The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-19
-.sS.AAN

sachusets having common interest do you think the
could arise adversary % be appauded BY bis
people2 There was time SIR when bis people w9u i
have disgraced him for that very speech AT this day 40
not say they will acquit my knsman dare say they VIII
mott but the time is coming when there Will DC out one
opnionthat that the misbieyous speech which
has been delivered In this country and has involved
innocent persons If tho contest goes on upon suoh
issues as il makes blood must follow do not look on
any such with pleasure have not temper LOT tne
though when young man might perhaps not have peen
indsposed TO embark In the hazards OF contests
Whilst upon this point may remark that Josiah Quincy
for whom have heretofore had great respect the
senator has not gone hairs breadth beyond the line OF
duty and truth. After my explanations here hardly
think be viii Say So Heis the only of high respeea-
biity whom have yet heard make such declare
ton lie made it. too, with reproaoh that was sorry. TO
see escape from such He said alludng 10 the acas
In the Senatehouse not in the Senate that IL is only a
part Of that tribe who carry bowiekniyes and revolvers
Sir, never secret weapon IN my life am not
going discuss the fact that have used open weapons
and that the only way choose DEAL but that not
the way get them TO deal with
Unfortunately, have had scenes of that kind which
have regretted all my life TO some extent am mortified
TO hear such man as Quincy making charge upon q
whole section, when question If there is southern man
In this house with pistol bowekniie in his pocket
He has gone out OF the way grauitons TO say that we
OF "breed who wear them as part OF our dress
sorry TO sec such things creeping into the public mind
They mortiy me; they annoy me- But now come to the
resolutions OF Massachusetts ask that they be read.
The Secretary read them as follows;
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts IN the year 1856.
Resolves concerning the recent assault upon Hon. Chas
sumner, at Washington
Rssolped BY he and house Of representatives Of s
Commonwealth of Nassaohase That have received With
deep nformaon Of the recent violent assault
iied in the senate chamber at Washington upon the per
Of the Hon Charles Sumner OF our senators IN Con-
gress BY Preston s. Brooks member Of the House Of
Representatives from South Caroinaan assault which no
gross breach OF parliamentary prvegea ruthless attack
upon the liberty speechan outrage of the decences Of
civilized life and an indgny to the Commonwealth OF Mas
Rssoiped, That the legislature of Massachusetts, in the
- anal far hAr
Representatives in the national legislature entire freedom Of
speech and will uphold them in the proper exercise of that
Resoioed That we approve Of Mr.. Summers manliness
and courage his and fearless declaration of free
Rs,olve That the legislature of Massachusetts mpera
lively called upon by the planest dictates Of duty from
regard to rights her citizens and respect for her
character sovereign State to demand and the legisa
Congress- prompt and strict investigation into the recent
assault upon Senator summer and the expulsion by the House
any other member concerned with him in said assault.
Rsoeed That his exceency the be requested e
the Senate speaker Of the House Representative
to each Of the senator's and members Of the House OF Repre-
scntatye from this Commonwealth in the Congress of the
United States.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,, May 30, 1856,
Passed. CHARLES A PHELPS, Speaker.
Ii SENATE, May so, 1856,
Passed. ELIHU G. BAKER, President.
Approved HENRY J. GARDIN Err.
SIcRETARYs 0FricE, Boston, May 81 1856.
certify the foregoing to be true copy of the original re
Attest. FRANCIS DEWITT,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Mr.. BUTLER. These resolutions give rise to Sc
rious reflection than anything which has occurred to
in my have been in the Senate for ten years, and
this is the first occasion that have Of III,
sovereign States of the Union taking cognizauce Of mat
tiers which occurred in Congress with view influence
the Judgment of Congress in relation to of their
bers This is the first occasion of the kind in the history
OF the country II has been done from an er Pare view Of
the subject for it is very apparent that the resou
tons of Massachusetts, introduced and passed with
regard the evidence These resolutions anticipated
and asserted what may not be true-what the pub
lie may not think true-what the Senate may no,
think true-what the House Of Representatives may
not think true; and yet the sovereign State of Mas
sachuset before there was any evidence indicted my
relative upon which would have
taken Stafford to the gaows. What sir; indct in
the language of these resolutions upon the of
papers These resouons-I say it more in thar
In anger-betray temper and precipancy OF judgment
that do not look like having regard TO that dignity which
Is associated with justice shall speak respectfully Sc
far as have spoken of Massachusetts hitherto excep
ton can be taken but when Speak of Massachusetts,
il be Of Massachusetts, she has sent forth these
olutonsunder the influence OF feeling which peryade
HEREUNDER the influence of sentiment which denied
Daniel Webster the right TO speak in Faneu Hail. and
threw of the coffin Of Lincoln because be had fallen In per
forming his professional duties in the of his country
Boston now is not the Boston that she was when Han
cock wrote and Adams spoke and Otis thought and War
fell They would not recognise her. She is more
ths same Yet from that very bottled Of bitter feeling
the South and especially to South Carolina have look
for the feelings which dictated these resolutions have
to meet tBdictmentfor what IL is said that the lib
ery Of speech has been violated Upon that point in
tend TO deliver remarks which, whether they be
rect not shall throw out Our ancestors were PEG
pie Of hardy morality. Generally when they spoke they
spoke directly from the heart Such thing as printing
speeches beforehand having them printed without be
ing uttered In the Senate unbcard Of in their day
They were men who stood their legs and spoke out
They had hearts and mouths They did resort to th
appliances Of paper and printing before hey brought the
speeches here. IL the senator from Massachusetts, wer
present aud would answer me would put the question
TO him. Was not that speech Of yours printed and pub
thed before you spoke in the Senate OF the Unitel
States What Is the meaning Of that provision Of tn
constitution which says that senator member Of In
House Tor any speech debate In either house shall no
DC questioned in any other place Does mean TO civ
the Congress- OF the United States the power Of decidn,
what Is privilege without the courts questioning III
co. goes FAR beyond the settled doctrine ia Great Britain
al this day which maintained by Chief Justice Den
man. Ia the Of Stockdae rs Hansard and that cas-
has much 70 do with the now under consideration
Hansard had undertaken under the authority Of
20 publish book which contained libel without sue
license privilege all agreed that he responsible,
The English House Of Commons said that having grante
him the license II their privilege Chief Justice Den
took cognizsnce Of the case on the broad RrouE
that the could determine what privilege unde
the constitution Of England. He said As commonay
Judge, will show the Parliament whether capa
bic Of deciding my responsibility Of the grea
departments Of this government Can II be maiutanedr-
and Il is Of the eloquent decisions ever read
that the House of Commons, by claiming privleg,
shall thereby appropriate IL TO themselves, and
villain from the consequence OF bis belf The Judge SAT-
that although by the law OF Parliament newspapers wer
passed through the country under the frank Of member
without paying postage that privilege did not give then