Page:The Barbarism of Slavery - Sumner - 1863.pdf/11

 SPEECH. Mr. President

Undertaking now,



after a silence of

more

than four years, to address the Senate on this important subject, I should suppress the emotions natural to such an occadid not declare on the threshold my gratitude to that Supreme Being, through whose benign care I am enabled, after

sion, if I

and many changes, once again to resume my and to speak for the cause which is so near my heart. To the honored Commonwealth whose representative I am, and also to my immediate associates in this body, with whom I enjoy the fellowship which is found in thinking alike concerning the Republic, I owe thanks which I seize this moment

much

suffering

duties here,

shown me throughout the proby medical skill and I trust that it not be thought unbecoming in me to put on record here,

to express for the indulgence

tracted seclusion enjoined will



as an apology for leaving

making way, by

my

seat so long vacant, without

resignation, for a successor, that I acted

under

the illusion of an invalid, whose hopes for restoration to his natural health constantly triumphed over his disappointments.

When last I entered into this debate, it became my duty to expose the Crime against Kansas, and to insist upon the immediate admission of that Territory as a State of this Union, with a Constitution forbidding Slavery. Time has passed but the

Eesuming the

question remains. left

am happy may venture

it,

said,

I

to

avow

discussion precisely

to fix the boundaries of

have no personal

where I

that rule of moderation, which,

griefs to utter



wisdom

it is

itself.

I

only a barbarous egotism

could intrude these into this chamber. '

I have

no personal

avenge only a barbarous nature could attempt to wield that vengeance which belongs to the Lord. The years that have intervened, and the tombs that have been opened,

wrongs

to

since I spoke,



have their voices

too,

which I can not

fail