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THE LIFE

OF

CHARLES SUMNER:

WITH

CHOICE SPECIMENS OF HIS ELOQUENCE, A DELINEATION
OF HIS ORATORICAL CHARACTER,

AND

HIS GREAT SPEECH ON KANSAS.

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BY D. A HARSHA,

AUTHOR OF EMINENT ORATORS AND STATESMEN," ETC., ETC.

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by

DAYTON AND BURDICK,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.

24796

STEREOTYPED BY RICHARD C VALENTINE,

17 Dutch-street, NY,

PREFACE.

In preparing the following brief Memoir of the Hon. CHARLES SUMNER, we would mention three principal objects which we have had in view: 1st, The presentation of the leading events in his public life, in a chronological order; 2d, The introduction of the choicest specimens of his eloquence, especially those passages which best iilustrate his character as an advocate of human rights, and, at the same time, afford the finest examples of his style of composition; and 3d, The delineation of his oratorical character.

The dates and circumstances connected with the delivery of his numerous orations and speeches are given, with comments on the passages quoted, particularly with regard to the style, the grandeur of their conception, or the happy and forcible illustration of their subjects. Nothing need be

said in commendation of the great speech on Kansas, which we have added as the masterpiece of Mr. Sumner. It speaks for itself, and we earnestly request every American citizen to peruse it carefully. The ingenuous reader will admire it as an eloquent production, a manly declaration of the noble sentiments of its author on an important question, and a glorious defence of Liberty in an oppressed Territory. It is full of the beautiful and sublime, grand in its diction, rich and instructive in its historical details, logical in its deductions, and powerful in its appeals.

In the Appendix will be found the scathing speech of Daniel Lord, Esq., delivered at the indignation meeting in New York, and the remarks made at the indignation meeting in Faneuil Hall, Boston, together with the speeches of Rev. Drs. Halley and Hague, at a similar meeting in Albany. We would here remark that the speeches of these distinguished clergymen are among the most eloquent and spirit-stirring that have been made on such occasions, and reflect much credit upon the genius and patriotism of their authors.

This biographical sketch, accompanied by an immortal speech, is now respectfully offered to

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