Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-06-06
Democrasso rr.ra...,,

The Brooks affair has revealed sad state of
political morals among the leading members of
the dominant party at Washington. Just con-
slider the tenor of the report of the minority Of
the committee of Investigation in the House, of
similar purport with the report of the Senate
Committee on that matter, which is made up ex
clusively of administration members Would any
personsimagine from reading it that we were liv-
ing in civilized age? These cold-blooded COM
mittee men reportlthat it is matter with which
they have nothing to do''-taat 1t is ''mere
personal affair" between two gentlemen, between
whom they deem it improper to interfere
Has, indeed, the downward progress of our civ.
ilization reached that limit, that brutal, COW
ardly bully may at any time invade the sanctuary
of our national councils, strike down an honored
Senator or Representative in his very seat, even
while engaged in his official duties, and vet the
act be looked upon as mere trivial, personal
affair between couple of gentlemen" with
which neither House has anything to do, or any
power over 1t is little singular, that the same
constitution which privileges every member of
Congress from being questioned in any other
place, for any speech or debate in either House,
mould not also possess the power to protect
each member against murderous assaults on his
person, and give the House, one of whose mem
oers was the victim Of that outrage, or the body
of which the assailant is member, the power TO
Zeal with the miscreant as common sense and
common decency require, by instant expulsion or
the inficticn of the dire penalties of the law: Or
what use is it to have deliberative assembly,
unless it have the power of full protection of the
lives and persons of its own members.
But what better state Of things could we ex.
pectsof body, whose leading members avow
such diabocal sentiments as are indicated in their
speeches in reference to this affair Were
southern or doughface member stricken down
IN TINS manner, BY Free State member, Ia thing
utterly improbable,) the boot would be on the
other leg, and we should see power enough in the
constitution, and rules Of the Senate or House,
sufficient to expel the offender, without hearing
the evidence, if not to hang him without Judge or
jury.
Inc Washington correspondent Of the Charles
ton Is. CO. Courier, IA Pierce and Douglas border
ruffian journal,) speaking of the debate which
took place at the close of Mr.. Summers speech,
says that I" Mr. Douglas, although calm, during
that violent and unprecedented alteration, dis
tinctly threatened that he sOOssid assault Mr. Sum
ner out Of the Senate" Hard work it was, it
seems, for even little dug" to hold in his Ire
from doing the same thing which he probably
with others, urged on the rufian Brooks to ac-
complish. Standing around with several other
Senators, mostly Southern,) within few feet Of
Mr.. Sumner, when that brutal assault was made,
as the testimony shows, with his hands in his
pockets and a smrk in his face, coldly looking on
with no intention to Interfere" the Illinois
Senator has earned renown, and handed down
to posterity an example in morals, which will
cause him to be heralded forth to future genera
tions as fair representative Of the Border Ruff
fanism Of the middle Of the Nineteenth Centu.
nv.