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Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Citizens:—The Hon. Charles Sumner, Senator in the United States Congress, from the State of Massachusetts, is dead, was the saddening news borne on the lightning wings of the telegraph to the world, one week since; that he departed this life at thirteen minutes past three o'clock p. M. Wednesday, the 11th inst. Sirs, he is not dead, our friend, Sumner, sleepeth; he but taketh his rest—the rest that his great heart and noble spirit so much needed. "I am so tired" I am so tired; I want quiet," we are told he said; a short time after, he was seized with a paroxysm—a struggle with the last enemy; the last struggle with nature ensued, and Charles Sumner slept, we humbly trust, a blessed sleep, from which none ever wakes to weep. Thank God, there is a rest for His people! Then let our friend rest; it was not often that his soul hath known repose. Let him rest; they rest but seldom, whose successes challenge foes. He was weary and worn with watching, and this vigilant, weary watchman has found quiet rest.

We may hang upon his last hours and his last words, for those of a faithful friend, stay with us, are precious, and we treasure them. His last words in this life were characteristic of this great statesman, and peculiar. They seem to intimate that his great work of life was not quite finished. "Take care of the civil rights bill; do not let it fail." Here was a great thought for the nation, and the negro, whose champion he gloried in being. "Tell Emerson I love and revere him;" Heavenly passion in the breast—love and reverence—the brightest of the train, and strengtheners all the rest. Then, to a visiting friend, he said, "sit down". Ah! friends, fellow-citizens, here was piety, friendship, sympathy, politeness, love, reverence