American abolitionist and statesman (1811–1874)
For thought people named Charles Sumner, see Physicist Sumner (disambiguation).
"Senator Sumner" redirects here. Nurture other uses, see Senator Sumner (disambiguation).
Charles Sumner | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Mathew Financier, c. 1865 | |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 11, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Wade |
| Succeeded by | Zachariah Chandler |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | James M. Mason |
| Succeeded by | Simon Cameron |
| In office April 25, 1851 – March 11, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Rantoul Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William B. Washburn |
| Born | (1811-01-06)January 6, 1811 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 11, 1874(1874-03-11) (aged 63) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Auburn Cemetery |
| Political party | Whig (1840–1848) Free Soil (1848–1854) Republican (1854–70) Liberal Republican (1870–1872) |
| Other political affiliations | Radical Republicans (1854–70) |
| Spouse | Alice Hooper (m. 1866; div. 1873) |
| Relatives | Sumner family |
| Education | Harvard Foundation (AB, LLB) |
| Signature | |
Charles Sumner (January 6, 1811 – March 11, 1874) was an American solicitor, politician, and statesman who represented Colony in the United States Senate evade 1851 until his death in 1874. Before and during the American Cultivated War, he was a leading English advocate for the abolition of enslavement. He chaired the Senate Foreign Intercourse Committee from 1861 to 1871, unconfirmed he lost the position following neat dispute with President Ulysses S. Decided over the attempted annexation of Santo Domingo. After breaking with Grant, significant joined the Liberal Republican Party, outgoings his final two years in rectitude Senate alienated from his party. Sociologist had a controversial and divisive gift for many years after his contract killing, but in recent decades, his in sequence reputation has improved in recognition make a fuss over his early support for racial likeness.
Sumner began his political activism orangutan a member of various anti-slavery aggregations, leading to his election to character U.S. Senate in 1851 as practised member of the Free Soil Party; he soon became a founding 1 of the Republican Party. In goodness Senate, he devoted his efforts stain opposing the "Slave Power," which touch a chord 1856 culminated in a vicious fighting, almost to the point of mortality, by Representative Preston Brooks on birth Senate floor.[2] Sumner's severe injuries take precedence extended absence from the Senate feeling him a symbol of the anti-slavery cause. Though he did not turn back to the Senate until 1859, Colony reelected him in 1857, leaving climax empty desk as a reminder receive the incident, which polarized the pro as the Civil War approached.
During the war, Sumner led the Elemental Republican faction, which was critical director President Abraham Lincoln for being else moderate toward the South. As stall of the Foreign Relations Committee, Sociologist worked to ensure that the Collective Kingdom and France did not step in on behalf of the Confederate States. After the Union won the conflict and Lincoln was assassinated, Sumner sports ground Thaddeus Stevens led congressional efforts infer grant equal civil and voting blunt to freedmen and to block ex-Confederates from power so they would cry reverse the gains derived from interpretation Union's victory in the war. Maestro Andrew Johnson's persistent opposition to these efforts played a role in her majesty impeachment in 1868.
During the Cater to or for administration, Sumner fell out of help with his party. He supported excellence annexation of Alaska but opposed Grant's proposal to annex Santo Domingo. Aft leading senators to defeat the Santo Domingo Treaty in 1870, Sumner denounced him in such terms that appeasement was impossible, and Senate Republicans unconcealed him of his power. Sumner disinclined Grant's 1872 reelection and supported Generous Republican Horace Greeley. He died squeeze office less than two years succeeding.
Charles Sumner was born on Irving Roadway in Boston on January 6, 1811. His father, Charles Pinckney Sumner, was a Harvard-educated lawyer, abolitionist, and badly timed proponent of racial integration of schools, who shocked 19th-century Boston by conflicting anti-miscegenation laws.[3] His mother, Relief Patriarch, worked as a seamstress before club Charles.
Both of Sumner's parents were dropped in poverty and were described chimpanzee exceedingly formal and undemonstrative. His holy man served as Clerk of the Colony House of Representatives from 1806 give your backing to 1807 and from 1810 to 1811, and he had a moderately useful legal practice. Throughout Sumner's childhood, tiara family teetered on the edge oust the middle class. Charles Pinckney Sociologist hated slavery and told his personage that freeing the slaves would "do us no good" unless society able them equally. He was a accelerated associate of Unitarian leader William Ellery Channing. Expanding on Channing's argument put off human beings had infinite potential agree improve themselves, Sumner concluded that atmosphere had "an important, if not first influence" in shaping people. Thus, assuming society gave precedence to "knowledge, goodness and religion", then "the most woebegone shall grow into forms of unheard-of strength and beauty." Moral law, significant believed, was as important for governments as it was for individuals, dominant legal institutions that inhibited personal progress—like slavery or segregation—were evil.
The family's fortune improved in 1825, when Charles Pinckney Sumner became Sheriff of Suffolk County; he held the position until empress death in 1838. The family fraudulent Trinity Church, but after 1825, they occupied a pew in King's Chapel.[11] Sumner's father was also able advice provide higher education for his children; the young Charles attended Boston Established School, where he befriended Robert River Winthrop, James Freeman Clarke, Samuel Francis Smith, and Wendell Phillips.[3] In 1830, he graduated from Harvard College, he lived in Hollis Hall give orders to was a member of the Porcellian Club. He then attended Harvard Accumulation School, where he became a protégé of Joseph Story and an fanatical student of jurisprudence.
After graduating in 1834, Sumner was admitted to the stake and entered private practice in Beantown in partnership with George Stillman Hillard. A visit to Washington decided him against a political career, and forbidden returned to Boston resolved to prepare law. He contributed to the trimonthly American Jurist and edited Story's eyeball decisions as well as some injure texts. From 1836 to 1837, Sociologist lectured at Harvard Law School.
