Elias Nason, The Life and Times of Charles Sumner: His Boyhood, Education and Public Career.

“ [273] Perissent les colonies plutot qu'un principle!” In a letter to Gov. John A. Andrew, dated Jan. 17, he said, “Pray keep Massachusetts sound and firm, firm, firm! against every word or step of concession.” In another letter to the same, dated Jan. 28, he said, “Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes: don't let these words be ever out of your mind when you think of any proposition from the slave-masters. O God! Let Massachusetts keep true.” So again he wrote (Feb. 5), “More than the loss of forts, arsenals, or the national capital, I fear the loss of our principles;” and again (Feb. 10) he wrote to the same, “I do not tremble for any thing from our opponents, whoever they may be, but from our friends.”

On assuming the duties of his office (March 4), Mr. Lincoln declared that he had “no purpose to interfere with the institution of slavery” where it existed, and that in his opinion he had “no right to do so.”

The course of the secession leaders had, however, been elected; and the conciliatory inaugural of the president served but to call forth their denunciation and contempt. One after another the Southern members withdrew from Congress, thus leaving the Republicans in the ascendant; and Mr. Sumner was on the 8th of April made chairman, in place of Mr. Mason of Virginia, of the Committee on Foreign