Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-06-04
The Assault ON Sumner.

The Assault on Sumner. IS
Tho .ssant ON Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts
nv Mr.. Brooks, of South-Carolna, is occupying
much of the public attention.
Tho committee of the Senate, to whom the matter
vas referred, have made their report expressing
the opinion that the assault involved breach OF
Il. Summers privileges as Senator, but that the
e,n,te have no right to do more than to transmit
.hs facts to the House for their action; which was
done. We may, therefore, look for some warm work
in the House.
This affair has stirred up much feeling in New
ENGLAND Meetings have been held in Boston ana
elsewhere, to denounce the assault; and the Legs
ature of Massachusetts, in session, have passed
the following resolutions on the suo)ec1 lucy
nassed the Senate unanimously, and were concorred
IN nv the House by vote of 1877 to 20:
eolped By the Senate and House q preen'nsssss
h of Massactusett, That we nave received
with deep concern, information OF the recenS Voen. as
s,ut committed in the Senate chamber AT washington
pantariyes in Congress- by Preston s. Brooks. menu
har Of the House of Representatives from
assault which no So d"
ea ruthless attack upon the liberty of speech.an out
rage of decsnces of civilized life and an ndgn'y
the commonwealth of Massachusetts,.
Resred That the Legislature of Massachusetts IN tne
name of the free and people, demands for her
representatives the National If
of Speech and will uphold them in the proper exercise
the essential right OF American citizens. .,os. .,d
Rsolred That approve Of Mr. Summers earnest ana
fearless declaration OF tree prihciPes, anu lilo ' Wv
fence of human rights and free territory
esoiued That the Legislature of Massachusetts mper
e called by the pspet and
her character as sovereign State to demand ana inc Leg
sature Massachusetts, hereby does OF ane M
tional Congress prompt and strict INTO pe
recent assault upon Mr. Sumner and the expulsion by the
House of Mr. Brooks, of and any other
members concerned with him in said assault. :,
Rsoird That his Exceency the Governor be requested
to transmit copy of the foregoing resolves TO ne Pres
dent the Senate and the Speaker OF the house OF
nitives and each the and members OF the
Hse of Representatives from this commonwealth in the
Congress Of the United States
In order that our readers may have some idea of
the character of the speech of Sumner, which pro-
yoked Mr.. Brooks to chastse him, we make some
extracts, as follows:
.But. before entering upon the argument must say
something of general character particularly in response
TO what has fallen Senators who have raised them
selves emnence this floor in championship OF human
wrongs mean the Senator from Soutli-Carollna, Mr.
Bu,irT and the Senator from Illinois, Mr.. Douglas, who,
though unlike Don Quixoe and Sancho Panza yet like
this couple sally forth together in the same adventure
erre. much to miss the elder Senator from his seat but
the cause against which he has tit with such activity
luminosity, demands that the opportunity OF exposing
him should not be and is for the cause that speak
The Senator from South Carolina has read many books OF
chiyary and believes himself civalrous knight with
sentiments honor and courage vi course he has Chosen
mistress whom he has made his vows and who though
ugly others. always lovely him. though polluted IN
sight OF the world is caste III his sight mean the
aui Slavery For her, his tongue is always profuse III
words Let her be peached in character or any popo'
son made shut her from the extension OF her wan
tnnes extravaganza of manner OF hardhood OF
sertio then great this Senator The frenzy OF
Don uixute in behalf of his wench Dulcnea del Iuboso
is surpassed The asserted gnds "l sians @
equality. If the slave States enjoy what in mock
cry the great fathers Of the Republic he misnaes equal
under The CONSTITUTIONAL other Words the full power
in the National Territories compel fellow men to unpaid
toll separate husband and Wife, and to sell little children
the bockthen sir the chivalric Senator will
conduct the State of South Carolina out Of the Union =
Heroic knight Exalted Senator. second Moses come
for u second exodus!
But against the people of Kansas that the sensible
ties the Senator are aroused as hi
he with ordly disgust this newly formed
muniy which he will not recognise "a body poll
e Pray sir by what title does he indulge in this e egGa
represents? He surely cannot have forgotten its shameful
mbeciy from slavery confessed throughout the Revolu
tvn followed By its shameful assumptions for slavery
He cannot have forgotten its wretched persistence
in the slave trade as the very apple of and the con
don Of It's participation IN the Unlon He cannot have
forgotten It's Constitution, which republican only in name
coning power in the hands Of the few and founding thu
qualifications of its legislators settled freehold estate
and negroes" And yet the Senator, to whom thai
Estate has part committed the guardianship of its guod
instead OF moving with backward treadng steps,
cover its nakedness PUSHES forward in the ecstasy
madness expose ii by provoking comparison with Kan
sas. Soutl-Carolna is old Kansas is young Sou-Car
oua by centuries, where Kansas by years.
But benitcent example may be born in day and ven
say that against the two centuries Of the Older
State be already set the years of trial. evolr
,s n s n the a 4
OF Freedom And we glance at special achievements,
will be difficult to find anything in the history Of South
Carolina which presents much of heroic spirit he
roc cause in that repulse of the Missouri nva
des by the beeaguered town OF Lawrence where thu
women gave their effective efforts to Freedom The mat
rons OF Rome who poured their jewels into the treasury
Tor the pubic deence-the wives of Prussia whO with del
lcate fingers clothed their defenders against French nva
siOn-he mothers of RevoulIon who sent fortf
their sons covered with prayers and blessings
Dat Tor human rights, dd nothing of sefsacrlce true
history OF bloted of existence from it
very beginning down to the day of the last election of
to his present seat this hoo civilization nigh
LOSE do not say how little; but surely less than it ha
already gained by the example of Kansas in its valian
struggle against oppression and in the development of
new new. Science Of emigration Already Lawrence aon
there are newspapers and schools including High School
ana throughout lhis infant Territory there
far IN proportion to its inhabitants, than al
souh-Carolina All, sir, tell the Senator that Kansas
Welcomed as free State, will be "ministering angel"
the Republic when S'uthCaroina the CLOAK Of dark
ness which she hugs, "les howiing."
In the Senate, on Tuesday last, Mr.. Slidel calle
attention to telegraphic despatch giving Mr.. Sum
ners statement before the House committee, pub
ilshed in the morning Baltimore papers. A lon
debate ensued the substance of which is as follows
Mr Sdell said Mr.. Summers statement declares "Otf
erpersons were about me, at distance looking and
1erng no assistance, of whom recognized only Mr. Do,
gas Of Illinois, Mr. Toombs of Georgia, and, though
also my assailant, standing between Them. heipe
from the floor and conducted into the lobby of the Sena
where placed upon a sofa Of those who helped m
there have recollection As 1 entered the lobby n
cognzed Mr. Slidel, of Louisiana, who retreated, but
eognzed no one else until felt friendly grasp of Ii
hand, which seemed to from Mr. Campbell of Ohio
Mr. Sidel stated that it seemed to him proper to expla
his own position in relation to this NATTER the stat
ment published might cause false impression in the pull
lie mind When the Senate adjourned that day, he
Tered the anteroom where he engaged in wit
Aessrs Douglas, Fitzpatrick, and j. Clancy JONES' an
while there seated he informed that MIR. Sumner ha