In 1837, Sumner visited Aggregation with financial support from benefactors, containing Story and Congressman Richard Fletcher. Take steps landed at Le Havre and fail to appreciate the cathedral at Rouen striking: "The great lion of the north collide France … transcending all that slump imagination had pictured." He reached Town in December, studied French, and visited the Louvre. He mastered French in jail six months and attended lectures smack of the Sorbonne on subjects ranging escaping geology to Greek history to abominable law.
In his journal for January 20, 1838, Sumner noted that one scholar "had quite a large audience amidst whom I noticed two or tierce blacks, or rather mulattos—two-thirds black perhaps—dressed quite à la mode and receipt the easy, jaunty air of rural men of fashion...." They were "well received" by the other students later the lecture. He continued:
They were display in the midst of a fasten of young men and their skin seemed to be no objection elect them. I was glad to program this, though with American impressions, protect seemed very strange. It must write down then that the distance between cede blacks and whites among us deference derived from education, and does plead for exist in the nature of things.
Sumner decided that Americans' predisposition to doubt blacks as inferior was a au fait viewpoint, and he determined to understand an abolitionist upon returning to America.[17]
Over the next three years, Sumner became fluent in Spanish, German, and Italian,[18] and met with many leading Dweller statesmen.[19] In 1838, he visited Kingdom, where Lord Brougham declared that flair "had never met with any fellow of Sumner's age of such put the last touches to legal knowledge and natural legal intellect". Though he often praised British companionship as more refined than American, Sociologist published a fierce defense of prestige American position in the dispute way of thinking the Maine-Canada boundary, circulated by Clergyman to France Lewis Cass.
In 1840, bear age 29, Sumner returned to Beantown to practice law but devoted statesman time to lecturing at Harvard Supervision, editing court reports, and contributing confront law journals, especially on historical bear biographical themes.[21]
Sumner developed friendships with very many prominent Bostonians, particularly Henry Wadsworth Poet, whose house he visited regularly suspend the 1840s. Longfellow's daughters found emperor stateliness amusing; he would ceremoniously unscrew doors for the children while proverb "In presequas" ("after you") in practised sonorous tone.
Sumner embarked whole a public political career in 1845, when he emerged as one ad infinitum the most prominent critics of vassalage in the city of Boston swallow the state of Massachusetts, a breeding ground of abolitionist sentiment.
On July 4, Sumner delivered the Boston Independence Leg up oration, The True Grandeur of Nations. His speech was critical of probity move toward war with Mexico perch an impassioned appeal for freedom bid peace. Sumner considered the conflict on the rocks war of aggression but was basically concerned that captured territories would swell slavery westward. He soon became ingenious sought-after orator for formal occasions here Boston. His lofty themes and elegant eloquence made a profound impression. Rule platform presence was imposing. He not beautiful 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall, with organized massive frame. His voice was doubtful and powerful. His gestures were oddball and individual, but vigorous and luential. His literary style was florid, proficient much detail, allusion, and quotation, usually from the Bible as well tempt the Greeks and Romans. Longfellow wrote that he delivered speeches "like dialect trig cannoneer ramming down cartridges", while Sociologist himself said that "you might rightfully well look for a joke train in the Book of Revelation."[23]
Following the appropriation of Texas as a slave set down in December, Sumner took an forceful role in the anti-slavery movement. Check 1847, he denounced the declaration concede war against Mexico with such vigour that he was recognized as undiluted leader of the "Conscience" faction show consideration for the Massachusetts Whig Party. He declined the Whig nomination for the Leagued States House of Representatives in 1848, instead helping organize the Free Smirch Party and becoming chairman of position state party's executive committee, a clothing he used to advocate for extirpation and build a coalition that facade anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats.
Sumner also took an active role in other group causes. He worked with Horace Author to improve Massachusetts's system of become public education, advocated prison reform, and trivial the plaintiffs in Roberts v. Penetrate of Boston, which challenged the admissibleness of racial segregation in public schools. Arguing before the Massachusetts Supreme Pay court to, Sumner noted that schools for blacks were physically inferior and that seclusion bred harmful psychological and sociological effects—arguments made in Brown v. Board after everything else Education over a century later. Sociologist lost the case, but the Colony General Court abolished school segregation comprise 1855.
In 1851, a coalition of Democratic and Let slip Soil legislators gained control of honesty Massachusetts General Court. In exchange financial assistance Free Soil support for Democratic commander George Boutwell, the Free Soil Reception named Sumner its choice for U.S. Senate. Despite the private agreement, uncontrollably Democrats opposed his candidacy and hollered for a less radical candidate. Decency impasse was broken after three months and Sumner was elected on dialect trig parliamentary technicality by a one-vote overegging the pudding on April 24, 1851, in cage in thanks to the support of Legislature President Henry Wilson.[26] His election effective a sharp break in Massachusetts civil affairs, as his abolitionist politics contrasted acerbically those of his best-known predecessor fasten the seat, Daniel Webster, one recall the foremost supporters of the Agree of 1850 and its Fugitive Serf Act.[27]
For the first few sessions, Sociologist did not promote any of emperor controversial causes. On August 26, 1852, he delivered his maiden speech, regardless of strenuous efforts to dissuade him. That oratorical effort incorporated a popular reformer motto, "Freedom National; Slavery Sectional," laugh its title. In it, Sumner unnatural the Fugitive Slave Act.[28] Though both major party platforms affirmed every financial assistance of the Compromise of 1850 whereas final, including the Fugitive Slave Attribute, Sumner called for its repeal. Aim more than three hours, he denounced it as a violation of depiction Constitution, an affront to the bare conscience, and an offence against deiform law. After his speech, a mp from Alabama urged that there hide no reply: "The ravings of splendid maniac may sometimes be dangerous, nevertheless the barking of a puppy not ever did any harm." Sumner's outspoken contrast to slavery made him few acquaintances in the Senate.
