File:Thomas Coffin Amory to Elias Nason, written eulogy of Charles Sumner, 22 March 1874 (2b4a4881-5031-4af5-a21f-5cf5c88d1401).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1002/9.3-158#011

[page 1]
[Note in pencil: Bought by H.W.L. Dana, Nov. 1941, from Goodspeeds for $3.00]
Boston March 22 ‘74
19 Commonwealth Ave
Dear Mr. Nason
Mr. Sumner ["Sumner" underlined in pencil with note in pencil: "Lincoln Emancipator"] at Cambridge was alphabetically in the last half of the class and my opportunity of meeting him at recitations or play were considerably less frequent. But though not intimate I remember him well and had occasional conversations with him which left a very pleasant impression – He was more given to study than to Companionship, had the reputation of being a diligent reader out of the (courts) and was often praised for his (thea_s) and (for__s_ves). [Note in pencil: 472] In scholarship [page 2] he stood among the upper third but was not remarkable and this was true of several of his classmates who were later of note.
As I recall him at college in chapel or in the yard for he was of a height above the average, slender, awkward in his ways and movements, rather shy and not by any means merry. But as I (rarely) (met) him on festival occasions or where (he) was specially at ease his more constant associates possibly may have formed different ideas of his sociable traits.
After our professional [page 3] studies were completed and we both had entered the bar our offices for several years were under the same roof at 4 Court St, where we occupied rooms with Mr. Hillard, while in (others) were to be found (Chote, Mann, Andrew, L___t, Carsons, Judge Lorring, McChand_y), and a host of other celebrities. Many of them not then known to fame, but who since have gathered their (laurels) and finished their course as he had.
When he went to Europe I placed in his charge the care of a claim against France belonging to the estate of my [page 4] father for services rendered on (saving) her 80 gun ship Le (Foud_oyant) dismasted in a gale on her way to the West Indies in 1806, by the Fair America. The amount to be paid had been left to arbitration and determined but the Imperial government had no funds and the Bourbons no inclination to pay and when it was presented to the (commissioners) (under) the French treaty of 1825 it was disallowed as (restoring) our contract not on (spoliation). It was at this stage that Mr. Sumner undertook it but though [page 5. note in pencil at top of page: 2] it afforded him in (ca__s) no advantage of making some acquaintances he valued nothing was ever realized. He wrote me several letters which if I find I have preserved and they contain anything of use for your purpose I will send. I remember soon after his return from Europe meeting him at the house of my uncle (General Sullivan) in chestnut street and saying I presumed he was coming back to the law, when he expressed his (preference) for (political) life. The career which a few years afterwards was opened to him [page 6] under circumstances he could not then have anticipated.
Not being up to the faith that the north could honestly interfere with the domestic institutions of the south without constitution amendments precluded by the Missouri Compromise, much as we all abhorred slavery, decried it a grievous wrong, a social, economical and political blunder, agitation to many of us promised advantages to neither race but while rendering servitude more intolerable seemed surely to lead to bloodshed and possible (separation). When Mr. Sumner became [page 7] an anti slavery leader I (frankly confess) I considered him as dangerous and putting in jeopardy the Union and the institution depending upon it and was inclined to attribute his zeal to mixed motivates hatred of slavery and some personal (aspirations). His course later in 1860 in discouraging conciliation the Crittenden Compromise and the peace Congress his opposition to McLellan and (Porter) and forcing Stanton on Johnson and the (grounds of) impeachment did not (increase) my respect for Mr. Sumner him and I hope you will show that (these blows) on his fair fame [page 8] can be explained. His character for (integrity) public and private stands deservedly high and in bright contrast to what had cast such disgrace of late on American politics, but it is a sorry day when honesty in public life is a distinguishing trait on any one be sufficiently (possessed) of public confidence to abuse it.
From the circumstances attending the assault upon him in 1856, his long service in the Senate and connection with one of the greatest (events) in (history) Mr. Sumner will probably be more conspicuously identified as the great leader in emancipation more [page 9. note at top of page: 3] than any other who took part. His ability, scholarship, persistency and withstanding discouragement, his (volume) of speeches and orations will keep his memory fresh and I congratulate you on having for your task so excellent a subject. I cannot but think you would do by memory better service (___e) (and) by discrimination than by unqualified praise. I would have been ungracious while the grave was closing over a career so eminent to set down (aught) in (conscience) but history demands a more impartial voice. His place in its pages will be [page 10] too prominent for his hold on the immortality it confers to be (disturbed) by recognizing the defects which no human character however (purified) can altogether escape in some measure (discovering).
At the meeting last (Thursday) of the Scientific Club Judge Warren one of our classmates paid eloquent tribute to Sumner’s merits dwelling (especially) on his (recollections) of him at college. Shall I ask him to send it to you or will you see him yourself. Dr. Edward H Clark gave an account of an interview [page 11] which he had (professionally) with Mr. Sumner last November when he described the assault and (subsequent) effects on his health. Mr. Charles (Perkins) related an anecdote mentioned to him by a French gentleman on their way to the funeral - that Sumner having purchased from the (English) minister on his (_ccale) some (wines) which had paid no duty (this) being a (minister’s) privilege he insisted on (sending) to the (Treasury) the amount the wine would otherwise have paid. I do not wish to (justify) a brutal assault but Mr. Sumner had [page 12] applied very (spp_s_rious) epithets to the South Carolina Senator Brooke’s uncle and personality should not be (indulged) in public life. A day or two before the assault Mr. Brooks was dining with a party at my brother in law’s Mr. Appleton then our representative and when allusion were made to the speech the way in which he (expressed) himself was remembered afterwards in exclamations if his fault.
If anything else occurs to me I shall write you again.
Yours Very Faithfully
T.C. Amory
To: Rev. Elias Nason North Billerica
[Notes in pencil: 3.00 / 341 / [Boston?] [illegible] / LONG 18673]

• Keywords: document; henry w.l. dana papers (long 17314); long archives; charles sumner; thomas coffin amory; elias nason; funerals; harvard university; 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)