The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27
PERSONALITIES.

PERSONALITIES.
The Senate of the United States, once famed for
its decorum, is becoming rather notorious for its
liberation Of discreditable personalities Nothing
is more common in its proceedings, than to sub
stitute question Of consistency for one of prin-
oiple, personal for a logical issue If an argu-
ment cannot be answered the motives of the man
who uses it may be impugned Opposition to a
measure, especially if the latter be the offspring
Of the Save-lnterest is often attempted to be put
down by derision and contempt. The ASSISTANTS
OF an abuse are favored with general lectures on
demagoguism and to manifest strong anti
slavery feeling is to give evidence of fanaticism
or pharissical sanctity
We said once before, and we repeat, that the
Senate, for these violations of its decorum, is
more censurabe than the individual culprits.
The debater, sometimes blinded by his intemper-
ate ZEAL unless checked by those who are listen
ing calmly and with critical ear, is hurried into
expressions from which he would shrink, could
he but think twice before speaking once. But, we
have observed that the carefulness of that hodv
to maintain its rules of order depends very much
on the position and character of the actors in
these personal conflicts. If the assailant holds
opinions popular in the Senate, and the assailed
be generally obnoxious on account of his position,
the dignity of the body winks at the assault but
is shocked at the defence Mr. Benton well re-
marked" Everybody is in order but me. II is
in order for everybody to attack me on all handsn
Mr.. Webster was grati6ed listener Of Mr.
Dawson, when that gentleman made his onslaught
on Mr. Hale, reading from private letters with
view to impeach his integrity but, he was ex-
ceedingIy panied at the disorder growing out of
the reading of private letters in a scene between
Clay and BentOn-indeed, hereafter he should
feel bound to call gentlemen to order for such
things! IL would be well for him and some others
to remember, that the dignity of the Senate is
best Vindicated by the impartiaity with which its
rules are enforced
While on this subject of personalities, we are
reminded of the fact that the demeanOr of men,
bers Of Congress towards each other depends
greatly upon the state of sentiment ia their re.
spective localities respecting the mode of settling
personal controversies. And here, we must re-
mark that members from the free States labor
under some disadvantage in their political inter-
course with their brethren from the South. In
the former section, the code of honor as it is
styled is obsolete; in the latter, it is of binding
force In the former, for the settlement of per-
sonsl controversies, Reason asserts its supremacy
over Brute Force, and so strongly does public
sentiment reprobate resort TO the duello that the
duellist risks his reputation and his liberty, and
is quite sure to exclude himself from the hope of
political preferment In the latter, public senti-
ment sanctions the practice of duelng and the
man who declines to vindicate his honor by the
explosion of gunpowder, is voted unfit for public
station. The result is that we find in Congress
two classes Of members-duellists, coming from
the South, men of peace, coming from the North.
The bearing of members towards each other is
determined to great extent by this fact North
ern men are not apt to indulge in invectiye
against Southern men, for they are sure to run
the risk of an insult which the sentiments of their
constituencies forbid them to resent according to
the so-called code Of honorp Southern mem
bers, while treating each other, as general rule,
with marked courtesy, studiously avoiding ex-
pressions that may lead TO personal conflict, ex-
hibit different demeanor in their intercourse
with their Northern associates. In cases of diff.
ferences Of opinion with them, they are apt to be
overbearing, arrogant contemptuous; they are
guilty Of personalities which are watchfuly
guarded sgaiast In their intercourse with each
other. The reason is obvious they are embOld-
ened by impunity they are aware that public
sentiment at the North fOrbids man taking de-
liberate and bloody vengeance for an insult To
abuse Northern member is cheap and safe mode
Of displaying their valor-one of their modes Of
establishing their claim TO domineer.
OF course, our remarks have q general signif-
cation. There are few Southern men who re-
pudiate the laws Of honor, as they are oalled-a
few Northern men who recognise them There
are few Southern men, too, who are always
courteous, whatever may be the party with whom
they are drawn into conflict and a few Northern
members whose peculiar position or distinction
exempts them from abuse from any quarter.
But the general truth Of the difference we have
pointed out, must be admitted by all who are ia
miiar with the proceedings Of Congress We
have no doubt that, on the question of slavery.
many Northern men are restrained from more fire.
quent and earnest expression of their opinions,
by the dread OF the vituperatiOn to which it may
expose them-yituperatiOn which their prinei-
ples. their education and the public sentiment of
the section they represent, will prevent them
from resenting in the only way effectual with
Southern duellists. The truth is, If any consid-
Grafton under heaven could overcome our consci-
entious adherence Of the bloody code Of duelling
il would be that Of the gross abuse to which
members of Congress from the free States are
continually subjected, on account Of their known
rejection Of this code.
We submit now to Southern mems IL honor
able TO insult man because ii is safe to do 80
Is il any evidence Of courage, Of msgnanimity, OF
chiyalry? We enter no plea for men who are