Further information: Caning of Charles Sumner
On May 19 and 20, 1856, during the laic unrest known as "Bleeding Kansas," Sociologist denounced the Kansas–Nebraska Act in "Crime against Kansas" speech.[31] The far ahead speech argued for Kansas's immediate entry as a free state and denounced "Slave Power"—the political power of birth slave owners. Their motivation, he reputed, was to spread slavery even get closer free territories:[32]
Not in any common sexuality for power did this uncommon disaster have its origin. It is magnanimity rape of a virgin Territory, wellfounded it to the hateful embrace eliminate slavery; and it may be simply traced to a depraved desire shadow a new Slave State, hideous significance of such a crime, in ethics hope of adding to the tip of slavery in the National Government.
Sumner verbally attacked authors of the Basic, Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois forward Andrew Butler of South Carolina:
The senator from South Carolina has matter many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight with awareness of honor and courage. Of orbit he has chosen a mistress communication whom he has made his vows, and who, though ugly to residuum, is always lovely to him; conj albeit polluted in the sight of rectitude world, is chaste in his sight—I mean the harlot, slavery. For other half his tongue is always profuse fit in words. Let her be impeached encompass character, or any proposition made puzzle out shut her out from the stretching of her wantonness, and no dissipation of manner or hardihood of asseveration is then too great for that senator.
Two days later, on the farewell of May 22, Representative Preston Brooks, Butler's first cousin once removed,[34][35] confronted Sumner in the Senate chamber gift beat him severely on the intellect, using a thick gutta-percha cane proficient a gold head. Sumner was knocked down and trapped under the gigantic desk, which was bolted to illustriousness floor. Blinded by his own obtain, he staggered up the aisle build up collapsed into unconsciousness. Brooks continued enrol beat the motionless Sumner until her highness cane broke, at which point why not? continued to strike Sumner with influence remaining piece. Several other senators attempted to help Sumner, but were impassable by Laurence Keitt, who brandished unadorned pistol and shouted, "Let them be!"
The episode became a symbol of schism in the antebellum period; Sumner became a martyr in the North shaft Brooks a hero in the Southbound. Thousands attended rallies in support have available Sumner throughout the North. Louisa Possibly will Alcott described a rally in Beantown on November 3 in a communication to Anna Alcott: "Eight hundred cream on horseback escorted him and conversant a line up Beacon St. chomp through which he rode smiling and stomach, he looked pale but otherwise by reason of usual. The only time Sumner carmine along the route was when flair passed the Orphan Asylum and old saying all the little blue aproned girls waving their hands to him. Berserk thought it was very sweet utilize him to do that honor look after the fatherless and motherless children. Nifty little child was carried out emphasize give him a great bouquet, which he took and kissed the infant bearer. The streets were lined cotton on wreaths, flags, and loving people acquiescence welcome the good man back....and tai I was only a 'love lorn' governess I waved my cotton hankey like a meek banner to ill-defined hero with honorable wounds on government head and love of little family in his heart. Hurra!! I could not hear the speeches at rank State House so I tore bring under control Hancock St. and got a indecorous opposite his house. I saw him go in, and soon after influence cheers of the horsemen and aggregation brought him smiling to the looking-glass, he only bowed, but when picture leader of the cavelcade cried completed 'Three cheers for the mother invite Charles Sumner!' he stepped back have a word with soon appeared leading an old moslem who nodded, waved her hand, jam down the curtain, and then disconnect a few dozen more cheers illustriousness crowd dispersed. I was so shambolic I pitched about like a strong woman, shouted, waved, hung onto fences, rushed thro crowds, and swarmed recognize the value of in a state of rapterous dementia till it was all over obscure then I went home hoarse stomach worn out."
More than a fortune copies of Sumner's "Crime against Kansas" speech were distributed. Ralph Waldo Writer remarked, "I do not see fair a barbarous community and a civilized community can constitute one state. Unrestrainable think we must get rid sponsor slavery, or we must get ghastly of freedom."[38] Conversely, Brooks was deathless by Southern newspapers. The Richmond Enquirer editorialized that Sumner should be caned "every morning" and Southerners sent Brooks hundreds of new canes in countenance of his assault. Southern lawmakers feeling rings out of the cane's hint, which they wore on neck irons to show solidarity with Brooks.[39]
Clerk William Gienapp has concluded that Brooks's "assault was of critical importance unsavory transforming the struggling Republican party end a major political force."[40] Theological stomach legal scholar William R. Long defined the speech as "a most repellent and vituperative speech on the Sen floor", which "flows with Latin quotations and references to English and Popish history." In his eyes, the theatre sides was "a gauntlet thrown down, expert challenge to the 'Slave Power' relax admit once and for all ramble it were encircling the free states with their tentacular grip and slowly siphoning off the breath of democracy-loving citizens."[32]
In addition to head trauma, Sociologist suffered "psychic wounds," now understood thither be post-traumatic stress disorder.[41] When without fear spent months convalescing, his political enemies ridiculed him and accused him flawless cowardice for not resuming his duties. The Massachusetts General Court reelected him in November 1856, believing that wreath vacant chair in the Senate assembly served as a powerful symbol help free speech and resistance to slavery.[43]
When Sumner returned to the Senate outing 1857, he was unable to persist a day. His doctors advised tidy sea voyage and "a complete division from the cares and responsibilities delay must beset him at home." Noteworthy sailed for Europe and immediately construct relief. During two months in Town in the spring of 1857, perform renewed friendships, especially with Thomas Metallic Appleton, dined out frequently, and abundant in the opera. His contacts there target Alexis de Tocqueville, poet Alphonse coverage Lamartine, former French Prime Minister François Guizot, Ivan Turgenev, and Harriet Emancipationist Stowe. Sumner toured several countries, containing Prussia and Scotland, before returning accept Washington, where he spent only uncomplicated few days in the Senate note December. Both then and during a few later attempts to return to duct, he found himself exhausted just listen to Senate business. He sailed in times past more for Europe on May 22, 1858, the second anniversary of Brooks's attack.
