The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-15
THE PRESS AND THE PRIVILEGES OF
CONGRESS-


at seems that some of the Northern presses
were really hoaxed into the belief that North
ern Senator had been menaced in this city on
account Of his denuncation Of the Nebraska
bill. We are happy to be able to say that our
citizens are a law abiding and order-loving
people, and were in no wise moved to acts Of
discourtesy or outrage towards any public
tunctonary by the Incorporate denunclatOns
Of some Of our Administration papers"
National IateI6gencer.
The InteHigencer is good-natured, and does
no more than justice to the citizens Of Wash
ington. But, it is entirely mistaken in assuming
that no violence was threatened against Mr..
Sumner. Violence was threatened, and the
Washington Union tho organ" Of the Presi-
dent, provoked the threat. During the pro-
ceedings in the fugitive case in Boston, that
journal, in its issue of Sunday morning con-
tanned an editorial, fercely and wantonly as
sailing Mr. Sumner, associating him with the
violent resistance to the execution of the fugi-
tive act in Boston, charging him with insti-
eating and leading it on and holding him up
as fit subject for popular indignation. A
more wantOn, unmanly, and ferocious personal
assault we have seldom seen in any newspaper.
The result was, strong popular excitement
in Alexandria, and among the idlers of this
place; and in the former a meeting was pri-
vately held, for the purpose of cOncerting some
measures for inhicting personal indignity upon
Mr.. Sumner, or Selling and holding him as
hostage, should the case in Boston terminate
unfavorably for the claimant. This meeting
calculated upon certain amount Of co-opera-
ton in Washington.
This movement, finally discouraged by the
more discreet citizens of Alexandria, was pro-
vOked by the Incorporate articles in the Presi-
dents organ" The Pro-Slayery papers here
may try now to make merry over the matter,
as if the Senator from Massachusetts, had been
frightened at shadows. Mr. Sumner, We can
tell them, is not easily frightened He is an
advocate of the Cause of Peace, and his habits
as gentleman lead him to shrink from brawls
or brute strife, on the street or in the Senate
but he has plenty of muscle, enough nerve for
any crisis, and fully believes in the right of a
man to defend his person against violence, by
the precise amount of force that may be neccs,
sary. Quiet and peaceably disposed, he is not
apt to be frightened by shadow or substance.
But that violence was contemplated, and that
the half formed purpose was provoked by the
appeals of the Presidents organ, there can be
no doubt Nor has it yet succeeded in curbing
its mob instincts. Mr.. Giddings, on question
of privilege, brought to the notice of the House,
yesterday, paragraph printed in its columns,
BY one who signs himself an I" Old Fogy,"
plainly calling for violence against himself and
those who sympathize with him on the floor of
Congress. It is as follows:
Those who like the Abolition incendiaries,
Parker, Phillips Giddings, and Others, are in,
cessantly prOclaiming their hostility to the
laws and the Constitution, and stimulating
men, women. and children, to violate them as
q sacred duty, in my opinion haze no claim TO
the protection Of those tdl0s or that Constitution
They are the apostles of stdition, Oiolemce, and
murder they are fere ndture-roid beasts of
h: forest, knO'oing no ia,0 and no restraint but
their iOtld, WngOUernGbte instincts, and, like