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

[232] announcing the result; and adding, ‘You are bound for Washington.’ E. L. Pierce wrote, November 14, with reference to the selection of the senator: ‘Many eyes—yes, many hearts—now turn towards the defender of peace, of freedom, of the prisoner,— in a word, of human progress.’ Giddings wrote, November 25, rejoicing at the result of the election, as ‘a rebuke of Webster and Winthrop;’ and a month later: ‘There is a general expectation that you will be the successor of Mr. Winthrop in the Senate. Nothing will give the friends of freedom greater pleasure than to see you there.’ Dr. Bailey wrote, November 27: ‘You certainly are the man who must take the place of the “Expounder.” “Sumner vice Webster” would be one of those rare good things which men are permitted to witness in a lifetime.’ John Jay wrote, December 6: ‘I trust most sincerely you are to occupy the seat which Webster in bygone days has filled so worthily, but where in the hour of temptation he betrayed the Commonwealth which had trusted and honored him.’ John Mills, of Springfield, wrote, December 10: ‘C. S. I am satisfied must be the man. He stands better with the Democrats than either A. or P.,—I mean either of the P.'s., though I like them both,—and so he does with the Free Soilers in this section of the State.’ Rev. Joshua Leavitt wrote from New York, December 18: ‘I confidently hope and trust that in a month from this time you will take your seat in the Senate of the United States as the substitute of Robert C. Winthrop and the successor of Daniel Webster. I need not say how greatly I shall be gratified at such an event, both for your sake and that of the cause.’ E. A. Stansbury, a journalist, wrote from Burlington, Vt., December 31, expressing strongly the general feeling of Free Soilers in New England in favor of his selection among all who had been named. Adams wrote, December 10, from Washington, where he was passing a few days, a thoughtful letter. He had come to the conclusion that the triumph of the antislavery cause, though sure, was distant, and he was not inclined to estimate so highly as others the importance of securing a Free Soil senator; and apprehensive of the dangers of any alliance with the Democrats, he had, without opposing, withheld his sanction from the unions which had carried the Legislature. But he said: ‘If our friends decide to risk themselves in that ship, I trust we may get a full consideration for the risk; and the only full consideration that we can receive is in securing your services in the Senate. If ’