The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-08-07
u us EEL q q III HOWa .
SPEECH OF HON. J. II. SAVAGE,

Alr. Savage SIItl
Mr.. SPEAKER: The short space Of fifteen
minutes will prevent me from pursuing the
line Of argument had intended, by touch
ing OH the general questions discussed in
this debate. have no time to define poll
cics or elucidatc principles, but shall con
fine the little that do say to the facts aud
xncrits Of the case.
And what is it with which the member
from South Carlina stands chargedl AZ
ter I'LL. say what we will, do what we may,
it is nothing but in assault and battery
the most common and the least degrading
of NIL the Offences known 10 the criminal
code.
maintain these three propositions: l..
Whatever offence has been committed, this
House has no jurisdiction over it; 2. if MIR.
Sumner has been badly beaten, he did not
get lick more than he richly deserred ];
and. last, although the member from South
Caroina may lave violated the letter of
the law Ivy Il breach Of the peace, yet of all
the culprts that ever stood charged before
II tribunal, he is the most cXcusablu, and,
instead Of deserving punishment, merits
your highest commentator.
u word a> t. your power to punish this
offence-for must protest against this first
step in the path Of tyranny which you are
attempting to take. You do not pretend
that You have any "rulc of action" known
ard prescribed hy Z" the supreme power TO
govern you in this case but you SAY that
the law of his condemnation is your dis
cretiun, hidden and confined in your own
bosoms. which no mortal man must know
until the destroying edict IS ready to blast
him. Sir. where law ends tyranny begins;
discretion is the Unlimited rule Of your own
will. is contrary to the spirit and genius Of
American institutions, and is not admitted
as u rule of action i'll England, nor in any
court upon the American continent. The
courts of cI,ancery have no such doctrine,
an old aw-writvr renarking that YOU
might us we'll make the rule Of justice the
length If the cl,;,nrcllor's foot us the I'M
cclltrvlIr,l di~rr.linu pf Ills Conscience.
If YOU lave power To punish offences
committed outside Of this House, il is an
unlimited power, extending 10 moral as
VOL as criminal deeds, embracing all pun
ish,ncnt from a petty fine to the penalty Of
death, your feet are in the pathway Of
blood. Y"u are gra>ping at power as
absolute, as dangerous as unlimited and
undeincd. AS the h,scst dcsnot ever yet ex-
ercised. Ii my life, liberty, and reputation
are TO he destroyed, what matters it to me
whether. by the decree Of a single Gar or
Emperor, or the edict Of IL hundred tyranis
in the shape Of Black Republican members
of Congress urged ON to lawless violcn, e
by party zeaIl
Your course will be progressive. Take
this step, and you are bound to 60 further.
The tenure by which you now hold your
positions on this floor is G.lsrlood, cslunny,
and slander. To triumph over men better
than yourselves, and ascend to these high
places, you have assa,led, by the: e
base, corrupt, and Infamous instrument
tAlities, the constitutional rights, do
mestic institutions. peace and safety Of
the whole southern people. To maintain
your places here. you are now required to
wound the sensihilites and destroy their
character; but in the days Of your progress
other men worse even than you will grow
up under your own culture and tread you
down; for they will lie ready 10 go further
than you, and dip their hands in innocent
blood, and your precedent Of this day will
he their authority.
] dare the majority here to imbody in a
law the principle upon wl,icl, they assume
Ao act in their malice towards tile member
from Soutl' Carolina. They know ifbrought
forward so that the people can see it's trus
character. they will doom it and it's authors
10 keep company, in all time to come,
viii, ,;ihe dead bodies Of the se,lition
aawEand federalism; yes, sir, and with an
other .otlidus law Of the British Parliament
creating the offence Of seandolum magno-
ksm; BY whiel, words, when spoken of n
pear, or otiier great man Of tile realm, were
PUNISHED with extraordinary penalties, al.
hougi, harmless if uttured Of a private citi.
en. And have we in tlisrepuIlic privileged
ssse* and is it necessary SO screen guilty
1nbarx Of Congress from the punishment
osghs 70 lie inflicted upon the Sian
g ind assassin of private character, that
Asatl crests by construction the offence
I. assanit and bntterya Must there
bsnns III The proud senator, another
forfhe humble eitizen .,ss,,.. s.s
Sh ls ssnstor who viii give Is every
aniliis d Ii. and ase; The freedom II speech