and most of all for the sacred cause which had triumphed in him.¹ Hillard wrote from Court Street, April 25:—

my dear Sumner,—I cannot congratulate you on your election, because, with my political connections, that would be insincere; but I can and do say that I am glad that the lot has fallen upon you, since it must needs fall on one of your party. So far as your elevation shall prove a source of increased happiness and usefulness to you, I shall rejoice in it. No one will watch with more interest your career than I shall, or be more pleased with any accession to your solid and enduring reputation. I shall always judge of your sayings and doings in a candid and just spirit. You have now before you a noble career. May you walk in it with a statesman's steps. and more than gratify the good wishes of your friends, and more than disappoint the ill wishes of your enemies.

Yours faithfully,

G. S. H.

Sumner sent Hillard, in the autumn of 1851, Horace Mann's speeches on slavery recently collected in a volume. Hillard acknowledged the gift; but said they differed so widely as to the contents of the book and the recent course of the author, that it would only give pain and do no one any good for him to say more. He added: ‘We have made up our fagots for life, and we will not wrangle or ‘establish raws’ upon subjects on which ’