Immediately after the assault on Mr. Sumner a subscription was
started for a testimonial to him. The terms of the paper were
as follows.
“Being desirous of expressing to the Hon. Charles Sumner,
in some permanent and appropriate form, our admiration
of his spotless public and private character, of our
lively gratitude for his dauntless courage in the defence
of Freedom on the floor of Congress, and especially our
unqualified approbation of his speech in behalf of Free
Kansas, delivered in the Senate on the 20th of May last,--a
speech characterized by comprehensive knowledge of the
subject, by logical acuteness, and by Spartan intrepidity
in the chastisement of iniquity, for which he has wellnigh
lost his life at the brutal and cowardly hands of the
creature for which (thanks to the rarity of its appearance)
the English tongue has as yet no appropriate name,--we
deem it alike a privilege and an honor to participate in
offering him some suitable token of our sentiments. For
this purpose we subscribe the sums set opposite our names.”
Among the early signers were the venerable Josiah Quincy, Henry
W. Longfellow, Jared Sparks, F. D. Huntington, R. H. Dana, Jr.,
Edward Everett, Edwin P. Whipple, Alexander H. Rice, Charles
Hudson, Charles Francis Adams, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Charles
A. Phelps, Amasa Walker, William Claflin, Eli Thayer, and
George Bliss.
Mr. Sumner was on his bed when he heard of this purpose. He at
once dictated the following letter.
WASHINGTON, June 13, 1856.
MY DEAR SIR,--The papers speak of a token planned by you, in
approbation of my recent speech exposing the _Crime against
Kansas_. Pardon me, if, in advance of any direct information, I
say to you frankly that I cannot allow this flattering project to
proceed further.
It is enough for me that you and your generous associates approve
what I said. Such sympathy and support in the cause, of which I
am a humble representative, is all that I ask for myself, or am
willing to accept. But the cause itself has constant claims on
us all. And I trust you will not deem me too bold, if I express
a desire that the contributions intended for the testimonial to
me may be applied at once, and without abatement of any kind, _to
the recovery and security of Freedom in Kansas_.
For this I spoke in the Senate, and I shall be proud to regard
these contributions thus applied as my words hardened into deeds.
Believe me, my dear Sir, with much regard,
Very faithfully yours,