ompanied,
usually, with language of censure and condemnation. On two occasions
that were in a measure public, one of which was at a dinner given to me
by Mr. Franklin Haven, a personal friend of twenty years' standing,
when he insisted upon holding the Motley incident as the topic of
conversation. On one of these occasions, and in excitement, he turned
to me and said: "Boutwell, you ought to have resigned when Motley
was removed."

I said only in reply: "I am the custodian of my own duty."

This was the only personal remark that I ever made to Mr. Sumner in
connection with the removal of Motley. The removal was the only
reasonable solution of the difficulty in which Motley was involved;
but I sympathized with him in the disaster which had overtaken him,
and I was not disposed to discuss the subject. The incident at the
dinner led me to make a resolution. I called upon Mr. Sumner, and
without accepting a seat, I said: "Senator, if you ever mention
General Grant's name in my presence, I will never again cross your
threshold."

Without the delay of half a minute he said: "Agreed."

There the matter ended, and the promise was kept. In 1872, and not
many days before he left for Europe, he said: "I want to ask you a
question about General Grant."

I said: "You know that that is a forbidden topic."

"Yes, but I am not going to speak controversially."

I said: "Say on."

He said: "What do you think of Grant's election?"

I said: "I think he will be elected."

He held up his hands, and in a tone of grief said: "You and Wilson
are the only ones who tell me that he has any chance."

Upon his return from Europe it was apparent that his feelings in
regard to the Republican Party, and especially in regard to General
Grant, had undergone a great change. Our conversations concerning
General Grant were resumed free from all restrictions, and without
any disturbance of feeling on my part. Not many months before his
death Mr. Sumner made a speech in executive session that was
conciliatory and just in a marked degree. I urged him to repeat it
in public session. He seemed to regard the suggestion with favor, but
the speech was not made.

For many years Mr. Sumner had been borne down under the resolutions of
censure passed by the State of Massachusetts in disapproval of his
position in regard to the return of Confederate flags. That resolution
was rescinded at the winter session of 1874. The act brought