The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-03
Mr.. BROOKS AND MR.. SUMNER.
EXTRACTS FROM THE
SPEECH OF A. p. BUTLER,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA

OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
~ THE sRSArE, JUNE l2, 1853,
On the bill to enable the people of Kansas Terrific
ry to form a Constitution and State Government
preparatory to their admission into the Union
when they have the requisite population.
Ma DuTLER: Mr.. President, the occa.
sion and the subject upon which am
about to address the Senate of the United
States, at this time, have been br.uph,
about by events over which I have had no
control, and could have had none-evtnt,
which have grown out Of the commence.
ment OF controversy for which the Sent.
Tor from Massachuse,s (not now in his seat)
Mr.. Sumner] should be held exclusively
responsible to his country and his God. lie
has delivered a speech the most extraordi
nary that has ever had utterance in any
deliberative body recognising the sanctions
of laws ana decency. When il WA, Ieliv.
cred was hot here; and if had been pre-
sent, what should have done it would be
perfectly idle for me now TO say; because no
'ohe can substitute the deliberations Of
subsequent period for such As nigh, have
fniiuenced him nj another time and under
different circumstances. My impression
now Is that, if had been present, should
have asked the Senator, before he finished
some OF the paragraphs personally applica
bie to myself. to pause; and if he had gone
on. i would have demanded of him. the
next morning. that he sli8uld review Il,st
speech, and reIact or modify il, so AS To
bring It within the sphere Of parliamentary
Propnety. Ii he had refused this, what /
would have done / cannot sav: vet can
say that would not have submitted TO it.
but what mede Of redress should have
resorled to cannot tell.
l wish I-had teen here. I woull have
ut least assumed, as ought to have done
on my responsibility rs n Senator, AMI ON
my responsibility rs representative of
south Carofrna, NIL the Consequences. let
them lead where they might; hn, instead of
that, the speech has involved his own friends
aud his own colleague. II ha> involved my
friends. IL has involved one az them To-
such an extent that, at tins time. b.. has
been obliged To put his fortune and hi, Hf.
at stake. And, sir, If the consequences
which are likely TO flow from ,l,at speech
hereafter shall end in blood and violence.
that Senator should be prepared to repent
IN .sackcloth and ashes.
Now, pronounce Judgment on that
speech which will be adopted by the public.
am rs certain as | am speaking that it is
now condemned by the public mind, and
oy posterlty 1t will besconsigned TO infamy.
Tor The mischievous consequences which
have flowed from it already, and such as
are likely yet 10 disturb the peace and re-.
pose OF the country.
| said nothing, Mr.. President. at any pc
of
th'ngin the course of the debate to which
the Senator from Massachusetts purpotts 10
nave made repfy--that could have called
Tor, much less have justified, the gross Ter.
sonal abuse. tra'iuclinp, and calumny. To
which he has 'resorted.
when was At my little farm, ENJOYING
myself quietly, and asl thought had taken
refuge from the striits and contentious of
the Senate and of politics. n message ,Wns
Drought To me that my kinsman hnd been
anvelred IN difficulty on my account. II
was so vague that i did not know how To
account for it. j was fur from any teIe
graphic communication. | did not wait
hve minutes before left home TO put NV
self within the reach of such Information
and garbled even that was--as was accessi
Die. Travelled four days continuously
TO Washington; and when arrived I
found the very subject under discussion
which had given me SO much anxiety; and
IL has been source Of the deepest concern
10 my feelings ever since | heard it. on
many accounts-on account of my country.
and on account Of the honor and the safety
'of my kinsman. When arrived here, I
Found the subject under discussion. / went
to the Senate worn down by travel; and I
then gave notice that, when the resolutions
from Massachusetts should be PRESENTED.
would speak to them. as coming from a
Commonwealth whose history, and whose
iessona OF history, hs inspired me with the
very highest admiration--I would speak to
them from respect to Commonwealth,
whilst, perhaps, the Senator who had been
.iie cause of their introduction ought not to
deserve any notice, and would not have re-
ceived it.
Well. sir. days passed, and those resolu-
lions were not presented. Now they have
oeen presented, and presented in different
way from any that have ever known to
'oe submitted from any Commonwealth be.
tore. They wero not presented by one Of
us senators, bnt were sent directly to the
fresldent Of the Senate and the Speaker of
ahe House OF Representatives.. ! waited for
some time with the expectation that, when
these resolutions should como. I would nc
gun myself Of the painful task which cir.
eunnssrces bad devolvsd upon mo. They
ava not come until yesterday--more than !
TWO weeks after their adoption.