File:Henry B. Anthony speeches in Senate on occasion of Charles Sumner's death, 18 March 1874 (31c12867-04b5-47fc-9b51-e3754f1de7b6).jpg

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Archives Number: 1002/9.3-158#003

From the Providence Journal March 18, 1874
The two brief speeches made by Mr. Anthony, announcing the death of Mr. Sumner, and in delivering his body to the governor of Massachusetts, were telegraphed with several errors. Were therefore reprint them, the former from the Congressional record and the latter from the Boston Transcript:
The Announcement of the Death of Charles Sumner in the Senate.
Mr. Anthony, of Rhode Island, arose and said:
Mr. President: In the absence of the Senator to whom this saddest duty appertains and who is detained from the Senate by illness, the surviving Senator from Massachusetts, I have been requested to make to you the formal announcement of an event which my heart refuses to accept, and which my lips hesitate to declare. It is an event that needs not to be announced, for its dark shadow rests gloomily upon this chamber, and not only upon the Senate and the capitol, but upon the whole country, and the intelligence of which, borne on the mysterious wires that underline the sea, has already been carried to the remotest lands, and has aroused profoundest sympathies wherever humanity weeps for a friend, wherever liberty deplores an advocate. The oldest member in this body of continuous service, he who yesterday the oldest, beloved for the graces and virtues odf his personal character, admired for his genius and his accomplishments, reverenced for the fidelity with which he adhered to his convictions, illustrated for his services to the republic and to the world, has crossed the dark river that divides us fro the “undiscovered country.”
Charles Sumner died yesterday. Today, in humble submission to the divine will, we meet to express our respect for his character, our veneration for his memory. Tomorrow with solemn steps and with sorrowing hearts, we shall bear him to the Massachusetts which he served so faithfully and which loved him so well; and to her soil, precious with the dust of patriotism and of valor, of letters and of art, of statesmanship and of eloquence, we shall commit the body of one who is worth y to rest by the side of the noblest and the best of those who in the centuries of her histories have made her the model of a free commonwealth. But the greater deeds, which illustrated his life, shall not be buried with him, and never shall the earth cover the immortal principles to which he devoted every energy if his soul—the consummation and vindication of which, as his highest reward a gracious God permitted him to witness.
Mr. President, this is not the time, nor is the office mine, to pronounce the words that are due to this event. A future hour and more fitting utterances shall interpret to the American people the affections respect of the Senate to our dead associate, the homage which it renders to his life and character.
Remarks in the Massachusetts State House Upon Surrendering the Body to the Governor.
May it please Your Excellency:
We are commanded by the Senate of the United States to render back to you your illustrious dead. Nearly a quarter of a century ago, you dedicated to the public service a man who was even then greatly distinguished. He remained in it, quickening its patriotism, informing its councils, and leading in its deliberations, until having survived in continuous service all his original associates, he has closed his earthly career. With reverent hands, we bring to you his mortal part, that it may be committed to the soil of the renowned commonwealth that gave him birth. Take it; it is yours. The part, which we do not return to you, is not wholly yours to receive, nor altogether ours to give. It belongs to the country, to freedom, to civilization, to humanity. We come to you with the emblems, which faintly typify the sorrow that dwells in the breasts which they cover. So much we must concede to the infirmity of human nature. But, in the review of reason and philosophy, is it not a matter of high exaltation that a life so pure in its personal qualities, so high in its public aims, so fortunate in the fruition of noble effort, has closed safely, without a stain, before age had impaired its intellectual vigor, before time had dinned the luster of its genius!
May it please Your Excellency: Our mission is completed. We commit to you the body of Charles Sumner. His undying fame the Muse of History has already taken into her keeping.

• Keywords: document; henry w.l. dana papers (long 17314); long archives; charles sumner; henry b. anthony; funerals; politicians; Collected Materials (1002/009); (LONG-SeriesName); Miscellaneous Famous People (1002/009.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Sumner; Charles (1811-1874) – Documents regarding the death of; 14 March-18 December 1874 (1002/009.003-158); (LONG-FileUnitName)