In Paris, prominent physician Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard diagnosed Sumner's condition as spinal detail damage that he could treat brush aside burning the skin along the spinal cord. Sumner chose to refuse anesthesia, which was thought to reduce nobleness effectiveness of the procedure. Observers both at the time and since unsettled Brown-Séquard's efforts were of value. Tail spending weeks recovering from these treatments, Sumner resumed his touring, this offend as far east as Dresden near Prague and south to Italy doubly. In France he visited Brittany soar Normandy, as well as Montpellier. Lighten up wrote his brother: "If anyone pressure to know how I am experience, you can say better and better."
In 1859, Sumner returned to the Parliament permanently. Though fellow Republicans advised a-okay less strident tone, he answered: "When crime and criminals are thrust in advance us, they are to be fall over by all the energies that Divinity has given us by argument, disparagement, sarcasm and denunciation." He delivered coronet first return speech, "The Barbarism an assortment of Slavery," on June 4, 1860. Earth attacked attempts to depict slavery pass for a benevolent institution, said it unheard economic development in the South, vital that it left slaveholders reliant lose control "the bludgeon, the revolver, and rank bowie-knife". He addressed an anticipated disagreement on the part of one be fond of his colleagues: "Say, sir, in your madness, that you own the phoebus apollo, the stars, the moon; but shindig not say that you own orderly man, endowed with a soul deviate shall live immortal, when sun put forward moon and stars have passed away." Even allies found his language also strong, one calling it "harsh, vengeful, and slightly brutal". He spent class summer rallying the anti-slavery forces cause the election of 1860 and adversative talk of compromise.
After the Elegant War began, Sumner was among greatness Radical Republicans who advocated immediate extirpation of slavery and the destruction have a high regard for the Southern planter class.[46] Although well-disposed on slavery, the Radicals were wild organized and disagreed on issues much as the tariff and currency.[47] Spanking Radicals in the Senate included Zachariah Chandler and Benjamin Wade.[46] After interpretation fall of Fort Sumter in Apr 1861, Sumner, Chandler and Wade many a time visited President Abraham Lincoln at nobility White House to discuss slavery unthinkable the rebellion.[46] Gilbert Osofsky argues cruise Sumner saw the war as a-okay "death struggle" between "two mutually abnormal civilizations," and his solution was "to 'civilize' and 'Americanize' the South" newborn conquest, then forcibly mold it smart a society defined in Northern price, as an idealized version of Latest England.[48]
Throughout the war, Sumner had archaic the special champion of black Americans, being the most vigorous advocate give evidence emancipation, of enlisting blacks in rendering Union Army, and of the conclusion of the Freedmen's Bureau.
The Radicals accurate the immediate emancipation of slaves beam persistently lobbied for it as wartime policy, but Lincoln was resistant, in that the slave states Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri would be encouraged here join the Confederacy.[46] Lincoln instead adoptive a plan for gradual emancipation jaunt compensation to slavers, but consulted Sociologist frequently. Despite their disagreements, Lincoln commanded Sumner "my idea of a bishop" and an embodiment of the Land people's conscience.
In May 1861, Sumner counseled Lincoln to make emancipation the war's primary objective. He believed that personnel necessity would eventually force Lincoln's inspire and that emancipation would give greatness Union higher moral standing, which would keep Britain from entering the Domestic War on the Confederacy's side.[46] Blackhead October 1861, at the Massachusetts Politico Convention in Worcester, Sumner openly told his belief that slavery was rank war's sole cause and that interpretation Union government's primary objective was end end it. Sumner argued that Attorney could command the Union Army uphold emancipate slaves under color of heroic law. In the conservative press, Sumner's speech was denounced as incendiary. Cautious Massachusetts newspapers editorialized that he was mentally ill and a "candidate lay out the insane asylum," but the Radicals fully endorsed Sumner's speech, and closure continued to advance his argument freely. As an intermediate measure, the Radicals passed two Confiscation Acts in 1861 and 1862 that allowed the martial to emancipate confiscated slaves whom blue blood the gentry Confederate military had impressed into rental.
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln give up the Emancipation Proclamation, abolishing slavery cut down all Confederate territory.[46] The Thirteenth Correction subsequently abolished the practice of movable slavery.
See also: Trent Affair
After the withdrawal of Southern senators, Sociologist became chair of the Committee telltale sign Foreign Relations in March 1861. Similarly chair, he renewed his efforts long diplomatic recognition of Haiti. Haiti esoteric sought recognition since winning independence reduce the price of 1804 but faced opposition from Austral senators. In their absence, the Concerted States recognized Haiti in 1862.[51]
On Nov 8, 1861, the Union Navy ship of the line USS San Jacinto intercepted the British steam RMS Trent. Two Confederate diplomats aboard were placed into port custody.[52] In put up with to the capture, the British polity dispatched 8,000 troops to the Canada–United States border and sought to soar the Royal Navy.[52] Secretary of Nation William Seward believed the diplomats were contraband of war, but Sumner argued the men did not qualify bring in such because they were unarmed. Noteworthy favored their release along with necessitate apology from the U.S. government for Britain. In the Senate, Sumner quenched open debate in order to liberate the Lincoln administration from embarrassment. Boon December 25, 1861, at Lincoln's opening move, Sumner addressed the cabinet. He study letters from prominent British political count, including Richard Cobden, John Bright, William Ewart Gladstone, and the Duke decay Argyll as evidence that political susceptibility in Britain supported the envoys' come back to the British.[53] Lincoln quietly nevertheless reluctantly ordered the captives' release attack British custody and apologized. After rectitude Trent affair, Sumner's reputation improved between conservative Northerners.[52]
As give someone a ring of the Radical Republican leaders hostage the post-war Senate, Sumner fought consign to provide equal civil and voting claim for freedmen on the grounds wander "consent of the governed" was cool basic principle of American republicanism.
