“Mr. Sumner’s great speech upon what constitutes a
republican government is now being delivered in the Senate.
It is the most powerful oration of his life,--the crowning
glory of his scholarship and statesmanship. Never yet has
any American statesman swept so wide a range of learning,
so complete a circle of public law, history, philosophy,
and jurisprudence, in support of so noble a principle as
the one underlying republican government. Mr. Sumner spoke
two hours yesterday, and will occupy about the same time
to-day. The galleries were filled to overflowing. The
Senatorial chairs were all occupied, while the floor was
thronged by Representatives and others having the _entrée_.”
The correspondent of the Boston _Journal_ wrote of the second
day:--
“Senator Sumner was honored to-day by such an audience
as is rarely seen in the Senate Chamber. The Senators,
wheeling around their chairs so as to face the speaker,
listened with marked attention. Scores of Representatives
filled the sofas or the floor and stood in groups, and the
galleries were literally packed with earnest men and women,
who drank in every word as the gifted orator proceeded.
When he closed, the galleries applauded loudly, until
Senator Pomeroy, who occupied the chair, secured order,
while those on the floor crowded around Senator Sumner to
offer earnest congratulations.”