Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-14
Mr.. Sumner. late Speech.

have threatened expulsion. They have EN-
ployed insult. They have gone 50 Gar az to
recommend that their brother senators should
no, speak TO him or treat him With ordinary
civility. All this because he opposed the
Nebraska Bill and presented petitions agains,
il and in favor Of its repeal. and in favor n
the repeal OF the Fugitive Slave Law. Mt.
Summer has aner a long course Of insult
seen 6t TO turn upon HE rursuers, in one Of
tho most eloquent, speeches that he, one
Of the most eloquent ofmen. has ever uttered
We regret that We cannot publish the whole
speech. The following extract however,
will be sufficient IN show IL animus. Those
who were present aver that IL told with ter
rife power upon the Shareholders and their
northern allies.
"Since have had the honor Of addressing
the Senate on MONDAY, various Senators have
spoken, and several have alluded 10 me in
terms clearly beyond parliamentary debate.
Ofihis, I make no complaint, II to them il
seems proper. courteous and parliamentary,
to unpack the heart with words and fall cur.
sing like a very drab or scullion. will not
interfere in such enjoyment as they find IN
such exposure Of themselves they have cer-
iainly shown the character OF two Of them.
The Senator from South Carolina, who sits
Immediately before me, and the Senator
fom Virginia, Who sits Immediately behind
me, are no, young their heads are amply
crowned by time they do not speak from
any cbulliion Of youth, but from the con.
Grmcd lempcr Of age II is melancholy to
Lelie,c that they showed themselves as they
really are II Is charitable tn believe they
are better than they showed themselves.
think, Sir, that lm not the only person
On the hoor. Who, 10 listening to them an
this debate. these two sclfcunhjenl cham
pions Of ihe peculiar ianaiicism OF the South,
was reminded Of the striking words Of JEFF
leron picluring the Influence ofslaNery the
whole commerce, said he, between master
and slave, is perpetual exercise OF the most
boislrrous passions. the most unrc hitting on
the one part, and degrading submission on
thc other, our children see this, and learn
to initiate II, for man Is an initiative animal
The parent storms, the child learns the line.
amenis of wrath, puts on the same airs in
the circle Of smaller slaves, gives loose to
his wors, passions, and thus raised, educated
aud daily exercised IA daily tyranny, cannot
bot BE- stamped with It's oliou' peculiarilies
The man must be a prodigy Who can retain
his manners aud manly feelings undePrayed
by such circumstances
No person who has witnessed the Senator
from North Carolina and the Senator from
Virginia, in this debate, will fail to place
them among the prodiries described by JEFF
fcson, as they spoke, the Senate Chamber
mus, have seemed in their sigh, plantation
stocked with slaves, over which the lash o.
o,crs-crs had free scope there was liul,
that frll from them which deserves reply
certainly no, the hard words they used :,
readily.
Mr.. Sumner then proceeds TO Justify hii
declaration that the Constitution imposed y,
obligation upon him to become a Slave
huptSrI
The Senator was disturbed, Shcn to hi,
inquiry whether would render personal as
sls,ancc IL reducing or returning q use the
word as cquiyalent,) fellow man to slavery
exclaimed "Is thy scryin, dog, that he
should do this thing" The Senator asks, i.
there any dog IN the Constitution lie does
no, seem to think by the Interpretation he
given To the Constitution, he had helped Ia
nurture there 4 regular South Carolina blood
hound, trained to hun, negroes. No, sir.
DO not believe TIA, there is any blood hound
or even any dog IN the Constitution OF the
unlied States, but since the brief response
which made to the inquiry OF the Senator
has drawn upon me various attacks marked
by Grossncss Of language and manner-sincc
have been charged with openly declaring
my purpose TO violate the Constitution and to
break the oath whish | had taken at the desk
shall be Pardoncd ior showing simply bow
few PLATA words Will put all this down.
Now, sir, begin by adopting rs INV guide
the authentic words Of Andrew Jackson, in
his memorable veto. IN 1893, Of the Bank Of
the uniied Su,es,-his course vas op.
posed the authority Of tie Supreme Court
and this is his reply, III the opinion OF the
Supreme Cour, covers the whole ground OF
this act, II ought not To control the coordin.
ate authority Of this government. The Con.
rrcss, the Executive, and the Cour, must each
for itself be guided by It's own opinion Of the
Constitution each public officer who tales
an oath TO support the Constitution swears
that he will support /, as he understands it,
and not as 1t is understood by others.
II is as much the duty Of the House Of
Representatives, the Senate, and ofthe Pres
idcn,, to decide upon the cunstitulIonllity OF
any bill or resolution, which may be pre-.
senled to them for passage or approval, as it
is OF the Supreme Judges, when II may be
br"ush, before them for judicial decision.
The authority OF the Supreme Conr, mus,
not therefore be permitted To control the Con-
gress or Executive, when acting in their
legislative capacities, but To have only such
influence as the force Of their reasoning may
deserve"
Marx these words each nnbIic olT;re,