American politician (1811–1874) best known as a Radical Republican and a staunch opponent of slavery. On May 22, 1856, Sumner was famously assaulted and severely beaten in the Senate chamber by South Carolina congressman Preston Brooks, who had taken offense at Sumner’s strongly worded attack on the authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act—one of whom, Senator Andrew Butler, was Brooks’ cousin. Sumner’s injuries were so severe that he was unable to attend sessions of Congress for the next three years. Lot of seven ALS and two LS, various lengths and formats, 1854–1873. Sumner writes to various correspondents on a number of topics, many related to Senate business; five of the letters date to the Civil War. Some excerpts follow. January 3, 1862: “I shall take pleasure in sending to you the remaining vols. of the Pacific Railroad Survey Report in order to complete your set….”; January 21, 1863: “Mrs. Ropes' remains are now on the way home…. She was a noble woman & is truly mourned….”; January 16, 1863: “I have obtained many passes … for persons with whom I had little sympathy personal or political….”; March 8, 1873: “Other may have divined my feelings, but I have here … a word of hint on the action of the Legislature…. An acute politician here has recently congratulated me…. I introduced [the bill] because I knew it was right…. Let me convey—though tardily—my regret that you too have fallen under legislative displeasure” [a pencil annotation states that Sumner is referring to his censure by the Massachusetts legislature for introducing a bill to remove the names of battles from flags]; May 19, 1873: “Thanks for your offer; but I did not go to Paris in vain. I have gloves enough for the present….” In fine condition overall, with scattered blots, brushes, small separations, and mild soiling. R&R COA.
