Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874
No. 449.
Mr. Turner
to Mr. Fish.
Monrovia, June 20, 1874. (Received July 27.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of notes exchanged this day between Hon. W. H. Lynch and the legation, together with copies of the minutes of town-meetings, and resolutions in memorial of Hon. Charles Sumner, late United States Senator from the State of Massachusetts.
I have the honor, in compliance with the expressed desire of the citizens of Monrovia, to respectfully request the Department to cause copies of the inclosed papers to be transmitted to the President of the Senate of the United States and to the local government of the State of Massachusetts.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Lynch to Mr. Turner.
Sir: The people of this city, desirous of having themselves recorded among the mourners over the death of the late Hon. Charles Sumner, of your country, at two well-attended town-meetings, on the 7th and 13th of May, passed certain resolutions, a copy of which, and a copy of the minutes, I have the honor herewith to forward to you. They will better explain the object of this note.
I am, Mr. Minister, very truly, your obedient servant,
Secretary.
Mr. Turner to Mr. Lynch.
Monrovia, June 20, 1874.
Sir: I have the honor to receive your note of the 28th of May, conveying to me a copy of resolutions adopted by the citizens of Monrovia for the purpose of expressing to the world their bereavement at the death of Charles Sumner.
You will, my dear sir, permit me to assure you in advance of the gratitude of the whole American people. Deeply touched by such expressions of admiration for America’s most self-sacrificing humanitarian, and of respectful sympathy for the loss of her most eminent statesman, my countrymen will not fail to appreciate the sentiments of affection which gave birth and utterance to the spirit of those most sympathetic resolutions.
I pray you accept sincere assurances of the high consideration and grateful esteem with which I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. W. H. Lynch.
Proceedings of meetings held in the city of Monrovia in memory of the late Charles Sumner, of the United States.
The citizens of Monrovia, having resolved to pay some mark of respect to the late Charles Sumner, a citizen of the United States of America, and a Senator in its Congress, eminent because of his known advocacy of the rights of mankind in general and of the African race in particular, to enjoy alike social, civil, and political privileges, a public meeting was called in the representative hall on Thursday evening of the 22d April, 1874.
The Hon. C. B. Dunbar, M. D., W. M. Davis, and W. H. Lynch, chief patrons.
By motion the Rev. James S. Payne was called to the chair; Hon. C. B. Dunbar and Attorney-General William M. Davis, vice-presidents; W. H. Lynch was elected secretary.
The object of the meeting was stated by the secretary.
After some appropriate remarks by several prominent citizens, among whom were the Hons. J. W. Hilton, Attorney-General W. M. Davis, Col. R. A. Sherman, and Henry DeWitt Brown, it was resolved that the Rev. James S. Payne, the chairman, be respectfully requested to deliver on the 13th May a eulogy to the citizens of Monrovia in memory of the late Charles Summer. Mr. Payne, in befitting language, signified his acquiescence in the request. A committee, consisting of the Hon. H. R. W. Johnson, J. T. Dimery, and W. H. Lynch, was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense and feeling of the citizens attending the meeting as to their appreciation of the late Charles Sumner.
It was resolved that the government of Liberia be respectfully requested to have the national flag displayed at half-mast in Monrovia on the day of the delivery of the eulogy: and that the secretary transmit said request to the government.
The meeting adjourned to meet at the Methodist Episcopal church on the 7th May, to hear the resolutions and eulogy, at 3 o’clock p.m.
Secretary.
The pastor, Rev. H. E. Fuller, and the steward, of the Methodist Episcopal church, having kindly granted the use of their church edifice to the citizens of Monrovia for this day, the adjourned meeting was called to order by the Hon. W. M. Davis, vice-chairman.
Rev. R. a.m. Deputie introduced the exercises by reading the Scriptures and with prayer.
Rev. James S. Payne, as per invitation of the previous meeting, then proceeded to deliver the eulogy. He was warmly applauded throughout.
The Hon. J. Milton Turner, United States consul-general and minister resident, pursuant to previous invitation of the committee, delivered a speech full of interest and eloquence.
The choir of the Methodist Episcopal church was present on the occasion and performed well suitable anthems.
After the apostolic benediction, the meeting adjourned.
Secretary.
resolutions.
Whereas we have learned with profound regret of the death of Charles Sumner, an American statesman, whose memory is dear to mankind in general, but to the African race in particular, for his devotion to the cause of justice and equality, manifested by many positive proofs; and whereas as the foremost American statesman, in his place as a Senator of the United States Congress, he aided in securing the recognition of the republic of Liberia by the United States of America, as a free and independent state; and whereas we possess a fellow feeling with our brethren of the African race in the United States in doing homage to the memory of the man who has so unmistakably evinced his belief in the great truisms that God has made of one blood all men who dwell upon the face of the earth; that one touch of nature makes the whole world akin; that equality in men and in races can only be proven when circumstances and opportunities have been equal; and whereas we deem it highly proper that the memory of so sincere a philanthropist as was Charles Sumner should be esteemed and revered by the lovers and advocates of the doctrines of the inalienable rights, social, political, and civil, of all mankind, irrespective of caste, color, or any previous circumstances, state, or condition; and whereas the people of Liberia ever feel that they should hold in grateful remembrance the memory of all who have been prominent in promulgating the aforesaid doctrines, more especially the memory of such a man as Charles Sumner, who was so pre-eminently prominent in maintaining and espousing them; who died at his post in the United States Senate advocating them: Therefore,
Resolved by the citizens of Monrovia in town-meeting assembled, That we do deeply lament the death of the Honorable Charles Sumner, and recognize in it a great loss to the cause of freedom and equality, civil, social, and political rights in the United States of America, especially as regards the descendants of Africa still in that land.
Resolved, That we do hereby record our acknowledgment of Charles Sumner’s superior ability as a statesman, his rare talents as a scholar, his unequaled powers as an orator, and his unrivaled devotion to the truth of those high political principles which he espoused: freedom to the enslaved, equality to all men.
Resolved, That while bemoaning the loss of so sincere a friend to Africa and the African race, we do most humbly implore Almighty God that He will, in due time, raise up another like unto Charles Sumner, who shall be ready to defend the cause of justice and humanity toward the oppressed and wronged of any race, caste, or color—and this we faithfully believe God will do.
Resolved, That the secretary of this meeting be requested and directed to forward a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, and the meeting of the 7th May, together with a copy of these resolutions, to the United States consul-general and minister-resident in this city, with a respectful request that he will, in behalf of the citizens of Monrovia, transmit the same to his Government, with a request that copies thereof be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate and the local government of the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of North America.
Respectfully submitted.
- W. H. LYNCH,
- J. Y. DIMERY,
Committee on Resolutions.