Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-05-31
Ggc Orrmont 4banit,
BRATTLEBoRo, WI.
SATURDAY, MAY al, 1856.
ouTRAcEs or SLAVERY,

mnistraiion here nj the Morrill, have seen 1T
to denouncc the Free Sinic movement as "ab-
clifton" and is friends as "3lack Republican"
These terms have been used for the purpose
of casting stigma and reprouch upon those
who believe ihut Freedom Is farprcferable to
Slavery in any State, and who have sought to
| give practical effect to that belief. These
men, calling themselves Democrats aud the
disciples of TINT statesman who drafted the
immortal declaration, "hdi all msn are ereat-
Cd equal; that they are endotred By their Gre
aior pih certain inaiienaJie rights , that
among these, are iife liberty and the prsuif
Of happiness. That, 10 secure these rights,
governments are instituted among men, serir-
ing their just po,rers from the consent Of The
gorun,d," would fan have US believe, rs
they profess to do, that the evils growing out
of the existence Of Slavery in this country nre
in all cases directly chargeahle to these same
"abolitionists;" that shareholders are the most
mild and inoflensiye of men; that they deplore
the evils incident to human scrvitude to such
an extent that they desire its curtailincnt and
its ultimate abolition; and that the numerous
striies and conflicts resulting from this institu-
ton, nnl its consideration in Congress aud
elsewhere, are the legitimate consequences OF
the position assumed by majority Of the
North on this subject.
/ There IS also another class of politicians
composed Of very respectable, and all honor
able, men, who deprecaie excitement, and
who are opposed to what they are pleased to
term 'fanaical zeal" They may not have
agreed with their Southern brethren in all
their notions, but when tumults appeared to
be looming ~ above the political horizon they
have preferred to surrender their own views
aud sacrifice their own opinions, rather than
incur the dangers Of a division. The verte-
bral column of this class is composed Of such
supple materials that il bends much more ca
silly than it breaks.
These two classes OF Northern mcn (dcs-
iguaied as such 10y the accident Of their resi-
dcncc raiher than by their prineiples) have
never considered II worth their while to an
swcr the arguments advanced by the friends
Of Freedom In support Of their position, but
have simply contrnted themselves with the
enquiry, "What are the particular encroach-
ments of Slavery which you call upon Us to
resist Wherein does the Slave power seek
to control all or any OF the departments Of
our government, or To obtain any undue inliu-
ence in the administration of national affairs,
as you so frequently and confidently asseiti"
To these inquiries the outrages prrpe,rated
during the past week, which are narrated in
the foregoing columns, win furnish full, aud,
to our mind, perfectly convincing reply.
Hon. Charles Sumner, n Senator from
Massachusetts, has been bruially assaulted in
his seat in the Senate. Chamber, beaten to the
floor and well nigh murdered 10y a s!aye-hold-
ing Representative from South Carolina, that
hot-hed Of lawlcssness. With that cowarJico
which is the accompaniment Of brutality the
assault was made while Mr. Sumner was sep
araied from his friends, and in n position
when he was utterly unable to defend himself.
Ii took place in the hall occupied by the high
est delibcrntive body known 10 our govern.
meni, hall which has resounoed with the ell
oquence and patriotism Of Webster and
Clay, but which has laiterly been desecrated
by par,izan vituperaton and drunken black
guardism. 1t was not made in the heat of
debate when, in moments of passion, men of
hot blood and excitahle natures sometimes
forget what is due TO their position. IL was
the result Of deliberate resolution, planned
with hardihood Of purpose, aud executed
with malignily of spirit which would do
credit to an incarnate ficnd.
Disgraceful and revoltingns was this assault,
its consequences to Mr. Sumner are as nothing
compared with the object intended 10 lie ac-
complished by its instigators. In defence Of
the Free State men Of Kansas, in condemna-
ton Of the wrongs they have suffered aud the
crimes TINT have been perpetrated upon them,
and in reply to the long continued assaults of
the champions of Slavery, Senator Sumner
made speech as unanswerable as il was elo-
quent. He met his foes with their own wea-
pons and their discontinue was complete
In doing this he did not step hairs breadth
beyond the bounds Of parliamentary decorun.
lie used no language nor INDUCED in any cp-
ithets for.which the presiding officer saw ft
To call him to order. The arguments he en-
ployed could not he controvertcd, nor the
force of his reasoning impaired But his
scathng illusions to Senator Butler were
made the ground Of attack, and whose nepI-
ew,-Prcston S. Brooks, a member of the
House-was the ruifiaD selected for the as
saut. The whole outrage was nothing less
Il. IL 4 Z or
Free Speech. Notwithstanding the Consti-
tuition provides that for any speech or debate
in either House the members shall not be
questioned in my other place, Slavery in
sists that freedom of debate is nnswerable at
the point Of the bowie-knfe aud at the muz-
zle of The revolver.
Great as is the indignity to Massachusetts,
great as is the insult to the Senate of the Unit
ed States, the outrage TO Freedom and Free