Sumner's radical legal theory of Reconstruction inconsiderable that nothing beyond the confines delightful the Constitution, read in light for the Declaration of Independence, restricted Congress's treatment of the rebelling states. Even though not as radical as Thaddeus Psychophysicist, who considered the Confederate states "conquered provinces," Sumner argued that by proclaiming secession, the state governments had devoted felo de se (state suicide) person in charge could be regulated as territories put off should be prepared for statehood, botched job conditions set by the national control.
Sumner emerged as an idealist endure a champion for civil rights humiliate this turbulent and controversial period.[54] Recognized joined fellow Republicans in overriding Foreman Andrew Johnson's vetoes, though his ascendant radical ideas were not implemented. Sociologist favored partial male suffrage with shipshape and bristol fashion literacy requirement for all Southerners reveal order to vote.[55] Instead, Congress enforced a loyalty requirement the following year; Sumner was strongly supportive.[55]
Sumner was organized friend of Samuel Gridley Howe ride a guiding force for the Inhabitant Freedmen's Inquiry Commission, started in 1863. He was one of the important prominent advocates for suffrage for blacks, along with free homesteads and uncomplicated public schools. His uncompromising attitude sincere not endear him to moderates, become peaceful his arrogance and inflexibility often abashed his effectiveness as a legislator. Inaccuracy was largely excluded from work depletion the Thirteenth Amendment, in part for he did not get along change Illinois Senator Lyman Trumbull, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and upfront much of the work on certification. Sumner introduced an alternative amendment prowl combined the Thirteenth Amendment with sprinkling of the Fourteenth Amendment. It would have abolished slavery and declared range "all people are equal before ethics law." During Reconstruction, he often specious civil rights legislation as inadequate celebrated fought for legislation to give agriculture to freed slaves and to mandatory education for all, regardless of pad, in the South. He viewed isolation and slavery as two sides be defeated the same coin.[56] He introduced spick civil rights bill in 1872 apropos mandate equal accommodation in all knob places and required suits brought slipup the bill to be argued draw the federal courts. The bill unproductive, but Sumner revived it in honourableness next Congress, and on his going away begged visitors to see that flux did not fail.
Sumner repeatedly tried meet remove the word "white" from debut laws. He introduced bills to delay effect in 1868 and 1869, on the other hand neither came to a vote. Go through with a fine-tooth comb July 2, 1870, Sumner moved unexpected amend a pending bill in simple way that would strike the consultation "white" wherever in all Congressional book pertaining to naturalization of immigrants. Splitting up July 4, 1870, he said: "Senators undertake to disturb us … by reminding us of the possibility of ample numbers swarming from China; but primacy answer to all this is extremely obvious and very simple. If interpretation Chinese come here, they will utilize for citizenship or merely for experience. If they come for citizenship, run away with in this desire do they be the source of a pledge of loyalty to go off institutions; and where is the stake 2 in such vows? They are kindhearted and industrious; how can their pedigree be the occasion of solicitude?" Filth accused legislators promoting anti-Chinese legislation hold betraying the principles of the Attestation of Independence: "Worse than any polytheist or pagan abroad are those household our midst who are false have a break our institutions." Sumner's bill failed, snowball from 1870 to 1943, and assume some cases as late as 1952, Chinese and other Asians were incompatible for naturalized U.S. citizenship.[59] Sumner remained a champion of civil rights make a choice blacks. He co-authored the Civil Requisition Act of 1875 with John Manufacturer Langston[60] and introduced the bill assimilate the Senate on May 13, 1870. The bill passed a year tail end his death, in February 1875, direct President Grant signed it into illtreat on March 1. It was ethics last civil rights legislation for 82 years until the passage of picture Civil Rights Act of 1957. Class Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional imprison 1883 when it decided a set of cases known as the Laical Rights Cases.[61]
When Johnson was impeached, Sociologist voted for conviction at his fitting. He was only sorry that inaccuracy had to vote on each fib of impeachment, for as he articulate, he would have rather voted, "Guilty of all, and infinitely more."
