Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-06-19
Reply Of Senator Butlor OF 9. o., to senator
- Sumner. ~. -

Reply or Sen0tor butIor OF Ss Sst 70 6enhtox
Sumner. Ss-3,l ss..-
Senator Butler, in the Senate Chamber, Thurs
day, commenced his reply to Senator Sumner.
Mr.. Butler said that the Necessity for his ad.
dressing the Senate on this occasion was brought
about BY events over (which he had, no control,
events which have grown out of o controversy,
from the commencement Of which the Senator
from Massachusetts,, not now in his seat, (Mr.
Sumner) would be held exclusively responsible BY
his country and his Cod He shads delivered
speech, the most extraordinary that ever had ut
terance in any Legislative body recognizing the
sanctions of law and ofthe Constitution All that
time Mr.. Butler was not here, and what he would
have done if he had been here it would now be
perfectly idle to say, because no one can substi-
tute the deliberations Of subsequent period for
what might have taken place on the impulse Of
the moment. 5slyS{s s.r,.
His impression was, if he had been here, he
would have asked that Senator, before he had FIN
ished some of theparagraphs personally applics-
Bile to him, to pause andif Mr.. Sumner had gone
on, he would have demanded that he should re-
tract or modify the Offensive remarks, SO as to
bring them within the sphere Of parliamentary pro-
priety. If Mrs had refused TO do this, what he
would have done hecould not exactly yssy,, but one
thing he knew, and that was, he would not have
submitted to it. To what manner Of redress he
would have resorted he could not tell he would
ut least have assumed, upon oil the responsibih-
ties of Senator from South Carolina, the conse-
quences, let them foil where they might. But in
stead of that, that speech had involved o friend
and kinsman to the extent that he had been Obliged
to put his fortune md life ut stakess
Instead of making his own speeches here, under
the obligation Of the Constitution and In digni-
fed manner, the Senator from Massachusetts, had
acted as the conduit-the fang-through which 70
pour out malignity and injustice. To conciliats
Theodore Parker, the Senator must make var5on
South Carolina and on himself {Mr. Butler. II
was the purpose Of that Senator to pander to the
prejudices of q portion of Massachusetts, II the
| Senator were now here, he would make him hang
his head in shame md prove him o calumniator.
He accused Mr.. Sumner of having pretended to
quote from the Constitution Of South Carolina
that which is not found in it. One thing Certain
either the Senator did not read the Constitution
or if he did he could not understand it, Laugh
ter. q - = -
Mr.. Butler expressed the opinion that this
speech of Mr.. Sumner's would be condemned by
the public mind Of the country, and would be con-
signed to infamy by posterity for the mischievous
consequences which have flowed from it already,
and which were likely in the future TO disturb the
peace and repose of the country. Mr.. Butler had
said nothing to justify the gross personal abuse
and calumny with which he had been assailed; he
had been very guarded in his remarks during the
whole of this exciting debate. Independent Of
the personalities which had distorted and disgra-
ced Mr.. Sumners's speech, there was nothing in
it to distinguish it from all his other abolition
sneecbes. :. 80. 5-,..se.,-,.....
He noticed Mr.. Summers charge of the shame
full imbecility of South Carolina during the revo
lutionary war, in consequence Of slavery and re-
futed the allegation that but for Northern aid the
the South could not have sustained itself in that
struggle. South Carolina sent Massachusetts
bread and seventy barrels Of wine. The Maine
law was not then in operation Laughter. The
very powder used by Massachusetts after the bat
tie Of Bunker Hill, was furnished BY South caro-
linn, which, in the revolution, poured out hogs
head of blood, where Massac chusetts poured out
gallons He characterized the remarks Of Sumner
applied to him as indecent, and utterly unit to be
as they were, uttered in the presence Of gallery
Of ladies. 80. al ~. as3
Mr.. Butler strongly condemned the resolutions
~~"See~N1e'~NNS 49, IL