Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-30
AFFRAY IN The SENATE

@@THE AFFRAY IN THE SENATE
~ There Il much diversity OF opinion IL
| gentlemen seem to think that Mr. Brooks did
wrong in Gaming Mr. Sumner IN the Sesafs. N ost
persons agree, however, that q Establishment
| should have been administered; but fhe place is
| the question.
1t appears to me that Mr.. Sumner received his
punishment In the stght place, and to have in
dignity to the transaction which the circum-
stances called for, nor would 1t have harmonized
with the Constitution Of the United States.
s,tution says'~ssfor any speech or debate in
either house they (ths Senators and Representa-
tives) shall not be IN aSy other place"
Now, by the very words Of the Constitution, 1t
Is evident that Mr.. Brooks could not have pun
ishsd Mr.. Sumner ''in any other place" without
his violating his oath, unless, indeed, he could
be justified upon the automatic rule that q neces-
sity knows no law -
II members Of Congress are made to know that
they will cert Only be held to personal Iespon-
siblity for insulting remarks either In debate or
otherwise, they will, am sure, very seldom use
confidence. and IL the cause of nine tenths Of the
insults offered In and out Of Congress No man
can tamely submit to insulting reflections upon
his honor without degradation, and so long as the
law does not punish those who give insults self.
indignity. '
Liberty Of speech is a precious immunitv-
guaranteed 0y the Constitution; but liberty Of
ter, nor the principles Of good bree ding Hence,
Mir. Sumner was not authorized, according to
either rule, to stigm itize Senator Butler who is
confessed bv his peers to be the impersonation Of
chivalry aud honor, as a liar and fool, without
apprehension.
Upon the question Of the mode Of the chastise-
ment good men may well differ; but upon the
proposition that honor required a proper rebuke
to Mr.. Sumner for his staggering insoience in go
characterizing the venerable Butter, no one win
DOUBT tnat such rsbuke was prompted by proper
principle OF self-respect and due regard for the
cOurtesies which should obtain between gentle.
men.
This chastisemsnt will, doubtless act like n
seddfire among our Legislators. A few more such
sanitary examples will greatly improve the STYLE
OF the Congressional debates, and ladies will he
able to attend them without being insulted by
such lndelicate remarks as were INDUCED in by
Mr.. Sumner In his late Gun American and nm.
patriotic speech, as Gen. Cass has SO aptlv STYLED
It, '
The Abolitionists Of Boston seem quite inais
nant because Sou bern gentleman punished one
OF their representatives for insulting the 0ato OF
the Senate But when MARYLAND slave. holder
was pursuing his property under the Constitution
In Pennsylvania, and was brutally numyd,,,d AZ
voice was then raised to condemn the atrocious
and cowardly act. And even in Boston when
that poor Irishman, Batchelder an oftcer Of the
united states sworn to do his duty was muir.
dered In cold blood, not one word OF sympathy
fer his bereaved family, or In condemna ion Of
the Infamous act, came from those pious fanatics
CT that sanity city In the one case thew an.
other the mere car ng Of fanatic is Of more con-
sideration to them than the lives Of citizens pur
suing their rights under the guarantees Of the
Constitution 1t VIRGINIA