Sumner did injustice to Grant; Grant
did injustice to Sumner. The judgment of each was warped
and clouded, until each looked with a blood-shotten eye at
the conduct of the other. But I believe they know and honor
each other now.
CHAPTER XIII
SUMNER AND WILSON
When I took my seat on the 4th of March, 1869, the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts had a position of power in both Houses of
Congress never held by any other State before or since, unless
we except that held for a short time in early days by Virginia.
Charles Sumner was beyond all question the foremost figure
on the National stage, save Grant alone. He had seen the
triumph of the doctrines for which he had contended all his
life. He had more than any other man contributed to fetter
the hands of Andrew Johnson and drive him from power. Henry
Wilson was the most skilful political organizer in the country.
Sumner was at the head of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and Wilson of that of Military Affairs. In the House Henry
L. Dawes was at the head of the Committee on Appropriations,
Benjamin F. Butler of the Committee on Reconstruction, William
B.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387