Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-25
Erom "a. Lsnion 7Yn,,. Ana. Z.

denounced it a. OF the most dangerous symptoms Of
social poltics e,idenciug forgetfuness of the
liberties which involved in Parliamentary freedom OF
speech sud the piice which paid for their
and in diestng propensity which, under the influence
OF commercial prosperity unconstitutional desposm
might degenerate into absolute seryity We have pro.
tested against IL the because the present aeay
many examples Of nations abandoning the love
freedom and bsrtering the birthrigh OF slgovsrnment
Tor the questionable advantage OF energetic centraiza.
ton; and convinced that from the moment the
nations o Europe infected with this preference Of ac
ton di>cussiou-oi things done by Government
debates raisedsby Legsaturs-irom that moment will
be destroyed the strongest buwarks o national dignity
greatness aud selfrehAnce. Nothing could be APP
pang 10 all rational lovers of freedom THAI the
spectacle of governmental machinery acting with such
correctness CELEBRITY and aptitude dispense with the
expression Of national opinion and the collision OF popn
| lar discussion.
IL for this among other reasons that especially
depr Gated With the people OF the United States OF
America, as being not only kindred With ourselves
bat the only otheS nation in the world whose representa-
tive institutions based upon the principles and
enjoyed the liberty To have pi,tcd
such countries in s,ngunary against ano-
would have been To offer holocaust OF precious blood
the atIr OF chucng and desive despotism through
out the world to have armed tyranny with weapons
and to have sranged the efforts OF oppressed
tons struggling To get free
The sympathy which thus attaches the cunstitu.
ton of the United States is derived from those feelings
which make us cherish own-a love of country, a
love OF Independence love Of free speech We believe
that representative s,tutons and could
De enjoyed by people who did entertain these feel
ngs But though these Indispensable the creation
they not sufficient tor the preservation OF such
Stituton There must be respect for order to check
license Tor authority restrain the turbu-
ence of popular assemblies Without this restraint aud
check convention OF sinks the level Of
mob beargaren. That il easy-or at any rate not
dcuttO reconcile the legitimate and necessary free
dom OF debate with that propey and decorum without
which the trainers OF laws would inspire respect
aud laws themselves obtain obedience is proved
by the proceedings our two Legislative Chambers Dis
cussious may be tedious-bores may frequently OBJ
trlde them elvcsthe forms OF Parliament be
ten re-oed to for the purpose of evadng pOstponng
dsagreeable question: but how rarely does either House
present the spectacle OF ndecorous racas turbu-
lent collision! We believe that excepting which
happened in the House o. Lords the passing othe Re-
form Bill, and another ia the House OF Commons during
the Irish debates there is hardly which could be
cited Inconsistent with the dignity aud serespect Of
a Legislative Assembly. Perhaps unable to esti-
mate Alright the value of such demeanor We m.y up.
proXmae to it be reading the criticisms occasionally put
forth 10y continental journalists the pei sonal hosties
OF the senators aud representatives of the American Con-
These censres often suggested hy rencontes
uEseenly enough, in provincial legislatures aud which
the critics confound with the collective meeting of the
States aud when the mischief in provincial
Legislature it not of very serious consequence but it
avery different thing when ia the great debcra-
tive Parliament OF the whole Union. Then indeed
may those who hate free institutions chucke and those
| who love them grieve.
Among the most shockng-to our notions at least
the assault recently cOmnted by the represen tye
OF South Carolina Mr.. Brooks, Mr. Sumner Senator OF
Massachusetts The provOcation speech delivered
IA the Senate by the latter the side OF the Aboons;s
The speech deliberately strong but stronger than
many delivered within the walls Of Parliament
during the discussion the Reform and emancipation
Bills. But It strong enough excite Mr.. Brooks
member Of the Lower House. the commission of what
we shoid call monstrous outrage He assaulted Mr.
Sumner while seated writing a table in the Senate
struck him severely with the head aud lett
nun insensole Great indignation excited IN the
Eastern States aud IN Congress. motion made
the requson OF the Senate for the expulsion of Mr.