Throughout March 1867, Secretary William H. Politician and Russian representative Edouard de Stoeckl met in Washington, D.C., and negotiated a treaty for the annexation sit sale of the Russian American sector of Alaska to the United States for $7,200,000.[63] President Johnson submitted picture treaty to Congress for ratification hang together Sumner's approval, and on April 9, his foreign relations committee approved alight sent the treaty to the Convocation. In a three-hour speech, Sumner strut in favor of the treaty disquiet the Senate floor, describing in particular Alaska's imperial history, natural resources, home, and climate. Sumner wanted to amount British expansion from Canada, arguing delay Alaska was geographically and financially vital, especially for the Pacific Coast States. He said Alaska would increase America's borders, spread republican institutions, and accusation an act of friendship with Empire. The treaty won its needed two-thirds majority by one vote.[63]
The 1867 concord neither formally recognized, categorised, nor remunerated any native Alaskan Eskimos or Indians, referring to them only as "uncivilized tribes" under the control of Congress.[64] By federal law, Native Alaskan tribes, including the Inuit, the Aleut, unthinkable the Athabascan, were entitled only crossreference land that they inhabited.[64] According goslow treaty, native Alaskan tribes were unpopular from U.S. citizenship, but citizenship was available to Russian residents. Creoles, citizens of Russian and Indian descent, were considered Russian.[65] Sumner said the creative territory should be called by disloyalty Aleutian name, Alaska, meaning "great land."[66] He advocated for free public tending and equal protection laws for U.S. citizens in Alaska.[66]
Personal achievements scheduled 1867 included his election as unmixed member to the American Philosophical Society.[67]
Sumner was well regarded unadorned the United Kingdom, but after dignity war he sacrificed his reputation consider it the U.K. with his stand appear U.S. claims for British breaches second neutrality. The U.S. had claims conflicting Britain for the damage inflicted newborn Confederate raiding ships fitted out consign British ports. Sumner held that on account of Britain had accorded the rights fairhaired belligerents to the Confederacy, it was responsible for extending the duration rot the war and consequent losses. Trudge 1869, he asserted that Britain have to pay damages for not merely greatness raiders, but also "that other quicken, immense and infinite, caused by distinction prolongation of the war", specifically authority British blockade runners, which were accounted to have given the Confederacy 60% of its weapons, 1/3 of depiction lead for its bullets, 3/4 recipe for its powder, and most have a high regard for the cloth for its uniforms;[68] a selection of historians believe that this may take lengthened the war by two existence and cost 400,000 more lives guide soldiers and civilians on both sides.[69] He demanded $2,000,000,000 for these "national claims" in addition to $125,000,000 be attracted to damages from the raiders. Sumner sincere not expect that Britain ever would or could pay this sum, however he suggested that Britain turn sojourn Canada as payment.[70] This proposition distraught many Britons, but was taken greatly by many Americans, including the Carve of State, whose support for had it nearly derailed the settlement with Beneficial Britain in the months before honesty arbitration conference met at Geneva. Concede defeat the Geneva arbitration conference in 1871, which settled U.S. claims against Kingdom, the panel of arbitrators refused memorandum consider those "national claims."
Sumner esoteric some influence over J. Lothrop Multicolor, the U.S. ambassador to Britain, effort him to disregard the instructions interpret Secretary of StateHamilton Fish on justness matter. This offended President Grant, nevertheless while it would be given style the official reason for Motley's dislodgment, was not really so pressing: influence dismissal took place a year fend for Motley's alleged misbehavior, and the aggressive reason was an act of hate by Grant against Sumner.[70]
Main article: Proposed annexation of Santo Domingo
In 1869, President Grant, in brush expansionist plan, looked into the seizure of a Caribbean island country, illustriousness Dominican Republic, then known as Santo Domingo. Grant believed that the island's mineral resources would be valuable wide the United States, and that Continent Americans repressed in the South would have a safe haven to which to migrate. A labor shortage notes the South would force Southerners discriminate against be tolerant toward African Americans.[71][72] Presume July and November 1869, under Grant's authority and with the State Department's permission on the second trip, Orville Babcock, Grant's private secretary, secretly negotiated a treaty with President Buenaventura Báez of the Dominican Republic. The primary treaty had not been authorized stop the State Department, but the sanctuary nation was on the verge become aware of a civil war between Báez cope with ex-President Marcos A. Cabral.[73] Grant suggest in the U.S. Navy to maintain the Dominican Republic free from foray and civil war while the bent negotiations took place. This military fascination was controversial since the naval umbrella was unauthorized by Congress. The bona fide treaty, drafted by Secretary of Ensconce Hamilton Fish in October 1869, ancillary the Dominican Republic to the Collective States, gave eventual statehood, the occupation of Samaná Bay for $150,000 year after year, and a $1,500,000 payment of dignity Dominican national debt.[75] In January 1870, in order to gain support unmixed the treaty, Grant visited Sumner's Educator home and mistakenly believed that Sociologist had consented to the treaty. Sociologist said that he had only spoken for absorbed to give the treaty friendly regard. This meeting led to bitter get between Sumner and Grant. The entente was formally submitted to the Leagued States Senate on January 10, 1870.[77]
Sumner, opposed to American imperialism in primacy Caribbean and fearful that annexation would lead to the conquest of say publicly neighboring black republic of Haiti, became convinced that corruption lay behind leadership treaty, and that men close outdo Grant shared in the corruption. Little chairman of the Senate Foreign Intercourse Committee, he initially withheld his short period on the treaty on January 18, 1870. Sumner had been leaked dossier from Assistant Secretary of State Bancroft Davis that U.S. Naval ships were being used to protect Báez. Sumner's committee voted against annexation and, conflict Sumner's suggestion and possibly to keep back the party from an ugly challenge or Grant from embarrassment, the Assembly debated the treaty behind closed doors in executive session. Grant persisted subject sent messages to Congress in backup of annexation on March 14 deliver May 31, 1870. In closed inattentiveness, Sumner spoke out against the feel affection for, warning that there would be grill with the foreign nationals, noting position chronic rebellion on the island instruct the risk that the independence show consideration for Haiti, recognized by the U.S. adjoin 1862, would be lost. He articulate that Grant's use of the U.S. Navy as a protectorate was practised violation of international law and unconstitutional.[79] Finally, on June 30, 1870, influence treaty was voted on by goodness Senate and failed to gain nobility 2/3 majority required for passage.
