The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-05
THE TWO SECTIONS.

November. This is the only peaceful and eff
fectual remedy.
THE TWO SECTIONS.
1t is said by the Washington correspondent
the assailant of Mr.. Sumner, was advised 10y
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, to state publicly that
the assault on the Senator from Massachusetts,
was dictated entirely by personal considera-
tons, and had nothing to do with political ques-
tons, but that the advice was rejected.
Referring to our fourth page, the reader will
find that the affairs regarded by the public PRESS
in both sections of the country, as political. 1t
is painful to observe the contrast. Virginia
and South Carolina papers exult over the at
tack, glorify Mr.. Brooks, hope that other Sena-
tors from the North may be subjected to similar
treatment. Mr.. Seward, acknowledged even by
the New York Herald, to be model of Senate
rial courtesy, man who has never, throughout
his career in the Senate, spoken word offensive,
personally, to any man, is held up as specially
worthy of personal chastisement. Public meet
ings at the South compliment Mr.. Brooks-tes-
timonials of signal regard are sent to him-the
GaseSp4p5r Of uSs" ah6 present to him silver
pitcher and goblet. On the other hand the
Legislature of Massachusetts passes resolves de-
manding the instant expulsion of Mr.. Brooks
from his seat in the House. Immense meet.
ings in Boston, New York, New Haven Gin
cinnati, and other Northern and Western cities,
embracing men of all parties, men hitherto
known as opponents of the Republican move
ment, denOunce the assault in the most un.
sparing terms, and follow up the demand made
by the Massachusetts Legislature. The Con.
necticut Legislature withdraws its invitation to
Mr.. Everett to deliver before it his Lecture on
Washington, on the ground Of his having de.
clined to attend the meeting in Boston, called
to denounce the outrage. The bill to repeal
the Personal Liberty Law of Massachusetts,
passed some time since to a third reading in
the Massachusetts House of Representatives,
by vote of l44 to l24, was promptly reconsid-
cred after the commission of the outrage on
Senator Sumner, and Mr.. Briggs's bill, merely
amendatory of the Law, voted down previously
by large majority, was passed by vote of
l55 to 1870! Hundreds Of thousands of copies
of the speech have already been printed, the
demand outrunning the supply. AtGalena, H.
hnois, a gentleman, the moment he heard of
the assault, collected sixty dollars, and sent us
an order for as many copies of the speech as
that sum would pay for.
Is it possible that there is so radical differ
ence as to the civilization of the two sections.
as these facts seem TO demonstrate? Are
there no Southern men who deprecate, deplore,
reprobate this violation of the rights of discus
sion and the sanctity of the Legislative Hall ?
Are there no Southern men to stand up and
rebuke the reckless counsellors of violence
and anarchy? Are there no Southern men
sane enough to speak and act in behalf of the
Law against the bludgeon, the bowie-knife, and
the revolver? Can it be, that had such an
outrage been perpetrated in the times ofs Clay,
Calhoun, and Benton, it would have passed
without indignant comment, without words of
wisdom and warning, boldly uttered, to restrain
the indulgence of passions subversive of the
Union? Violence proyokes violence. Men
will E ht rather than be degraded. Let such
and Congress will in time be con-
verified into an armed mob. How can the law
making power be wisely exercised, when every
is armed to the teeth, ready to pro-
woke or resist bloody assault? What is the
Union good for, if the Representatives of the
different States meet, as enemies, not to delhi.
crate and freely confer on matters of common
interest, but to DEFY each other to mortal com. |
bat? What Is such state of things, but war
in disguise? Better, far better, that both Sec
tons separate, agreeing on an amicable division
of the public property, than battle their hands |
IN frateFnal blood.
Again we ask-are there any wise men, any |
moderate men, in the South, or has the spirit |
of Notification and Disunion taken possession
of its People, and obtained .hs control of their
gouncilsg'
We cannot believe it. There are Southern
men who in their inmost souls are revoIted |
al the violence committed on Mr.. Sumner,
We believe there are members from the South, |
who would like to express their feelings by their |
votes, but party and sectional considerations
restrain them. They might defy party alone,
but they shrink from encountering the denun.
Citations the Slave Power might launch against
them. The curse of Slavery to the white man
is, that it ensaves him morally his body is
free, but his mind and will are ia bondage.
The slave is in subsection to his master--the
master to his caste. This hour, could a
Republican Administration take the place of !