Brooks which failed because did not obtain an nc.
tAl majority Of votes but because it did obtain the
legal majority required. Upon this NJ Brooks resigned
hts seat, aud took leave OF the House Of Representatives
ia speech which only did contain any apology
Tor the assault, but boldly justified It, and claimed the
-ympathies of the world
IL j. this conduct which strikes with astonshment-
We can understand that in the hot conflict of passions
nd interests between the ADolioni-tS aud the Ennuc
pationi'ts one legislator might be far carried away 10y
his imprtuOsy 10 stfike another. But cannot hg
ure TO ourselves legislator deliberately add premcdita-
teddy watching his opportunity assal sitting
MS desk IN another House Of Legislation, striking him
before hecOud rise, beating him IN the presence his
colleagues, and finally ju-ting this slciege against the
national dignity to the assembled delegates Of people
Nhee ts can be done cOOly IL have been
done by Mr. Brooks, inclined To Tear that the a.
cehce Of action aud immunity from control among the
members OF the American Congress tending towards
That line which separates liberty reactona.
~ anl yindictve despotism NJ Brooks la hs speech
cntircy ignores the principle that Congress has national
aud collective character In his eyes u only iotui
tu- OF iillFiuutl atoms each COOL
it, neghbOr, aud the whole bit better than ay one
lt right a. rrgulie the conduct Of members within ITS
walls " tnhntiin order To suppress violence he regards
questionable o. dangerous. II do not .ays he 'be.
eve that the spirit Oi American freedom you'll tolerate
SANDER h. high places and permit member Of Con
gre-- 70 publish sud circulate libel another and
" then call upon either House protect him against the
personal responsibilities which he had ihus incurred"
That - 81 say uorody had any right say anything
against slavery without being prepared fgh or be canc
on the spot rational aud cfectual ndnosment TO Tree
di-cuzsiun tliis
OF course do enter into the nicctes Of the con-
-dtutonnl question whether Mr. Rrooks committed
breach of Parliamentary privilege inasmuch his victim
member Of the other, aud higher House though It
sOud be curious is thi, c0lntry hear m-ier the
llnu-r 81 Commons dsprcctte similar clnig- the
ground that 10. had only assaulted Peer in Que Of the
Nor do very clearly -ce wliy Mr.
Brook should have embarrassed him eli with the con-ttu.
rpal agumcnt At il. for be- has theory IL bis own
which prouily override I'll constitutional sni legal nice
ties whitevcr. IL s'imply ~ send ebsugr to
any m,ber Of either llu-e who denounces his attack on
dr. Smuri, aud II these challenges, COti-
ncctcut legislator he actually read 10 the listening repre-.
e-utltiVes gentleman rctly with HE cfitcl need
hardly de-cend - the hvirits' Of cou.titaioni pvi.
lsge.
| p.culi,ndes Of foreign countries and Governments.
| We know that much ~ ~ strange
! AMI quiznral may proc cd from cause with which W.
are imo lrrfly acquainted aud b. paiaieI iy ncrpfn
puipieIts which les iOrriby attract notice We
knps r hoe eStgtsfatr and over colpurel Is the
tcsn Of Our4-lve' by foreign hands. We should
- p4rucularF ctn01~ tu q mneutiu1 uppu the more
,trlge anomalies in the pnltca sOcih conditions u
like the Unit States, which i It'll m its
grDeth sud immatuiy. Bat community Of feeling. cor
stt1t0 M svnpttie-, an he knoscdsr that both
al thu, ira ilnsly chrd bg u,c hders Of ircc in
siitptiuns pfnnpi them that like thOss
which havr cited ADD eri1itiOu. like iiDf- male 10y
W. Brulks. disccrit ani distoiJur free repre-
sentative government II sir the people and u'Oso whom
they scnd OHgfss this nly defect ere
time, hccn-,, AID tol'utou have made il rromeiiiLc
u..,.-.rt,e uorfn,, ,f tl,o
9th Hpn Perc, Wilkef. ". q hom Alabama, have
heid meeting u l. sfid diapproyiug Of his recent
c,nr.c ~ expressing hi determination 10 support W.
B'clan ior the Presidency aud requiring his ipinedt