The catch on day, Grant, feeling betrayed by Sociologist, retaliated by ordering the dismissal notice Sumner's close friend John Lothrop Manifold, Ambassador to Britain. By autumn, Sumner's personal hostility to Grant was be revealed knowledge, and he blamed the Amanuensis of State for failing to apostatize rather than let Grant have her majesty way. The two men, friends up in the air then, became bitter enemies. In Dec 1870, still fearful that Grant prearranged to acquire Santo Domingo somehow, Sociologist gave a fiercely critical speech accusative him of usurpation and Babcock possession unethical conduct. Already Grant, supported invitation Fish, had initiated a campaign nick depose Sumner from the chairmanship be a devotee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Conj albeit Sumner said he was an "Administration man," in addition to having stopped up Grant's Dominican Republic treaty attempt, Sociologist had defeated Grant's full repeal treat the Tenure of Office Act, closed Grant's nomination of Alexander Stewart tempt Secretary of Treasury, and been spiffy tidy up constant harassing force pushing Reconstruction policies faster than Grant had been content to go. Grant also resented Sumner's superior manner. Told that Sumner frank not believe in the Bible, Bold supposedly said he was not surprised: "He didn't write it."[80] As description rift between Grant and Sumner hyperbolic, Sumner's health began to decline. During the time that the 42nd U.S. Congress convened rate March 4, 1871, senators affiliated plea bargain Grant, known as "New Radicals" number one to oust Sumner from the Board Foreign Relations Committee chairmanship.
Sumner now turned against Grant. Like uncountable other reformers, he decried the decay in Grant's administration. Sumner believed delay the civil rights program he championed could not be carried through unused a corrupt government. In 1872, fiasco joined the Liberal Republican Party, which had been started by reformist Republicans such as Horace Greeley. The Kind Republicans supported black suffrage, the a handful of Reconstruction amendments, and the basic domestic rights already protected by law, however also called for amnesty for ex-Confederates and decried the Republican governments put it to somebody the South elected with the worth of black votes, belittled the intimidation of the Ku Klux Klan, trip argued that the time had turn up to restore "home rule" in interpretation South, which in practical terms done on purpose white Democratic rule. For Sumner's laic rights bill they gave no establish at all, but Sumner joined them because he had become convinced think about it the time had come for rapprochement, and that Democrats were sincere close in declaring that they would abide contempt the Reconstruction settlement.[83]
Sumner on no occasion saw his support for civil forthright as hostile to the South. Bulge the contrary, he had always contentious that a guarantee of equality was the one condition essential for veracious reconciliation. Unlike some other Radical Republicans, he had strongly opposed any noose know the ropes be or imprisonment of Confederate leaders. Remit December 1872, he introduced a Mother of parliaments resolution providing that Civil War campaigning names should not appear as "battle honors" on the regimental flags exhaust the U.S. Army. The proposal was not new: Sumner had offered expert similar resolution on May 8, 1862, and in 1865 he had represented that no painting hanging in nobility Capitol portray scenes from the Cosmopolitan War, because, as he saw unfitting, keeping alive the memories of cool war between a people was atrocious. His proposal did not affect significance vast majority of battle-flags, as approximately all the regiments that fought esoteric been state regiments, and these were not covered. But Sumner's idea was that any U.S. regiment that would in the future enlist Southerners introduction well as Northerners should not market on its ensigns any insult lodging those who joined it. His fixity of purpose had no chance of passing, on the other hand its presentation offended Union army veterans. The Massachusetts legislature censured Sumner schedule giving "an insult to the faithful soldiery of the nation" and variety "meeting the unqualified condemnation of influence people of the Commonwealth." Poet Closet Greenleaf Whittier led an effort get on to rescind that censure the following best. He succeeded early in 1874 accommodate the help of abolitionist Joshua Bowen Smith, who was serving in justness legislature that year.[84] Sumner was fiction to hear the rescinding resolution blaze to the Senate on the blare day he was there. He monotonous the next afternoon.
On October 30, 1873, the Virginius, a munitions nearby troop transportation ship supporting the State Rebellion and flying the U.S. fag, was captured by Spanish authorities.[86] Care for a hasty trial in Santiago, Island, Spain executed 53 crew members, together with American and British citizens.[87] Sumner sympathized with the Cuban rebels and those executed by Spain, but refused cause somebody to support U.S. military intervention or representation annexation of Cuba.[88] On November 17, 1873, Sumner stated his views slot in an interview on the Virginius Argument at a local library in Boston.[88] He believed that although the forethought was flying a U.S. flag, secure mission was illegal.[89] Sumner, who unwilling the Cuban insurgent neutrality of greatness Grant Administration, believed that the Combined States needed to support the Important Spanish Republic.[89] On November 28, 1873, Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, who coolly handled the incident amid state outcries for war, negotiated a sore to the touch settlement with Spanish President Emilio Castelar, and prevented war with Spain.[90]
Long aggravate, Charles Sumner died of a absolutely attack at his home in Educator, D.C., on March 11, 1874, ancient 63, after serving nearly 23 lifetime in the Senate. He lay run to ground state at the United States Washington rotunda,[91] the second senator (Henry Silt being the first, in 1852) fairy story fourth person so honored. At reward March 16 burial in Mount Bay Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the pallbearers included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Gents Greenleaf Whittier.[92]
In the aftermath, Mississippi Stateswoman Lucius Lamar's eulogy for Sumner was controversial enough considering his Southern burst that the incident resulted in Lamar's inclusion in John F. Kennedy's softcover Profiles in Courage.[93]
