Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-02

toll, could be mustered into service, and they
would have the power to put their masters 10
the sword and when tho declaration of peace
should come, the result would be the freedom
of the slaves and the prescription OF the mas
ters! Suppose should go into the community
where this libel was uttered, and indict man for
such sentiment as this, what would be the
consequence in the present state of public oPln-
ion? 1t is idle, worse than idle, 10 talk about
that as n remedy
Liberty of the press! Sir, that man has
frankcd twenty thousand of his speeches; and
some of them, f am not misinformed, were
printed long before it was delivered. To bring
him within the privileges Of parliament is u
mockery-a perfect. .mockery.
Now, Mr.. President, approach another most
painful part of this case, and come to it IN no
bad temper; for, God knows, if my heart could
be read, there is no one who would sooner than
mysclf have acered the state of things which
now exists, if could, consistently with my hon
or and the honor Of the gentleman 10 whom
shall aIlude The resolution of Massachusetts
undertook, before any evidence was heard, to
pronounce sentence on Mr. Brooks. Sir, will
tell you who Mr.. Brooks is, and why he felt so
deeply in reference TO these abomnabe libels
do not allude TO him now rs my hereditary
kinsman; | think that is the smallest view to
take of the matter; but am his constituent.
live in Ninety-six" district through which,
if you pass, you will read upon the tombstones
epilaphs which would Seproach him for tame and
ignominious submission to wrong and to insult
He has as proud and intelligent constituency
as are to be found in any part of the globe.
am his constituent. But more than that, he has
worn the epaulet and the sw6sd; he has march
ed under the Palmetto banner, and his country
men have awarded to him sword tor his good
conduct in the war with Mexico. That sword
was in some measure committed TO him, that ne
might use it, when occasion required, 10 maintain
the honor and the dignity of his State. When
he heard of the speech first, and read it after
wards, this young man, in passing down the
street, heard but one sentiment and it was, that
his State and his blood had been insulted. Tie
could not 60 into the drawing-room, or parlor,
or into readDg-room, without the street COM
mentary reproaching him. Wherever he went,
the question was asked, Has the chralry of
South Carolina escaped, and is this to be tame
submission? What advice would have given
him do not now undertake to say.
Bull, sir, when this was said to this gentleman
wherever he went, he felt that if something was
not done he could not face his constituents with.
out losing his usefulness, and without there being
tant on his honor and on his courage. He may
have been mistaken in some respects. His COM
ing into the Senate house was no option Ut his.
When he formed his determination, as am in
formed,-and have kept aloof from conversa-
tion with him. Judge from the evidence he had
no purpose to prufane the Senate house. | say
the Senate house had been profined before. |
had rather to morrow take ten blows inflicted on
my body, than have the gas of the rhetorician
poured out upon my character and State.
The Senator from Massachusetts, chose 10
make his place here one from which TO assail the
history and reputation of South Carolina, and
10 assail nm absent constituent of the gentleman
who has taken redress into his own hands In
such condition of things who could be placed
in situation moro difficult? Surely, Mr.. Presi-
dent, something is to be pardoned to The feelings
of a man acting under scnsibty. and under the
dictates of high honor. II any one was here,
placed in 4 situation 10 feel the touching appeal
made by the ghost to Hamlet IF thou hast
nature in thee, bear it not" he was the man.
Now, ask the Secretary 10 read the extract
which have marked in the book winch send
10 him, and 10 not intend to say where it comes
from till il is read.
The Secretary read as follows:
"Do not believe that [ am inculcatng opinions,
tending to disturb the peace Of society. On the
contrary they the principles that can preserve it.
1t is more dangerous for the laws to give security to
man, disposed TO commit outrages on the persons
of his fellow Citizens than to authorize those, who
must otherwise meet irrcparable injury, to defend
themselves at every hazard. Men OF eminent tai
eAs and virtue, on whose exerons in pcrilous times,
the honor and happiness Of their country must de-
pend, will always be liable to be degraded by every
daring uliscreant, il they cannot defend themselves
from personal insult and outrage. Men Of this de-
scription must always feel that to submit to dcsra-
da,iOn and dshonor is impossible. Nor is this feel
ing confined to men Of that eminent grade. We
have thousands in our country who possess this
spirit and without them we should soon deserrcdly
cease to exist as an independent nation respect
the laws Of my country, and revere The precep;s oil
our holy religion should shudder at shedding hu-
name blood would practice moderation and for
bcarancc, to avoid SO terrible calamity yet should
| ever be driven 10 that impossible point, where
degradation and disgrace begin, may this arm shrink
palscd from is socket if ! fail to defend my own
honor"
tits the sentiment ofa gentleman whose speeches
have always commended him 10 me. 1t is q
sentiment worthy Of The ancient days of Boston
when Dexter spoke. This is Il northern man
speaking and adopt lis language. say with
him that, when things tend 10 that impossible
point where degradation and digrace begin, may
my arm shrink palsied from lis socket if fail
to defend my own honor?'
Sir, that sentiment was uttered at time when
clergymen confined themselves to the pulpit, and
preached against crime and vice when they did
not use the pulpit as recruiting station 10 issue
Sharpe's rifles, and 10 mingIe in all the bitter
strife of The forum and the Agora. 1t was ut
tered when Boston knew how 10 respect the
feelings Of others | concur in all that is said
by Mr. Dexter. deprecale blood and violence.
| will not utter all that my heart prompts me to
say, for fear Of encouraging young men; but
this will say, that no sou of mine should ever
submit to insult without satisfaction.
X X X X X X K
FRIDAY, June l3, 1856.
said yesterday that my friend, my represent
alive, my relative, one who is associated with
me by more ties than either of these-had Ia
ken redress in his own hands-had resortcd to
his own mode of redress. | said that there
were considerations connected with the occasion
which, though they could not justify him before
legal tribunal, would excuse any man of his
character and position, representing such consti-
uents as he represented, and bound in some
measure 10 sympalhize with the opinions of the
section with which lie is associated. 1t was i'm
possible that he could separate himself from
those conclusions which others might not appre-
ciatc, and some could not understand. But |
say that gentleman dare not-l do not say |
would have advised hitn-but in his estimation