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[Andrew J. Downing, the Landscape Gardener. Speech in the Senate, in Favor of an Allowance to the Widow of the late Andrew J. Downing, August 26, 1852]1
[The Party of Freedom: Its Necessity and Practicability. Speech at the State Convention of the Free-Soil Party of Massachusetts, held at Lowell, September 15, 1852]3
[Civil Superintendents of Armories. Speech in the Senate, on the Proposition to change the Superintendents of Armories, February 23, 1853]12
[Necessity of Union to uphold Freedom. Letter to a Rhode Island Committee, March 26, 1853]15
[Against Secrecy in Proceedings of the Senate. Speech in the Senate, on the Proposition to limit the Secret Sessions of the Senate, April 6, 1853]16
[The German Emigrant must be against Slavery. Letter to Lewis Tappan, Esq., May 17, 1853]19
[Powers of the State over the Militia: Exemptions for Conscientious Scruples. Speech in Convention to revise and amend the Constitution of Massachusetts, June 21, 1853]20
[Powers of the State over the Militia: Colored Companies. Speech in Convention to revise and amend the Constitution of Massachusetts, June 22, 1853]25
[The Pacific Railroad and the Declaration of Independence. Letter to the Mayor of Boston, for the Celebration of July 4, 1853]32
[The Representative System, and its Proper Basis. Speech on the Proposition to amend the Basis of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, in the Convention to revise and amend the Constitution of that State, July 7, 1853]33
[Bills of Rights: Their History and Policy. Speech on the Report from the Committee on the Bill of Rights, in the Convention to revise and amend the Constitution of Massachusetts, July 25, 1853]62
[Finger-Point from Plymouth Rock. Speech at the Plymouth Festival in Commemoration of the Embarkation of the Pilgrims, August 1, 1853]73
[Ireland and Irishmen. Letter to a Committee of Irish-born Citizens, August 2, 1853]80
[The Landmark of Freedom: No Repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Speech in the Senate, against the Repeal of the Missouri Prohibition of Slavery north of 36° 30´ in the Nebraska and Kansas Bill, February 21, 1854]81
[When will the North be aroused? Letter to a Personal Friend, March 30, 1854]137
[A Liberty-Loving Emigration to guard Kansas. Letter to a Massachusetts Committee, May 1, 1854]138
[Final Protest, for himself and the Clergy of New England, against Slavery in Nebraska and Kansas. Speech in the Senate, on the Night of the Final Passage of the Nebraska and Kansas Bill, May 25, 1854]140
[Union of All Parties Necessary against the Slave Power. Letter to a Massachusetts Committee, May 29, 1854]157
[Boston Petition for the Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act. Speech in the Senate, on the Boston Petition for the Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, June 26, 1854]159
[Reply to Assailants: Oath to support the Constitution; Weakness of the South from Slavery. Second Speech in the Senate on the Boston Petition for the Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, June 28, 1854]172
[Peaceful Opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act. Letter to the Mayor of Boston, for the Celebration of July 4, 1854]228
[No Pension for Service in Support of the Fugitive Slave Act. Minority Report to the Senate of the United States, on the Bill granting to the Widow of James Batchelder a Provision for her Future Support, July 13, 1854]230
[James Otis an Example to Massachusetts. Letter to the Cape Cod Association of Massachusetts, July 30, 1854]237
[Struggle for Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act. Debate in the Senate, July 31, 1854]239
[Duties of Massachusetts at the Present Crisis. Formation of the Republican Party. Speech before the Republican State Convention at Worcester, September 7, 1854]255
[The Good Farmer and the Good Citizen. Letter to the Norfolk Agricultural Society, September 25, 1854]280
[The Fugitive Slave Act to be disobeyed. Letter to a Committee at Syracuse, New York, September 28, 1854]282
[Position and Duties of the Merchant, illustrated by the Life of Granville Sharp. Address before the Mercantile Library Association of Boston, on the Evening of November 13, 1854]283
[Wages of Seamen in Case of Wreck. Speech in the Senate, on introducing a Bill to secure Wages to Seamen in Case of Wreck, February 12, 1855]324
[Against Capital Punishment. Letter to a Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature, February 12, 1855]331
[The Demands of Freedom: Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act. Speech in the Senate against Mr. Toucey's Bill, and for the Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, February 23, 1855]333

[ANDREW J. DOWNING, THE LANDSCAPE GARDENER.]

Speech in the Senate, in Favor of an Allowance to the Widow of the Late Andrew J. Downing, August 26, 1852.

The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill being under consideration, Mr. Pearce, of Maryland, under instructions from the Committee on Finance, moved the following amendment:—

"For the payment of the arrears of salary due to the late Rural Architect, A.J. Downing, deceased, from the 1st of May, 1852, to the date of his death, and a further allowance to his widow, equal to the salary for one year, $2,500: Provided, that the said sum shall be in full of all claim for the services of the said deceased, and for all models, specifications, and drawings, designed for the benefit of the United States, which are not in its possession."

In the course of the debate which ensued, Mr. Sumner spoke as follows.

Mr. President—The laborer is worthy of his hire; and I believe at this moment there is no question of charity to the widow of the late Mr. Downing. The simple proposition is, to make compensation for services rendered to the United States by this eminent artist as superintendent of the public grounds in Washington. And since the plans he has left behind and the impulse he has given to improvements here by his remarkable genius will continue to benefit us, though he has been removed, it is thought reasonable to continue his salary to the close of the unexpired year from which it commenced. These plans alone have been valued at five thousand dollars, and we are to have the advantage of them. In pursuance of these, his successor will be able to proceed in arranging the public grounds, and in embellishing the national capital, without further expenditure for others. Thus, as I said at the outset, it is not a question of charity, but of compensation; and on this ground I doubt not the estate of the departed artist deserves the small pittance it is proposed to pay. For myself, I should be much happier to vote a larger appropriation, believing, that, over and above the services actually rendered in the discharge of his duties, these plans are amply worth it, and that we shall all feel better by such recognition of our debt.