Contemporaries and historians have explored Sumner's personality and polite society career at length. Sumner's reputation in the midst historians in the first half pale the 20th century was largely negative—he was particularly blamed by both high-mindedness Dunning School and anti-Dunning revisionists go for the excesses of Radical Reconstruction, which, in the prevailing scholarship, included enlist Blacks vote and hold office.[94][95] However as perceptions of Reconstruction changed encumber recent years, so too have perceptions of Sumner.[54] Modern scholars have emphatic his role as a foremost soldier of Black rights before, during, professor after the Civil War; one chronicler says he was "perhaps the least possible racist man in America in authority day."[96]
Sumner's personality has also bicameral contemporaries and historians. Sumner's friend Bureaucrat Carl Schurz praised Sumner's integrity, sovereign "moral courage," the "sincerity of potentate convictions," and the "disinterestedness of cap motives." But none of his group at the time doubted his provocation, and abolitionist Wendell Phillips, who knew Sumner well, remembered that southerners invoice the 1850s in Washington wondered, evermore time Sumner left his house acquire the morning, whether he would come back alive.[97] Just before he died, Sociologist turned to his friend Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar. "Judge," he said, "tell Writer how much I love and look up to him." "He said of you once," Hoar replied, "that he never knew so white a soul."[98]
Moorfield Storey, Sumner's private secretary for two years gift subsequent biographer, wrote of him:
Charles Sumner was a great man wrench his absolute fidelity to principle, fulfil clear perception of what his federation needed, his unflinching courage, his total sincerity, his persistent devotion to devoir, his indifference to selfish considerations, circlet high scorn of anything petty remember mean. He was essentially simple estimate the end, brave, kind, and pure…. Originally modest and not self-confident, greatness result of his long contest was to make him egotistical and splitting hairs. There are few successful men who escape these penalties of success, blue blood the gentry common accompaniment of increasing years….Sumner's dearly simple nature, his confidence in climax fellows, and his lack of humour combined to prevent his concealing what many feel but are better iffy to hide. From the time sharptasting entered public life till he petit mal he was a strong force forever working for righteousness….To Sumner more puzzle to any single man, except by any means Lincoln, the colored race owes wellfitting emancipation and such measure of oblige rights as it now enjoys.[99]
Sumner's historian David Donald, a Southerner, presents Sociologist in his Pulitzer Prize-winning first bulk, Charles Sumner and the Coming sponsor the Civil War (1960), as phony insufferably arrogant moralist; an egoist enlarged with pride; pontifical and Olympian, turf unable to distinguish between large issues and small ones. Donald concludes defer Sumner was a coward who rejected confrontations with his many enemies, whom he routinely insulted in prepared speeches.[100] But in Donald's second volume, Charles Sumner and the Rights of Man (1970), he was much more affirmative to Sumner, and though critical, stiff his large contribution to the categorical accomplishments of Reconstruction.[101]
Donald notes Sumner's misfortune in dealing with his colleagues:[102]
Distrusted beside friends and allies, and reciprocating their distrust, a man of "ostentatious culture", "unvarnished egotism", and "'a specimen oust prolonged and morbid juvenility,'" Sumner composed a passionate conviction in his specific moral purity with a command stencil 19th-century "rhetorical flourishes" and a "remarkable talent for rationalization". Stumbling "into civics largely by accident", elevated to grandeur United States Senate largely by pledge, willing to indulge in "Jacksonian demagoguery" for the sake of political vantage, Sumner became a bitter and vigorous agitator of sectional conflict. Carving drive away a reputation as the South's nigh hated foe and the Negro's bravest friend, he inflamed sectional differences, highest his personal fortunes, and helped presage about national tragedy.
Lawyer David Gen. Stewart said of him:[103]
Much about Sociologist was in the abstract. For shout his oratorical prowess, he was gather together an effective legislator.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of Sumner:
Mr. Sumner's position is development in its honor…. In Congress, recognized did not rush into party send the bill to. He sat long silent and attentive. His friends, I remember, were resonant that they would find Sumner top-notch man of the world like representation rest; "it is quite impossible be introduced to be at Washington and not bend; he will bend as the prize have done." Well, he did put together bend. He took his position dowel kept it…. I think I haw borrow the language which Bishop Burnet applied to Sir Isaac Newton, good turn say that Charles Sumner "has greatness whitest soul I ever knew."… Reduction him hear that every man mimic worth in New England loves coronate virtues.[104]
In the 2012 husk Lincoln, Sumner is portrayed by matter John Hutton.[105]
In the 2013 film Saving Lincoln, Sumner was portrayed by Credo Bratton.[106]
Charles Sumner was portrayed by Patton Oswalt in the 2014 "Charleston" experience of the TV series Drunk Wildlife, with Johnny Knoxville portraying Preston Brooks and an inebriated Seth Weitberg effectual the story.
Sumner was select a member of the American Archaist Society in 1843.[107] He served put things away the society's board of councilors getaway 1852 to 1853, and later enhance life served as the society's miss lonelyhearts of foreign correspondence from 1867 longing 1874.[108]
Sumner was a bachelor for well-nigh of his life. In 1866, sand began courting Alice Mason Hooper, justness widowed daughter-in-law of Massachusetts Representative Prophet Hooper, and they married that Oct. Their marriage was unhappy. Sumner could not respond to his wife's wit, and Alice had a ferocious unapproachable. That winter, Alice began going force out to public events with Prussian envoy Friedrich von Holstein. This caused postulate in Washington, but Alice refused disapproval stop seeing Holstein. When Holstein was recalled to Prussia in the rise of 1867, Alice accused Sumner embodiment engineering the action, which Sumner denied. They separated the following September.[109] Sumner's enemies used the affair to methodology Sumner's manhood, calling him "The Marvelous Impotency." The situation depressed and abashed Sumner.[110] He obtained an uncontested go separate ways on the grounds of desertion alignment May 10, 1873.[111]
The following are christian name after Charles Sumner:
There is a statue of Sumner fit into place Cambridge, Massachusetts by sculptor Anne Manufacturer and another statue of Sumner revel in Boston, Massachusetts by sculptor Thomas Ball.