The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-29
A most violent and disgusting attack was

| made upon Senator Sumner, in the Senate last
week, by Senators Butler of South Carolina, and
Petit of Ind. 1t originated in debate called
out by the presentation on the part of Mr.. Sum-
ner, of the petition from Boston, signed by over
two thousand of the most respectable and sub
stantial citizens of that city asking for the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave Law.
The bearing of Mr.. Sumner is represented to
have been dignifed and parliamentary. while
that of his opponents was insolently overbear-
ing and arrogant The petition was presented
on Monday, when the first attack was made by
Mr.. Butler, in the course of which he said
"He would ask the Senator from Massachu-
setts if Congress repealed the fugitive slave
law, would Massachusetts, execute the constitu-
tional requirements and send back to the South
the absconding slaves"
| MIR. SUMNER-DO you ask II would send
back slave?
Mr. BUTLER-Why. yes.
Mr.. suxSER--"Is thy servant dog that he
should do this thing?''
Not having succeeded so we'll as they antic-
ipated in the debate of Monday, and Chatting
under the effects of failure, they were led to
renew the attack on the Thursday following
This they did by attempting to convict Mr. Sum-
ner,of saying in his reply to them, that he
would not repscct the constitution of the Unit
ed States in reference to the rendition of slaves
Thus they hoped to prejudice him before the
country but in this they failed. Senator Pc
tit, whom Senator Benton stigmatises as a
'dirty dog" was foremost in his low abuse and
disgusting epithets-charging Mr.. Sumner
with "falsehood," for which he was repeated
ly called to order by Senator'S
The report of the remarks of Butler and Pet
tit, which have reached us are exceedingly
meagcr. The reporter doubtless believing it
for their credit as we'll as for the honor of the
Senate, that they be suppressed. The follow
ing extracts present all of the points that are
essential to right understanding of the merits
of the debate:
Mr.. Sumner said: Ihad the honor of ad-
dressing the Senate yesterday, various Sena-
tors wing spoke" and several ave allu ledao
me in terms beyond the sanction Of parliamen-
tary debate. or this make no complaint. II
| to them it seems proper, courteous and palia-
mcntary to unmask the heart with words and
fall Accusing like very scullion, l will not in
terfere with the enjoyment which they find in
!
certainly shown their true characters. Two of
them Cthe Senator from Virginia, who sits i'm
medately behind me) are not young; their
heads are amply crowned by time they did
not speak from an ebulition of youth. but from
the confirmed temper ofagc 1t is melancholy
to believe that they showed themselves as they
are. 1t were Charitable to believe that they
are in reality better than they showed them
selves.
think, sir, that am not the only person on
this floor, who, in listening to them in this de-
bate. these two selfcOnfdent companions of
/ the peculiar fanat,cisms of the South, were re-
minded of the striking words of Jefferson.
/ picturing the influence of slavery. The whole
| Intercourse, said he. between master and slave.
is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous
| passions, the most unrcmitting dcspotism on the
one part, and degrading submission on the ot!-
er. Our children see this. and learn to initiate
it, for man is an initiative animal. The parent
storms. the child looks on, catches the Inca
ments of wrath, puts on the same airs in the
circles of smaller slaves, gives loose to his
worst passions, and thus nursed and educated
and daily exercised in tyranny, cannot but be
stamped by it with its OdiOus peculiartes.-
! The man must be prodigy who can retain his
manners and manlincss and he undepraved by
such circumstances. No person who has witness
cd the Senate from South Carolina, and the SEN
| a
among the prodigies described by Mr.. Jeffer-
son.
AS they spoke, the Senate chamber must
! have seemed to their sight a plantation stock
ed with slaves. over which the lash of the over
seer had free scope. There was little that fell
from them that deserves reply certainly not
the hard words they used so rapidly. The
Senator from Virginia complained that had
characterized person who went from
/ Virgi na to Boston in pursuit of slave,
as slave hunter. Sir, l chose to call
things by their right names White l call
white, and black | call black. a man who de-
grades himself to the work of chasing poor
negro, who, under the inspiration of freedom
and the guidance of the north star, has sought
freeman's home, far away from the whip of
the Oversecr. call slave hunter. If the SEN
atOr will give me any term with more precisely
describes such person, | will use it,
1t was said by one of the philosophers of an
tiquity, that the blush is 81 gn of virtue; and
permit me to add, that the sensibilty which
that Senator displays at just term which truly
charactcrizes an odOus person, is kindred to a
blush. which even the plantation name. s of
the Senator could not conceal.
And the Senator from South Carolina, too,
has betrayed his sensiblity. And here let me
say that this Senator knows well that l always
listen with peculiar pleasure to his rich exube-
rant speech, as it gurglcs forth, so often tine
tured by generous ideas, except when in def
ance of reason he undertakes to defend that
which is obviously indetensible. This Senator
was disturbed when, to his inquiry whether
would render personal assistance in reducing or
returning Il use the words as equivalenD a fell
low man to slavery, l exclaimed. Is thy SER
want dog, that he should do this thing?''
The Senator asks il there is any dog in the
! Constitution. He does not seem to think that
by the Interpretation he has given to the con-
sttution, he has helped to nurture there reg
ular SOuth-Carolna bloodhound, trained to
hunt negroes. No. sir; do not believe that
there are any blood or even any dog
in the Constitution of the United States. But
since the brief response which l made to the
inquiry of this Senator has drawn upon me
various attacks, all marked by grossness OF
language and manner; since l have been
charged with openly declaring my purpose to
violate the constitution, and to break the oath
which had taken at that desk, | shall be par
doned for showing simply how few plain words
will put all this down. The authentic report in